Travel Blogs (264)

Historically, a stage coach is a horse drawn carriage from the old West that often carried passengers, mail and money (usually gold or silver) across America. Having a driver alone was too dangerous if they carried bullion, so a second person was hired as protection against attacks by bandits or (as they were called in that period) Indians.
The second person carried a shotgun (and or rifles and handguns) and sat alongside the driver. Usually, this tipped off the bandits as a lone driver carried no money.

The phrase 'Riding Shotgun' was coined as the person sitting next to the driver and still carries over into modern times... hopefully without the guns!

Nobody wanted to sit in the back seat, so when dad wanted his kids to accompany him on a trip it was a duel as to who got to sit up front. The car had a bench seat and some models were large enough to hold 3, but as we grew older and bickering occurred only one could have the position of shotgun.

The same thing happened when I was in a band and we were old enough to have a license to drive. Frank had a van that carried some of our equipment to rehearsal. If you didn't call shotgun and be the first, you had to sit on the floor of the van... without much air conditioning.

I remember Bob called "Universal Shotgun" and Jay said "Only if you'd like to be ejected from the group"



Junior Walker and The All-Stars performing SHOTGUN on the 1966 TV show HULLABALOO

I took a vacation to Oregon. It's about 1800 miles one way. I made it in 3 days on my trike. On the way up I had 2 days I rode over 600 miles, a bit hard on the sit down, but still a lot of fun. On the way home I had a day I rode a little over 700 miles. I didn't much care for riding around in the Portland area, but I loved it when we went to the coast. Such beautiful country, and the roads are great for riding. While in Oregon I had my sister, 2 nieces, and a nephew ride with me. What a trip, not bad for an old man.

Green Iguanas aren't indigenous to Florida. They were brought to Florida on ships from Central and South America that carried fruits. Often thought their presence was good, they soon found out the Iguanas became a nuisance. They cause damage to plants with flowers, foliage, or any kind of vegetables and they destroy them. Moreover, iguanas burrow deep holes in the soil that can damage the infrastructure of sea walls, sidewalks and drainage canals.

Florida Wildlife Commission (FWC) deems them an invasive species and are NOT protected. There are services available for Iguana removal and no license is required to kill them as long as it done in a swift humanely manner.

Often, they become road kill when they get in the way of oncoming vehicles. That was the case this morning when I was leaving a project in a community surrounded by dense foliage. When they are hanging in trees and moving about they appear to be really slow... however they are extremely quick to run and can disappear in a heartbeat when provoked.

This one committed suicide and there was no way I could have avoided hitting him. It felt like I struck a 4 inch thick tree branch. The cars behind me had to steer around to miss him.

NOTE: The photo below is for visual reference to the variety that inhabit South Florida.
IT'S NOT A PHOTO OF THE ACTUAL IGUANA IN MY BLOG.

I watched a handful of Border Security videos yesterday and came up with the feeling (like the UFO Hunter movies) they were all Staged. Perfectly filmed using professional actors.

The video attached is the Canadian version, border patrol and Airport customs. Interesting stories about procedures and determination of who gets through.




On another episode, a European woman who had previously worked in Canada with a proper work visa was returning with a tourist visa. They asked her if she intended to work while in Canada and she stated no. Security called her 2 previous employers, they both said they were expecting her. Due to not having a work visa and lied to security, she was denied entry for one year and had to return back home.

I'm slowly getting things in order for my trip to the USA next year. I've sorted accommodations, which gives me the kind of calm that I need when there's so much to plan.

I asked my friend straight up, if I could stay at her place for the week. She lives in a 1 bedroom apartment, but if I can handle the couch, I am more than welcome to stay at her place. Immediately, my answer was "I'll take the couch for the week!". That frees up more money to spend on things, which is extremely positive.

So now, I just need to save up for the spending money, and I'll be ready! 272 days 10 hours and 14 minutes until the plane takes off! Super excited!

Well, I consider Omaha home now but I’ve been pining to go back to Malaysia for awhile now. Wanted to fly back late last year/earlier this year but there were too many restrictions still and I abandoned the idea until a month ago when Art just booked a ticket for me to fly back to Malaysia end of this year!

I’d be visiting on my own without Art. We both feel it’s best I go alone coz by then, I haven’t been back for more 3 years and I would’ve a lot of things to catch up with family and friends and so many food to binge and gorge

A couple of days ago, I saw on my FB Malaysia Quarantine support group that the Malaysia Health Ministry have decided to do away with the cumbersome ’Traveller Card’ and now all I gotta do before I embark on my flight is to just fill up my vaccination details on that one app. Such a far cry from early this year!



My daughter already been making plans to take time off from her work so that we can spend a little bit of time together. My girlfriends will make sure their calendar is cleared when I go back to my hometown, they better be!

My ex-husband’s aunts and cousins already invited me to their house to stay and promised to cook for me the whole time I’m there! I’ve even placed the menu!

December cannot come any sooner….



It’s a good thing the world is slowly opening up now. People can be reunited and for those who have been wanting to meet their long-distance relationship ‘love’, this is the time! What are you waiting for?!?!

I know I am very early with all this planning, but it doesn't hurt to be well prepared.

So far, I have three things planned: The first thing is transportation from the airport to my accommodation. My friend is picking me up from the airport, so that's a plus! That saves me money on an Uber or a taxi.

Second: Places to eat! I am visiting one fast food place, one restaurant and one street food place. I have the fast food locked in, which is Wendy's. I will decide on a restaurant and a street food place later down the line.

Third: A visit to a mall. I want to visit a proper American mall, with lots of shops and food options. If the weather is good, I might go for a stroll along a waterfront.

Once my accommodation is booked, I will apply for an ESTA.

For now, more planning.

I know, 302 days, 14 hours and 51 minutes until departure, but still!

I did it. I booked the flight to Washington today. The price? 3658 DKK, which is about $515. For that price I am in economy, which is fine. It's what I'm used to, anyway. I'm flying with an airline, that I have never flown with before. Lufthansa.

The flight schedule is as follows:

Copenhagen to Frankfurt, with a 2 hour and 35 minute layover in Frankfurt. On that particular flight, I'm flying with an Airbus A320neo. I've been in one of those before, and it's comfortable. This flight is about an hour and a half.

Then it's time for the longest flight I have been on. From Frankfurt to Washington Dulles, which is a 9 hour flight.. Nine hours..I don't even know what I'm supposed to DO for nine hours in a metal tube in the air.. Anyway, this flight will be with an Airbus A330-300, a plane that I have no experience with, at all. I have heard good and bad things about it, so I'm excited to see how it really is.

One week in the USA, and it's time to go home again.

The flight schedule home is as follows:

Washington Dulles to Frankfurt in the Airbus A330-300, and from Frankfurt to Copenhagen in an Airbus A321.

"But Philipsen, how are the seating charts on the planes?", I hear you ask. Well! It's your lucky day, because I looked it up, and it's all VERY exciting!

The Airbus A320neo is in a 3-3 configuration, while the Airbus A330-300 is in a 2-4-2 configuration. Finally, the Airbus A321 is in a 3-3 configuration. Yes, I have been watching travel vloggers just to get a sense of how the planes will be.

All in all, I'm super excited to travel to the USA. Hopefully I will actually be able to go this time. The last time, a pandemic ground my trip to a halt.

Now begins the fun part: Saving up money and also booking a place to stay for the trip. I can't wait!

BTW, if anyone have flown with Lufthansa, please tell me how the flight was! I'd appreciate it!

The last time I was on a proper holiday was in 2010 where I went to London, England, for an extended weekend break. Yesterday, I decided to finally book a holiday out of the country. My destination? Virginia, USA. When? May 2023.

Flights are cheap now. From Copenhagen to Dulles, with a layover in Frankfurt, and from Dulles back to Copenhagen, with a layover in Munich: $377.. Economy class, so nothing fancy. I will worry about booking a hotel later, right now I'll book the flight and start saving up for some spending money. I'm thinking about $800 should do for a week.

The trip itself is with Lufthansa, an airline I have never flown with, however I have heard good things about them. The flight to Frankfurt is with an Airbus A320neo, which isn't that exciting. The more exciting thing is the flight from Frankfurt to Dulles: A 747-8! A plane I have been wanting to fly on since I was able to walk.

The flight home is with an Airbus A350 to Frankfurt, and an Airbus A320 to Copenhagen from Frankfurt.

But yeah, a $377 return flight to the USA from Copenhagen is VERY cheap!

I can't wait! Hopefully they won't cancel it like my trip to New York back in 2020..