Archive for the ‘Travel’ Category

If you have not seen this documentary on the earth it is a must see! Stunning footage and packed with so much info I’m sure you never knew. It’s quite lengthy but when you watch it, the time will fly by and you will enjoy it!

Watch it here …..

HOME official website
http://www.home-2009.com

Since I travel so frequently, I always try to get the best deals on exchange rates and options on withdrawing money when traveling.  Banks really aren’t setup for people that travel much as they like to nickel and dime you every chance they get.  Looking at the largest international banks with most ATM’s I did a cost comparison for the number of ATM’s vs. Cost and Convenience.  My research showed that Citibank was one of the better larger banking institutions, which had minimal fees.  This research was done in 2009.

HSBC

HSBC ATM foreign (no charge but 3% transaction fee)

Non HSBC – $1.50 +3%

Wire Transfers – Incoming – $15.00

Wire Transfers – Outgoing – $30.00

BofA

ATM Global Alliance (wikipedia this) – 1%  or it would be $5.00

Withdrawal 1$

Wire Transfer – Outgoing $25

Incoming – $12.00

Foreign Fee – International

$2.00 – Domestic

WAMU/ CHASE

2.00 + foreign exchange action 1%

Free outgoing wire transfers

$10 – incoming wire transfers

Does not for domestic charge for ATM usage

Citibank

Foreign Transaction Fee: 3% of the transaction

Outgoing Wire Transfers online 18.75

@ A branch $25

In coming $10.00

Domestic / International Charge of ATM – $1.50

In the spring of 2009, I have the opportunity to take the mail train aka Jungle Train through Malaysia.  It was one of the most unique experiences I’ve had in my travels.  This is the schedule from 2009.  I doubt much has changed but plan according as the train never runs on time.

Jungle Train Schedule, Malaysia

WikiTravel has some more info regarding the fares and minor details here (Jungle Train of Malaysia).   When you take the train early in the AM (which I suggest) so you can see more, be sure to pack some bug spray and a travel pillow as you’ll have a few hours to kill prior to the departure of the train.  I was able to meet some cool backpackers (I’m actually facebooked and in touch with them today) and had a great time with them.

Although Malaysia is an Islamic country, I was able to purchase whiskey (my good luck charm when I travel).  If you decide to buy food at the few prolonged stops, I suggest take a tiny sip of Whiskey before and after to rinse down any bacteria you ingest that you’re not used to!

Because this is a mail train, it also services as a train for the locals to do intercity travel in rural areas and for school children.  The caboose has a kitchen.  It is open late morning to early evening and you can purchase beverages and snacks on it.  No need to pack tons of water with you when you travel on this train.

Some things I wish I had and wish I knew before I traveled:

- Jacket (light waterproof jacket as it’s chilly and it does rain)!

- Water (2 bottles is fine)

- Flashlight (always carry one)

- Hand Sanitizer (it’s nice but not essential)

- Shoes in case the bathroom is backed up (this is important to note.  The train’s bathroom could be backup and there could be sewage on floor).

- The Gemas ticket counter is open 24 hours and they are extremely friendly and helpful.

- ATM stops working at midnight – In Gemas there is a 7-11, but they do not do cash back.  Make sure you get cash before midnight if you need it.

This is relatively a safe fun adventure.  You won’t see any wild animals per say, just a lot of bugs and great scenery. However, you will see the locals and be able to interact with them.  Be sure to dress fairly conservatively if you want to engage them on a deeper level (which means women cover up your arms and legs, and men wear pans as opposed to shorts).

Contact me if you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them. You can check out my pictures of my trip here (Malaysia – Jungle Train Trip).

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Cities the train travels through in Malaysia:

SYCAMORE CANYON TRAIL
From Big Sycamore Canyon to Deer Camp Junction is 6.5 miles round trip with 200-foot elevation gain; return via Overlook Trail is 10 miles round trip with 700-foot gain  Sycamore Canyon Trail takes you through a peaceful wooded canyon, where a multitude of monarchs dwell, and past  some magnificent sycamores. The sycamores that shade the canyon bearing their name are incomparable. The lower  branches, stout and crooked, are a delight for tree-climbers. Hawks and owls roost in the upper branches. The trail follows
the canyon on a gentle northern traverse across Point Mugu State Park, the largest preserved area in the Santa Monica  Mountains. This trail, combined with Overlook Trail, gives the hiker quite a tour of the park.
Directions to trailhead: Drive up-coast on Highway 1, 32 miles from Santa Monica, to Big Sycamore Canyon
Campground in Point Mugu State Park (day-use fee). Walk past the campground entrance through the campground to a  locked gate.

From Hotel: Take 101 South to Kanan.  Take Kanan down to fork in the road at Pacific Coast Highway. Turn right continue down PCH to Big Sycamore Canyon Campground and follow above instructions.

The hike: Take the trail up-canyon, following the creek. Winter rains cause the creek to rise, and sometimes keeping your feet dry while crossing is difficult. Underground water keeps much of the creek side vegetation green year-round—so this is fine hike in any season.

**One-half mile from the campground you’ll spot Overlook Trail, which switchbacks to the west up a ridge and then heads north toward the native tall grass prairie in La Jolla Valley. Make note of this trail, an optional return route. “A second half mile of nearly level canyon walking brings you to another major hiking trail that branches right—Serrano Canyon Trail, an absolute gem.

“Another easy mile of walking beneath the sycamores brings you to a picnic table shaded by a grove of large oak trees.  The oaks might be a good turnaround spot for a family with small children. The total round trip distance would be a little over 4 miles.

Continuing up the canyon you’ll pass beneath more of the giant sycamores and soon arrive at Wood Canyon Junction, the hub of six trails which lead to all corners of the park. Bear left on signed Wood Canyon Trail and in a short while you’ll reach Deer Camp Junction. Drinking water and picnic tables suggest a lunch stop. Oak trees predominate over the sycamores along Wood Canyon Creek; however, the romantic prefer the sycamores, some of which have large clumps of mistletoe in the upper branches.
You can call it a day here and return the way you came. As you hike down the canyon back to the campground, the large and cranky scrub jay population will scold you, but don’t let the squawking birds stop you from enjoying one of California’s finest sycamore savannas.
To return via Overlook Trail: Continue past the junction with Wood Canyon Trail and Deer Camp Junction on the Wood Canyon Trail, which becomes Pumphouse Road. You’ll climb over the divide between Sycamore Canyon and La Jolla Valley. Upon reaching a junction, you’ll head south on the Overlook Trail, staying on the La Jolla Canyon side of the ridge. True to its name, Overlook Trail offers good views of grassy mountainsides, Boney Peak and Big Sycamore Canyon. “You’ll pass an intersection with Scenic Trail, a rough path that hugs the ridge separating La Jolla and Big Sycamore
Canyon, where you’ll bear right and follow the fire road one-half mile back to the trailhead.

UPPER SOLSTICE CANYON, MALIBU CALIFORNIA
Highlights: Wonderful ocean and mountain views, unusual sandstone formations
Near: Malibu, CA
Scenery: -ktttti
Distance:        5 miles round trip
Elevation 1000 ft
Gain:
Hike Time:      3 hours
Difficulty: Moderate
Trail Condition:Well maintained trail
HikeType:       Loop
Summary: This hike first descends into Upper Solstice Canyon where the pleasant, mostly shaded trail follows a
seasonal creek bed. As the trail begins to rise out of the canyon, the views get progressively more spectacular.
First, lovely folded green hills emerge, followed by large sandstone formations in the distance. As you gain
elevation, ocean views become more promenent. On a clear day, you can see most of the Channel Islands,
Catalina, and the Santa Monica coastline.
Once over the crest, seemingly endless layers of mountains abound in an almost 360 degree panorama, including  views down into Malibu Canyon and beyond. I found it breathtaking.
Trail head: From Pacific Coast Highway in Malibu, head 5.5 miles inland on Corral Canyon Road to a dirt parking lot  where the road dead ends. Note that Corral Canyon runs between Malibu Canyon Road and Kanan Road. The best way to take this hike is clockwise, starting with the trailhead for the Backbone trial on the west side of the parking  lot, then returning on the Castro Motorway (a fire road). (Lat:34.08152 Lon:-118.75781)
FROM HOTEL: Take the 101 South and Exit Kanan. Continue down Kanan (a curvy road). When you get to the
fork in the road at Pacific Coast Highway turn left. Turn left at the 76 station (Corral Canyon Rd.)

ARROYO SEQUIT SITE
Accessed from Mulholland Highway, Arroyo Sequit Park is one of the most beautiful destinations in the western
Santa Monica Mountains. Park features include a perennial stream, a loop trail, rocks, and meadows that are
blanketed with wildflowers in the Spring. The Arroyo Sequit contains some of the best aquatic ecological resources
of all the coastal streams in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Start out going NORTH on RUSSELL RANCH RD toward LINDERO CANYON RD.0.1 mi
Turn LEFT onto LINDERO CANYON RD.0.5 mi
Turn RIGHT onto AGOURA RD. 1.4 mi
Turn LEFT onto S WESTLAKE BLVD/CA-23 S. Continue to follow CA-23 S.
Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto MULHOLLAND HWY. 1.8 mi
End at 34138 Mulholland Hwy Malibu, CA 90265-2356
minutes Estimated Distance: 10.58 mile
Address: 34138 Mulholland Highway, Malibu
Phone:(818)597-9192

Sycamore Canyon Trail

ARROYO SEQUIT SITE
Accessed from Mulholland Highway, Arroyo Sequit Park is one of the most beautiful destinations in the western
Santa Monica Mountains. Park features include a perennial stream, a loop trail, rocks, and meadows that are
blanketed with wildflowers in the Spring. The Arroyo Sequit contains some of the best aquatic ecological resources
of all the coastal streams in the Santa Monica Mountains.
Start out going NORTH on RUSSELL RANCH RD toward LINDERO CANYON RD.0.1 mi
Turn LEFT onto LINDERO CANYON RD.0.5 mi
Turn RIGHT onto AGOURA RD. 1.4 mi
Turn LEFT onto S WESTLAKE BLVD/CA-23 S. Continue to follow CA-23 S.
Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto MULHOLLAND HWY. 1.8 mi
End at 34138 Mulholland Hwy Malibu, CA 90265-2356
minutes Estimated Distance: 10.58 mile
Address: 34138 Mulholland Highway, Malibu
Phone:(818)597-9192

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MOONRIDGE TRAIL, PARADISE FALLS,
INDIANT CREEK LOOP
WILDWOOD PARK
Located in Thousand Oaks, an easy three mile round trip, with a total elevation gain/loss of about 500 feet. Starting on Moonridge Trail, then past the tepee, and down to the waterfall. At Paradise Falls, there is a picnic table in the shade of an oak tree, and steps that lead down to the pool at the base of the falls. On the return, not far upstream, there is a tranquil picnic area at Little Falls – another great place to take a break.
Map of this Hike

Directions to Wildwood Park:
Left onto Lindero Canyon Road
Merge onto the US 101 North towards Ventura
Merge onto the 23 Freeway towards Fillmore
Exit Avenida de Los Arboies, make a left
Continue on until you arrive at the Parking lot at Los Arboies & Big Sky

Moodridge Trail

————
TRIUNFO CREEK PARK

Triunfo Creek Park

The Pentachaeta Trail provides visitors with a corridor of discovery through Truinfo Creek Park.  This scenic trail meanders for 1.5 miles through 600 acres of protected open space and wildlife habitat. Only hiking is encouraged.

Directions: From the 101 Freway in Westlake Village exit Lindero Canyon Rod.  Take Lindero south to Triunfo Canyon Road.  Turn left. The trailhead is located opposite of Oak Forest Mobile Home.

MALIBU CREEK STATE PARK
Features hiking, fishing, bird watching and horseback riding opportunities.
Malibu Creek Trail
To Rock Pool is 3.5 miles round trip with 150-foot elevation gain
To Century Lake is 4.5 miles round trip with 200-foot elevation gain  Before land for Malibu Creek State Park was acquired in 1974, it was divided into three  parcels belonging to Bob Hope, Ronald Reagan, and 20th Century Fox. Although the park  is still used for movie making, it’s primarily a haven for day hikers and picnickers.  Today the state park preserves more than 7,000 acres of rugged country in the middle of
the Santa Monica Mountains. Malibu Creek winds through the park. The creek was  dammed at the turn of the century to form little Century Lake.  The trail along Malibu Creek explores the heart of the state park. It’s an easy, nearly level  walk that visits a dramatic rock gorge, Century Lake and several locales popular with
movie makers.
Directions to trailhead from Residence Inn by Marriott Westlake Village:
(Map Attached)  Take the 101 Freeway South, exit on Las Virgenes/ Malibu Canyon Road Exit 32, turn
right onto Las Virgenes Road and continue four miles to park entrance, (on right hand
side)
The hike: From the parking area, follow the wide Fire road. You’ll cross the all-but-dry
creek. The road soon forks into a high road and a low road. Go right and walk along the
oak-shaded high road, which makes a long, lazy left arc as it follows the north bank of
Malibu Creek. You’ll reach an intersection and turn left on a short road that crosses a
bridge over Malibu Creek.

You’ll spot the Gorge Trail and follow it upstream a short distance to the gorge, one of
the most dramatic sights in the Santa Monica Mountains. Malibu Creek makes a hairpin
turn through 400-foot volcanic rock cliffs and cascades into aptly named Rock Pool. The
“Swiss Family Robinson” television series and some Tarzan movies were filmed here.
Return to the trailhead or retrace your steps back to the high road and bear left toward
Century Lake. As the road ascends you’ll be treated to a view of Las Virgenes Valley.
When you gain the crest of the hill, you’ll look down on Century Lake. Near the lake are
hills of porous lava and tops3′-turvy sedimentary rock layers that tell of the violent
geologic upheaval that formed Malibu Canyon. The lake was scooped out by members of
Crag’s Country Club, a group of wealthy, turn of-the-century businessmen who had a
nearby lodge.  You can call it a day here, or continue on the fire road past Century Lake. You’ll pass the
location of the now-removed set for the “M*A*S*H” television series. The prominent
Goat Buttes that tower above Malibu Creek were featured in the opening shot of each
episode.

Malibu Creek State Park