2016 Travel Summary
Most of this year’s travel was done in the first part of the year. I rang in the new year in South Africa, where I spent a month kite surfing. I was around the Langebann area where I stayed in a communal kite house with other like-minded people who were there just to kite surf. I made a lot of good friends during the month I stayed there.
Pumping up kites in Langebaan, South Africa
The longest duration I spent abroad was 2-months in the Dominican Republic where I practiced more kite surfing. The location wasn’t as great Langebann, South Africa, but the distance from the East Coast of the U.S. made it convenient and cheap.
Kite Beach in Cabarete
While I was in the DR, I practiced my Spanish by trying to eat the local eateries versus the restaurants developed for the tourists. This is because when I order, I’m forced to speak Spanish.
Dominican Food Stand called a comedor
I didn’t travel to any extreme northern or southern parts like I did last year. The most exotic place I visited was the Seychelles, which in it’s own right is pretty special. I didn’t find the beaches too inviting as the shore breaks didn’t make the water too inviting.
A beach in La Digue, Seychelles
I managed to fly the Singapore Suites returning from Singapore to New York. The experience was unique. I think Singapore Airlines has one of the best drink menus to make up for the lack of a business class bar.
Singapore Airlines First Class Suite
Speaking of business class bar, Qatar Airways on their A380 has the best business class bar I’ve ever experienced.
Qatar Airways on board bar
Another thing I wanted to do was experience the street food in Taiwan. I briefly stopped in Taipei for a night and I had friend who showed me around trying different street foods. I really wanted to comeback and experience more of that. I was able to spend 3 nights in Tapei in the September time frame.
Street Food in Taipei
I managed to squeeze in a few weeks in Sri Lanka and toured around the island by myself using the local buses. I was there in the April time frame and it was really hot, humid, and dirty. It seemed like I was visiting a UNESCO world heritage site everyday. At times it seemed like my senses were de-sensitized to the sights. At some point in my life when I’m sitting at desk job, I’ll realize how amazing the sights were.
Masa Dosa in Sri Lanka
Lastly, I added an important skill to my resume – the ability to drive an auto-rick shaw. I paid an auto-rick shaw driver $4 USD to try out his wheels. It’s like a cross between a go-card and a motorcycle. You never know when the skill can be useful.
Rick Shaw
