Lee Foster (fostertravel.com)

Gas Prices and Travel

I doubt that we comprehend at all the vast implications of much higher gas prices on travel.

When an American family begins to realize that a gallon of gas costs $4, and that the car might get 20 mpg, costing 20 cents a mile for gas alone, meaning $1 for every five miles the car is driven, then I think there will be less driving.  One wonders how long and how far the rubber tire travel scene will persist.

The gap between the haves/have mores and the have nots will continue to grow.  Travel will become only a vicarious and virtual experience for most of the have nots. 

One wonders how the long haul and long flight destinations will do, such as Hawaii.  With Aloha and ATA dropping into bankruptcy, there will be fewer flights going to Hawaii, and prices will probably rise.  Gas costs will also raise the fares.  At what point will the consumer simply drop out of purchasing the product?

This past month I went to two travel public relations meetings in which the promoters remained bullish.  I went to Maui HI and CA Tourism meetings in San Francisco.  Maui remains confident.  CA tourism overall is thriving.  But how long will this optimism last?

The rising gas prices will affect every aspect of the travel product that a consumer experiences.  For example, the restaurant that wants to bring in the local boutique goat cheese for its menu now will be paying more for transportation.  Every commodity that becomes part of the travel experience will have a higher energy cost.

One wonders if the golden age of travel in behind us, and the more strained era of ever more restricted travel is before us.

Travel and Hunger

The world will be a slightly edgier place this year for people who travel abroad.

There is an invisible stress on the faces of everyone.

The issue is world food prices, up perhaps 40% in the last year.  Some analysts put the figure higher, perhaps 55%.  The figures are for basics, such as grain, dairy, and cooking oil.

People are rioting, from Egypt to Haiti.  In other places the level of resentment, basic insecurity, and fear grows higher.

The factors behind the increase in food prices are difficult to control.

First, more basic grains are going into energy production, rather than food.  This is true of corn.

Second, it is said that the wealthy of India now want to eat meat, not grain, so a larger part of the huge grain production there is being diverted to meat production.

Third, transportation costs are rising, affecting all food prices, especially if the distribution chain is long distance and much freight is required.

And fourth, there are some climate changes that are adversely affecting former patterns of food production, especially drought where there has rarely been drought before.

There are few indicators that the situation will get better.  Probably it will get worse.  People are stressed in the wealthy countries, such as the US, about rising food prices.  Image the countries where the average person is getting by on $2/day.

The outlook is grim.  Many travelers will glimpse it, especially those wandering in the Third World.

The Challenges of Kenya Travel

The ongoing tribal struggles in Kenya have had a devastating effect on Kenyans and on potential world travelers because safari travel has slowed.  One can only hope that the situation will improve.

I went in today and touched up my major Kenya coverage, titled Kenya's Wildlife Heritage, which may be the longest and most thorough of all my 200 worldwide coverages on my website.

Travel to Kenya to see the magnificent wildlife was one of the the major and most satisfying  experiences in my entire life of travel.  Take a look at the article.

I touched up the article to put in more warnings: when tribal struggles rise, safari travel needs to be postponed until it is safe.

However, when a major tour operator says it is safe, do go.  They tend to know their business and headlines in the news may not reflect the safari experience in the field

It is said that about five million Kenyans depend on safari visitors for their livelihoods.  The safari visitor can postpone a visit, but the local Kenyan will starve, meanwhile.

Suppressing tribal and ethnic passions has been one of the great achievements of modern Kenya.  However, when those passions erupt, it is a tragic day for all parties.   

Maui For Romance

I recently attended a press briefing in San Francisco regarding Maui and its immediate neighbor, Molokai, in Hawaii.

Maui is an important place in the Hawaii travel picture.  I have a robust article on Maui.  My most recent article on Hawaii is about the lovely and little visited Molokai.

So, what is Maui emphasizing for 2008? The theme is Romance Me Maui.  This is partly because Maui is the most popular of all the Hawaiian Islands for marriages.  An estimated 43 percent of the marriages by out-of-staters in Hawaii occur on Maui.   A sunset ceremony on the beach is the single most desired request for a Maui wedding.

There are many venues in Maui, from the upscale Wailea to the hidden Hana, accessible only after a long drive.

I have enjoyed a drive all the way around the island, which is a full day excursion, but lets you see the back side of the volcano and the rustic cattle grazing terrain that few people see.

Maui can accommodate a lot of visitors--some 2.3 million a year.  Even if the numbers drop slightly due to the declining economy, Maui won't be hurting.  It may amount to a little "right-sizing" to keep the island's balance between its own identity and what it presents to a visitor.

The representative from Molokai relayed to me her biggest challenge, which is when visitors drop into this remote island with no plan for lodging.  Rooms are limited on Molokai, so plan in advance.  The Lodge at Molokai Ranch was a good choice, but it has gone out of business.  Hotel Molokai would now be my choice.  The wonderful mule trip down the leper colony and a hike into a remote taro-growing valley with a guide are highlights of a Molokai trip. 

Hong Kong Continues To Flourish

Hong Kong continues to flourish in the worldwide travel scene, as part of its special relationship with China.

When the Beijing 2008 Olympics realized that Mao had not been focused historically on equestrian emphases, and that Hong Kong, with its sinful colonialism, had a world class Jockey Club legacy, it was determined, wisely, that Hong Kong would be the site of the 2008 Olympics equestrian events.  This was a smart decision.

When Hong Kong, ever the attentive Chinese merchant, determined that its prices were a little high for 2008, the movers and shakers decided that all major hotel taxes should be eliminated.  Another smart decision, making Hong Kong affordable for some 28 million people who choose to go there this year.

I took some time today and had some pleasure in updating my own extensive Hong Kong writing/photo article at

www.fostertravel.com/temp-HONGKO.html.

I learned these matters recently in San Francisco while talking to some Hong Kong Folks at a restaurant known as Yank Sing, in the lovely restored art deco Rincon Center at 101 Spear Street.  Some at my table insisted that this was the finest Chinese restaurant in The City, and when the ninth course in the festive Chinese New Year dinner arrived, which was a tasty Beijing duck, I was not prepared to argue.   

Kennedy Space Center Thrills

The experience a traveler can expect to have at the Kennedy Space Center in Florida continues to improve.

I had a chance to venture back a couple of weeks ago after a few years' absence.

It was thrilling to see the Atlantis on the shuttle launch platform, just a few days before the actual recent launch.

The bus tour I took, called the NASA Up Close Tour, took me to an observation hill about a half mile from the Atlantis.

Another tremendously intriguing experience now is seeing the actual work being done on the International Space Station.  From an elevated and enclosed public viewing area in a large warehouse-like building, you can gaze down at the actual workers assembling various parts of the projected space station. 

Another exhibit that wasn't there during my last visit is the Saturn V/Apollo display, showing the largest rocket ever made.  A lot of memorabilia in the exhibit refers to various moon walks, including a training vehicle for the moon rover efforts.

When you enter the space complex, there still is the famous Rocket Garden, where the entire rocket history of US space exploration is on display.

A sobering exhibit, of course, is the black granite slab with names etched on it honoring all those who have lost their lives in the space program, most notably from the two shuttles that failed.

If you find yourself headed to Orlando, spending a day at this space exploration site east and north from the city is highly recommended.

Travel Goes Green in 2008

Increasingly, a travel consumer will need to react to the concept of “green” when traveling in 2008.

Many travel entities will stress that they are “going green,” so a consumer will need to react in some way to that comment.  Is the comment true?  What does it mean?

As a travel journalist I am getting numerous press releases on green.

Many entities will claim they have an inherent “green” subject in their travel.   Cruising to watch humpback whales in Alaska, wolf watching in Yellowstone, and polar bear viewing in Manitoba will claim a territory as green subjects.  I enjoy reporting on these kinds of activities, as anyone looking over my website at www.fostertravel.com knows.

But “green” will mostly be associated with the process of travel and with saving energy and resources.

Here are five examples of recent “green” press releases.

-24 Orlando Hotels Have Received “Green” Certification.  This communication itemizes all the actions these hotels are taking, such as water conservation, linen reuse, programmable thermostats, and recycling.  A consumer will be asking,“How green is this hotel?"

-A PR Company announces that all its staff will travel with a full “carbon offset” in 2008.   They are estimating the tons of carbon emissions generated in staff travel and pursuing a partnership with an entity such as carbonfund.org to invest in renewable energy sources, planting trees, etc.  A consumer will need to learn more about what “carbon offset” means and determine whether he or she wants to support it, either directly with a donation or in the price paid for the travel choice.

-West Hollywood Going Green.  When I saw this press release, I was skeptical.  What are they doing?  However, one of their good ideas is that all their travel press materials will now be distributed on flash drives, those little drives you can plug into your usb port.  Flash drives are getting quite cheap. 

West Hollywood will not need to print and mail heavy materials.  When going green also means saving money, you can be assured that all travel entities will do the right thing.

-A Mekong Delta Tourism Guide touts how it will feature only “responsible” tourism.  Green will have a major cultural and sustainable element.  The claim here is that the activities listed minimize negative tourism impacts, create income for local people, and conserve natural and cultural heritage.

-Xanterra Set To Install Large Solar Energy System at Death Valley.  One of my favorite press release generators is a woman named Mona Mesereau, who sends info on what’s happening in Xanterra, a company that manages several large national parks in the west, such as Yellowstone and Death Valley.  Xanterrra will be installing what it claims is “the largest solar system in the U.S. tourism industry” in Death Valley.  Xanterra is a progressive company involved in many aspects of green, which I have seen closeup in their operation in Yellowstone.

As a travel journalist, a lot of press releases claiming “green” now come my way.  As a consumer, you too will be hearing many “green” claims.  Your judgment, and mine, will be required to sort through these claims, assess their validity, and determine how this will impact our travel choices.

Seasonal Travel Pleasures in Washington DC

I am in Washington DC for awhile carrying on my travel journalism in a wintry environment.

I am reminded of how some of our favorite travel destinations are celebrated for their relatively changeless year-round pattern (Hawaii is the classic example) and how others (such as Washington DC) offer a major seasonal variation in travel experience.

Each season in Washington DC has its special pleasures.  I come here often and year around, and am working now on a book for travelers on how to photograph Washington DC year around.  The book will be released by Countryman Press in late 2009.  (I am doing a similar book on San Francisco, near my primary residence in Berkeley CA).

As I walk the Mall in this chilly time, I think of Washington and his troops surviving a winter at Valley Forge, to the north in Pennsylvania.  The trees around the White House are spare of leaves and the National Christmas Tree in front of the White House could indeed be in Minnesota if there were snow on the ground, as sometimes does occur. 

My next visit will probably be in the spring Cherry Blossom time, a totally different physical feel to this great imperial city.  You can peruse my past coverage of the Cherry Blossom Festival at your leisure.

In summer, the weather is warm, the trees are lush with foliage, and the perennial Washington seems to appear, rugged and full with seasonal growth.  This is a time to consider my past writeups/photos on Perennial Washington DC.

However, this past year, for the first time, I happened to be in Washington DC for the glorious fall color period, in October.  Even on the Mall, you can find maple trees ablaze with the Washington Monument in the background.

Certainly, there are some destinations, such as Hawaii, that we savor because year round the temperatures may vary by 5 or so degrees.  It takes some local expertise in Hawaii to know what the season is.

But in Washington DC there is a theater of the four seasons,  and every day the performance changes a little, which can have some improvisational pleasure for a traveler.

Cellar360 in San Francisco

The multiplicity of satisfying travel, food, and wine experiences available for a traveler in Northern California continues to expand exponentially.

I had an opportunity this week to sample in San Francisco one aspect of the evolving travel/food scene, Cellar360, focused on wine and food tasting.  You don't have to go up to Napa or Sonoma any more to have a quality wine tasting. 

You can have it right at Ghirardelli Square in San Francisco at an entity called Cellar360.  These tastings are no longer free, but they are available, starting at $10. 

Cellar360 is an elaborate showcase for one family of wine companies, the Foster Wine Estates (no relation, but think Australian beer).  Cellar 360 has some top California companies in its family, such as Stags Leap, Beringer, Chateau St. Jean.  The portfolio of wines is global, but even among the California members of the group there is quite a spectrum, from mass to boutique producers.

The concept behind the name is that this one brand includes a cluster of wineries from around the world, good wine coming at you from all directions.

You can walk in off the street and do a quality tasting, perhaps with paired cheeses, for a moderate price.   The moderate price offsets the gas costs for a trip up to Napa, where quality tastings also now carry a charge.

When you taste at Cellar360, you may experience a new word for your culinary vocabulary, "wine flights."  You may need to choose a certain wine "flight."  Flight means the cluster of wines at different price levels or of different types that you might experience.  Some flights are more expensive than others.  I first experienced the word at a posh fine dining experience in Minneapolis this summer.  I have to choose my "wine flight" level for the meal.  Similarly, at Cellar360 there are levels of flights of wine.

Cellar360 hopes to sell a lot of bottles of all the wines in the store.  The hope is that a quality tasting experience, perhaps paired with "charcuterie" tasting plates, and some educational efforts, will put the traveler in a favorable mood to buy bottles of wine at $25/35.  There are about 200 premium wines for sale, from over 40 regions on four continents, with knowledgeable staff present.  Culinary events and courses occur at the Cellar360's tasting/cooking facility.   The "concierge" service at Cellar360 can also arrange visits to their wineries in Napa/Sonoma.  The website is www.cellar360.com.  Food and wine can be enjoyed outdoors at Cellar360, but the code word is "weather permitting."  Anyone who knows San Francisco will attest to glorious sunny days interspersed with fog, rain, and bone-chilling cold, some elements of which may be present year round.

The main people on site are manager Chris Langston and chef Kasey Passen. 

The amount of energy going into ever better food and wine experiences in the Northern California travel scene is simply amazing, spanning a spectrum of restaurants, wineries, celebrity chefs, and boutique food producer.  Cellar360 is a new element in the scene, worth checking out. 

"Plastination" in San Jose, CA

"Plastination" may be coming to a city near you, if you are fortunate.

Plastination is the art and science of preserving human bodies, halting decomposition and saving them in a plastic form for medical study and public wonderment when on display.  The technology was developed in Heidelberg, Germany by Dr. Gunther von Hagens.  However, von Hagens wanted to present the human body to an audience far larger than the world of medical students.   His displays have been seen by about 25 million laymen so far.

I recently saw his exhibit,  Body Worlds 2,  at The Tech Museum in San Jose, CA.  There are imitator exhibits, but the von Hagen exhibit is the gold standard.  For one thing, all his bodies are from voluntary donors.

To enjoy this exhibit, you must first accept the notion that it is appropriate to display bodies in this way.  Much of what we do with bodies comes from the metaphors we apply to the body.  I remember, as an undergraduate student, in my History of Science class at Notre Dame, reading the seminal paper in which Descartes portrayed the human heart as a machine, the first time this metaphor was used in Western thought.  Once the heart, and the human body, was seen as a machine, much could be done with it, including having its parts replaced etc.

The exhibit in San Jose is quite poetic.  In one display, the entire nervous system has been removed from the body and is presented as a marvelous web.

The presentation can also be sobering.  The black lung of a smoker is shown adjacent to a healthy lung.

Many of the bodies shown are presented as athletes in motion, so don't assume that this exhibit is a series of cadavers.  Parts of bodies are stripped away to show muscle, fat, bones, or whatever a specific display focuses on.

There are three Body Worlds exhibits now circulating, staying for 4-6 months in a location.

This exhibit is at the Tech Museum, a lively place in San Jose.  If you are journeying far to see it and need lodging, just across the street is the landmark Fairmont San Jose.  There are several good restaurants within walking distance, starting with the Fairmont's Grill.