An online gallery of travel artwork featuring favorite iPad sketches and watercolors taken from the travel journal of Michael Hodgson during his world travels.
Musings
Laugh, cry, dream, wonder.Good travel writing lives in a space where culture, place, people and adventure intersect. In this section you will find travel essays (some thoughtful, some humorous), podcasts, images and even some insights from traveling teddy bears. Savor, appreciate, laugh, cry, ponder, and most of all, enjoy. Then get out and create your own travel narratives.
New Korean War Memorial Wall of Remembrance in D.C. is personal
A Wall of Remembrance was added in July 2022 at the Korean War Memorial in Washington, D.C. Therese was there to honor the memory of her uncle Capt. Ara Mooradian, USAF, MIA, at the family ceremony prior to the public dedication. She took that moment to explore her own relationship to her uncle and his memory.
Make travel important – transformative travel is life-changing
It is too easy to get stuck in a grind, in a life that sucks you into a day-to-day routine that leads to being unfit and unhealthy. But, if you make travel important, travel can be your lifesaver, leading you to a fresh start or exposing you to a mind-opening experience that affects you deeply and changes your life forever. Transformative travel is life-changing.
Solo road trip: How I fell in love with solo car travel
When the world came to a grinding halt in March 2020, the days began to melt one into the other. Until I discovered the joy of a solo road trip. This is the story of solo car travel as transformative travel and how it opened my mind and soul.
Why I Love Kenya – For 43 years I dreamed of returning
I fell in love with Kenya in 1978. It took me until 2021 to return. Despite the years between visits, it didn’t take long for me to remember why I love Kenya so much. Kenya still had much to teach me and so much love to give after all these years.
Iditarod dog sledding adventure – Nome Alaska goes to the dogs
Experience the lighter side of the Iditarod. Humor writer Michael Hodgson generates laughs during the Iditarod, an 1000-mile epic sled dog race from Anchorage to Nome. Even the dogs were laughing at him.
A love for travel began with my mum
My love for travel and adventure began with my mum. I still take time on her birthday, on Mother’s Day and on International Women’s Day to honor her and thank her for all the gifts she gave me. Gifts that have made me a better traveler, journalist, photographer and, I hope, a better man.
Top 10 stories of 2020 – Readers keep dreaming of travel
It has been a very long 2020 but through it all we found our readers still wanted to dream of travel, to think about travel, and to plan for travel. This was made clear with our Top 10 Stories of 2020 as selected by our readers and what they viewed. Local and regional U.S. stories, stories that highlighted adventures closer to home and ideas for road trips, sprinkled with a few topics drawn from our archives allowed us and our readers to keep dreaming of travel in 2021.
Remembering Little Charlie: My buddy Charles Baty the blues musician
Little Charlie wasn’t only a musician to me. He was a buddy, somebody with whom I had shared a passion for languages and travel. Most knew Charles Baty as an internationally renowned blues and jazz musician. He passed away on March 6, 2020. I will miss my buddy Charlie forever.
Life during the COVID-19 pandemic – Photos capture a world on hold
We put out a call to friends and colleagues around the world for photos to document how some of us are experiencing life during the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic. Photos from Stockholm, Berlin, Paris, Innsbruck, Boston, New Orleans, London, New York, and California. Each of the photos capture a world on hold during the coronavirus outbreak — sad, strange or with humor.
An entertaining stay-at-home travel itinerary in the age of coronavirus
You are stuck at home because of coronavirus stay-at-home requirements from governments and health agencies. Looking for things to do? This is your ultimate stay-at-home travel itinerary … where every day will be the same and only your imagination will limit your travel adventures. Tongue planted fully in cheek!
Goodbye Berlin – Hello to a world forever changed
In two short weeks, we went from happy travelers to anxious escapees. Therese and I held hands and stared out the airplane window. It was goodbye Berlin. Hello to a world forever changed. From Tegel airport to London Heathrow to Los Angeles and then home, each airport provided a glimpse of a world turned upside down because of COVID-19.
A tearful goodbye to Berlin as COVID changes the world
The coronavirus upended the entire travel world seemingly in days. Hurrying out of Berlin, I felt like an evacuee – not that I really know what that feels like – but here I was being forced to leave somewhere I didn’t want to. I felt like Pac-Man scurrying away from the hungry ghost called COVID-19.
Fear of COVID-19 – traveling in the age of coronavirus
Should we be traveling in the age of coronavirus? We make our living as travel writers and photographers. For us, it’s either travel, or find another line of work. But the fear of COVID-19 is real. How do we travel and still stay safe from coronavirus? Read our personal essay on learning to stay calm and travel despite a fear of cornonavirus.
Teddy & Friends: traveling stuffed animals
Traveling stuffed animals are perfect travel partners and friends. They never complain and are always ready for the next adventure, the next photo opportunity, or a really good restaurant. They listen intently to your every word. They are a constant reminder that imagination and a sense of humor inspire smiles and connections with strangers around the world. They travel free and often serve as a trip mascot, no matter what trip you are on. And they are always ready to offer a hug.
8 things we don’t do anymore when traveling: Thanks, technology
Times have changed a lot over the years, especially when it comes to travel, travel preparation, and things we don’t do anymore when traveling: Postcards? How quaint. Paper lists of addressees? Ah, adorable and clumsy. Paper maps? Why when we have Google?
When travel goes wrong: Sidelined by injury on the road
When travel goes wrong you are rarely as prepared as you’d like to be. I had made my way to Berlin two weeks before a long-planned photo trip to Morocco that I was beyond excited about. My plans were about to go sideways.
Bike safety check: Bike tour humor
Humor writer Michael Hodgson explains a daily bike safety check during a bike tour will help find potential bicycle problems that could cause discomfort, like a missing bike seat.
Travel photos – Instagram is turning us into idiots
Armed with digital cameras and smartphones travelers are able to detail every idyllic moment of every trip in all its “Instagrammable” glory with often ridiculous travel photos. In truth, Instagram is turning us all into idiots as we embark on a frantic search for the most Instagrammable moment.
Transformative travel – learning while traveling
I arrived at my photography workshop eager and excited for learning while traveling, but also more than a bit nervous. “Why?” asked one of the instructors earlier when I mentioned that I was a bit anxious. “We don’t bite.” Transformative travel is a marvelous thing for learning.
The art of slow travel: becoming part of a place
There is an art to slow travel. It doesn’t come easily, this crashing into a place. I like to sit, to wait for moments to come to me, to feel a country from the inside out.
Poignant Korean War Memorials: Honoring Uncle Ara
Korean War Memorials are always on my list to visit when traveling. My Uncle Ara disappeared on Oct. 23, 1951, less than a year into the Korean War. A part of an air mission with nine Super Fortresses, his B-29 bomber was one of six attacked by Soviet MIGs.
Remembering Christmas in Germany far from home
It was my first Christmas far away from home. I was 21 and an exchange student experiencing Christmas in Germany – with its Christmas traditions, markets, and more.
Airline acts of kindness do happen – more frequently than you imagine
Because we do fly a lot, and talk with so many other passengers and frequent travelers, we think it is worth pointing out there is another side to the story: Despite the avalanche of news regarding despicable behavior by some airline employees and by some passengers, there are always two sides. We would like to humbly point out that airline acts of kindness can and do happen, on an almost daily yet too often unreported manner.
Teddy Bear Wisdom: Travel with your best friend
Dr. Whoo and Tony believe it is so much fun to travel with your best friend. And, as you can tell, they are not exactly similar in style or even appearance though they have become the best of friends. And that is because they have learned to work together, listen to each other, encourage each other, and communicate openly and honestly.
Feeling the blues: Thanksgiving tour and Charles Baty’s missing home
Charles Baty is feeling the blues. As I prepare for the last road trip of the year (and probably my last road trip for a long time), I have been spending a lot of time re-tackling the solos of Charlie Parker and trying to learn more chords, arrange Christmas tunes for the holiday season and learn a few new jazz tunes.
Travel is fatal to prejudice and gives life to new friendships
JoJo knows from experience that travel is fatal to prejudice because travel gives life to new friendships that are never based on skin color, birthplace, language, religion, or sexual orientation — in other words, senseless fears of differences.
Love is Traveling Together
For Charlotte and FoxFury, the adventure of traveling together and the wonder and joy of seeing new places, meeting new people, and learning new things is the ultimate expression of love.
Mukluk experienced his first snowfall and first snow angel
Hiking in the Sierra Nevada Mountains near the towns of Portola and Graeagle just north of Lake Tahoe, Mukluk encountered his very first snowfall and of course had only one thought — he had to make his first snow angel.
Fear of Flying: The cockpit is no place for loud bangs
BOOM!!!… The unmistakable sound of an explosion or other impact came from the cockpit. Immediately the plane began to shake and, within seconds, we were executing a very tight turn and initiating a steep descent heading back toward Salt Lake City … and, I hoped, for the airport. She looked at me with very wide eyes. “You have an explanation for that, right?” Her fear of flying was real.
Traveling blues on tour: ‘Be the road,’ says Charles Baty
Traveling blues on tour with Charles Baty. Bluesdays at Squaw Valley has been going on for several years in the summer months. Bluesdays is a free all-ages concert and dance series in the Village at Squaw Valley most Tuesdays. Enjoy more blues wisdom from Charles Baty.
You don’t go to Tucson to eat pizza – Charles Baty blues wisdom
Traveling blues guitarist Charles Baty (“Little Charlie and the Nightcats”) and his fellow musicians with the Golden State-Lone Star Revue are on the road yet again – now in the Southwest, Northwest and California (wait, where did that one gig in Illinois come from?) This round, he and band members Mark Hummel, R.W. Grigsby, Wes Starr and Anson Funderburgh will be not only turning clubs into hot blues joints, but also some outdoor festivals.
Lost in Translation: Funny Chinese English instructions in hotels
You don’t have to spend more than a few hours in China before funny Chinese English instructions begin to leap out at you resulting in raised eyebrows, giggles, smiles, and even outbursts of laughter. But it is in hotels that the level of ridiculous attempts at English take on an entirely new level of funny Chinese English!
No polka for Charles Baty and the traveling blues band
More traveling blues wisdom from Charles Baty. He’s singing the blues now that his traveling blues band tour is over and he’s home without any more Saigon Nights ice cream.
Singing the blues: Charles Baty Lone Star Revue tour winds down
Traveling blues guitarist Charles Baty (“Little Charlie and the Nightcats”) and his fellow musicians with the Golden State-Lone Star Revue are nearing the end of their June tour through a few midwestern burgs (is Chicago a burg?). Charles Baty is singing the blues and offering up some tasty blues wisdom.
Red eye to hot blues: Charles Baty is off to Mishawaka and the Midwest
It is heating it up again in the Midwest with Charles Baty taking a red eye to hot blues. His traveling blues wisdom seems quite focused on food! Pizza, pizza, pizza?
Lost in Translation: Funny Chinese English on warning signs
The eleven signs with funny Chinese English in this post are part of our second offering in a series of stories on funny Chinese-to-English translation fails. If you missed it, be sure to check out “Lost in Translation: Fire warnings become funny Chinese signs.” Now, without further ado, funny Chinese signs with extremely humorous translation fails focused on warning the public about something or other.
Lost in Translation: Fire warnings become funny Chinese English signs
Funny Chinese English translation fails are legendary inspiring online spoofs and humor books. Here are 5 funny Chinese English fire warning translations that are hilarious.
A Road Trip: Refuge of the roads
A travel essay on the power of leaving home, hitting the road, casting oneself into uncertainty and danger, discovering the unknown, seeing one’s reflection in the landscape and the sky. These have been the stimuli and the “itch” that have propelled writers, artists and thinkers to abandon home, family and security and set out alone, across the seas, over the mystic mountains or out on a road trip.
Cruise ship boarding near miss: twice in two days!
Diane Benton and Jerry van Heeringen traveled for several weeks throughout Asia, hopping a cruise ship for part of that journey. They experienced a cruise ship boarding near miss, two days in a row, no less. Not what you normally plan on…but it does make for some great stories and lessons for us all.
Charles Baty Traveling Blues: dirty blues and Italian ice
Charles Baty talks dirty blues and Italian ice with this latest bit of traveling blues wisdom. As he counts down to the last gig on the Golden State-Lone Star Revue tour, they are the walking wounded.
My Traveling Blues: Charles Baty diner tour & driving tips
More traveling blues wisdom from Charles Baty: The official “Diner Tour” continued today at one of his favorite spots – Dove Diner in Newcastle, Del. It has an amazing assortment of cakes and pies that he had never tried because he’s always too full after finishing a breakfast there to even attempt a bite.
Calling Sweden. Talking to a ‘random Swede’
Calling Sweden? You mean the entire country? Yes, you once could call Sweden and talk to a “Random Swede” and ask this random person picked randomly in Sweden about some random thing. We bit on the Swedish Tourist Association’s new promotion, The Swedish Number. We’re all over random. And it was randomly funny! Listen in.
My Traveling Blues: A life on the road with Charles Baty
Famed blues guitarist Charles Baty (“Little Charlie and the Nightcats”) was a friend of HI Travel Tales. Baty semi-retired in 2008 but still hit the road to perform and enjoyed sharing his travel journal with us until his death on March 6, 2020. The Charles Baty collection is preserved as bit of Charles Baty traveling blues wisdom that remains timeless, like his music.
Running at Disney World turned me into an outlaw
During a trip to Orlando, Fla., in 2015, I was reminded of a previous vacation my husband and I took to Orlando’s Disney World – one where I actually tried running at Disney World. For runners, the city can be so aggravating: I call it the home of “sidewalks to nowhere.” That’s assuming there are any. Usually there are not. The moniker “sidewalks to nowhere” came up a long time ago when I would find that sidewalks just ended – wheelchair ramp and all – leaving any unlucky pedestrian in the middle of a busy street or slogging through rough grass and mud beside an endless stream of cars and trucks. Basically, this city ain’t designed for anything but automobiles.
Travel Packing Advice: Never leave home without these 5 items
Planning an international voyage? Need some travel packing advice? Here are a few items I’ve found indispensable in my misadventures around the world.
Airfare add ons are reaching the absurd
Flying on too many airlines in the world these days requires a calculator to determine all the airfare add ons unless you are privileged enough to have more than an average level of frequent flier status. Airfare add ons for luggage. More add ons for carry ons and luggage. Adding it all up can drive you crazy. Thanks to one of our intrepid world travelers for providing us so much fodder to create this decidedly, but not so far off, tongue-in-cheek ticket add-on detail…
Flying humor: Even the friendly skies can get a bit too friendly
I love meeting new people when I travel, but sometimes, even the friendly skies can get a bit too friendly for me. I had just settled into my exit row seat on the aisle of a Canadair Regional Jet from Los Angeles to Sacramento when Madame X arrived. Enjoy the humor that ensues.
A Traveler’s Shanghai – We are the people
Rain slick streets of Shanghai lie worn but resolute under two millennia of bare feet, sandals, hooves and wheels. The people run to work, hurry to school, linger in produce shops; peddling bikes, racing scooters, driving beat-down cars and over-stuffed delivery trucks. We are packed onto buses, waving for taxis and queuing for the metro.
Messing About in Boats: White water rafting on the Green River
“Hang on,” yelled our river guide Kevin with a grin. Leaning hard against the river’s pull, the oars bent slightly and the raft heaved to, taking a line that would carry us clear of the rocks, but right into the heart of the maelstrom. Heartbeats kept pace with the increasing speed of the raft as Kevin launched us into the jumble of waves. The raft bucked and heaved, so much so that in the middle of the rapid I managed to execute a nearly perfect back flip with a twist, landing smack in Kevin’s lap.
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