Don’t you just hate it when plans go awry? I arrived in Seoul last night and had set up a tour to visit the DMZ and Panmunjom (North/South Korea border) today, a relic of the Cold War and primary...
College Newspaper Defends TSA…and Fails Miserably
In some ways, I miss college life. I earned my undergraduate degree at UCLA and relished the three years of intellectual stimulation while studying history and political science. As a political junkie, I was an avid reader of the...
The "Injustice" of Economy Class
Patrick Smith, a writer for Salon.com, attempts to combine humor with common sense in his latest column, entitled "The Injustice of Economy Class." I think he fails. Three questions drive the piece: First, would it really be too much trouble to engineer...
Your Laptop is NOT Secure or Private at U.S. Borders
I am training to be a lawyer, afterall, so let’s take a break from frequent flyer news today and focus on a recent court decision by the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding the confiscation of personal computers...
"Terrorists" Force Diversion of a United Flight
Readers of my blog know that I have very little tolerance for irrationality. Such irrationality is often manifested in the actions of the TSA, but sometimes passengers or flight crews are to blame, like when a flight attendant overreacts to...
Trip to Japan Postponed – I’m Coming Home!
When disaster struck Japan, I waivered over whether to take my planned trip to Tokyo next week. Despite dire warnings of radiation contamination, empty shelves at grocery stores, and rolling blackouts, I determined that media reports were overblown (to...
My Japan Dilemma – To Go or Not to Go?
To be clear, compared to what the Japanese people are going through right now, my dilemma is quite unsubstantial, but because this is my travel blog, I trust you won’t find it in poor taste to speculate about my...
*Sigh* Another Rail Strike in Germany
The sun is not even up and I am already preparing to leave for work. I don’t have to report to the office for another three hours, but the trains aren’t running this morning throughout much of Germany, including...
Seize the Moment: Travel While You Can
When the opportunity arises for travel, take it. Life on this earth is too short too sit on the sidelines and reason with yourself that you will do it sometime in the future. Next summer. After graduation. For my...
A Flight Attendant’s Duty to Calm a Screaming Baby
Does a flight attendant have a duty to at least attempt to quiet a screaming baby? I say yes. Last night I was on a intra-Europe Lufthansa flight where a baby two rows behind me screamed for nearly every moment...
Cultural Adjustments in Germany
I’ve been in Germany for almost a month and overall, I am adjusting well to the new surroundings and work environment. As someone who has always chosen public transportation over owning a car, I love the ease of getting...
The Travel Begins…
The last two weeks have been quite abnormal for me: I have stayed put in one city. While it has been nice getting acquainted with Frankfurt, I have been itching to start traveling again. Today, the travel has begun....
Getting Settled in Frankfurt
Less than a week into my new position in Frankfurt, I find myself enjoying the job, enjoying Germany, and quite happy to be away from law school. I camped out at the airport Sheraton for a couple days (eating my breakfast and...
Reflections on 9/11 from a Traveler’s Perspective
Nine years ago today America was attacked by a group of brainwashed Islamic xenophobes who believed they were doing God’s work in killing thousands of innocent Americans. Innocent is a relative term, but nothing can justify the actions of...
Reconsidering my indifference to hotel status
Growing up I was a "kettle" flyer–one to two trips a year in the back of the economy cabin with no concept of elite status, frequent flyer perks, or mileage running. When I was a teenager I had a...
