Bahamas 2026

Posted: April 1, 2026 in 2026, Travel
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My Dad’s passport expires next year. I wanted to make sure we got a father/son trip in before that happened. When I asked where he might want to go, he said he loves Hawaii, but had been too many times, so we decided to go someplace neither of us had been.

We soon set about the hard work of lying around and reading with the occasional dip in bathtub-temperature water.

Our hotel was right on the beach on the island of Exuma, one of 700 islands that make up the Bahamas.

Although most associate it with the Caribbean, the Bahamas is technically in the North Atlantic Ocean, making it an island country in the West Indies. The Tropic of Cancer goes right through the Bahamas and splits the island chain of Exuma in half. (The Tropic of Cancer is the northernmost point on Earth where the sun can be directly overhead at noon.)

In 1492, Christopher Columbus made his first landfall in the Americas in the Bahamas, and boaters have been visiting ever since.

One of the sailors from the boating community volunteered to take us on a tour around the island. This is one of the first churches.

There is a reason why the beaches in the Bahamas are legendary and hit differently. The pristine white sand is made of pulverized coral and seashells, and the turquoise water is crystal-clear because there is no plankton and no rivers or streams are flowing into the ocean, meaning zero mud, silt, or runoff to mess up the killer effect.

These gentle, non-aggressive stingrays can sting you, but that is extremely rare. You can swim with them, just don’t step on them!

The Queen conch is a large, edible sea snail and cultural icon in the Bahamas, even appearing on the coat of arms.

Conch is the main part of the country’s unofficial national dish – fresh conch salad. This guy makes it best!

From what I can understand, this rusty cannon used to protect the salt trade during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Apparently, light pastels and bright hues act as heat refractors, reflecting the intense sun to help interiors stay cooler, but I think it also reflects the joyful spirit, music, and laid-back lifestyle.

It is important to mind your Ps and Qs while visiting!

Although this peaceful sunrise from our hotel balcony doesn’t capture the relentless onshore wind we experienced, it does wrap our trip up in a neat little bow!

Sri Lanka 2025

Posted: June 2, 2025 in 2025, Travel
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Sri Lanka, also known as Ceylon, is an island nation southeast of India. Renowned for its lush tea plantations, aromatic cinnamon, and the world’s most scenic train ride, it took me by surprise. Originally not on my travel radar, its close proximity led me to change plans and explore my 98th country.

The Nine Arch Bridge was built during World War I when Sri Lanka was a British colony. I walked the tracks from the village of Ella through jungle and bat-packed rail tunnels to get to this location. Worth it!

I was talked into this Sri Lankan arts, dance, and cultural heritage show by a guy on the street. I’m glad I took a chance and followed him into the dark theater to view this spectacle! Dancers breathe fire and whirl plates while performing dances depicting elephants, cobras, and peacocks – all to the continuous beat from a chorus of hand drums.

I have to admit this is my favorite shot. I captured this in the morning at the Royal Botanical Gardens before the hordes of tourists arrived. This is the best botanical garden I’ve ever experienced. The park receives over a million visitors a year, is immense, and has incredible collections of orchids, palms, ferns, bamboo, and pretty much every type of vegetation God created.

Although this is a cool palm tree and not a much less spectacular-looking cinnamon tree, I figured this might be a good place to let you know that most of the world’s cinnamon comes from Sri Lanka.

I saw both these creatures while out walking. The snake was in the botanical garden and this monitor lizard was chilling by a city lake. A bit startling.

The Ella to Kandy train, the pinnacle of my adventure! It is considered the most beautiful in the world due to the stunning landscapes of endless tea plantations, misty mountains, and charming villages. This 7+ hour journey winds through diverse terrains with breathtaking views of the island’s natural beauty.

Sri Lanka is one of Asia’s surfing hotspots. In the South, there are epic waves, right and left reef and sand breaks, and a thriving surf culture. There are some challenging surf breaks as well as loads of schools that help bring beginning surfers up to speed. Like in Encinitas, where I grew up, the waves are nice and glassy before the wind picks up, although Sri Lanka has the great advantage of warm water all year long.

I could see and hear them fighting outside, but I obeyed this sign in my room and slept alone, just like every other night on this trip…

Sri Lankan tea is said to be the best in the world, due in part to the altitude at which it is grown and the focus on quality. Tea bushes like these cover 25% of Sri Lanka’s surface, so it’s a big deal here. Sir Thomas Lipton established his tea empire in the country in the 1800s, and the rest is history.

Because of my quick pace, I couldn’t stay in any one place for more than a day or so. After looping around about a quarter of the country, I ended up back in the capital. Trading the actual jungle for this concrete jungle seemed a little gnarly after spending so much time in Sri Lanka’s natural beauty.

My trusty guide dragged me all over the capital city of Colombo. I learned about the country’s recent civil war, colonial history, and the current economic plight many experience. At one point, we stopped at this super important historical site… I just can’t remember what it was about.

Thailand 2025

Posted: June 1, 2025 in 2025, Travel
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In 2025, I set off on a journey around the world—19 flights, scores of hotels, and 7 tropical islands later, I’d watched more sunsets than I could count and logged over 70 hours in the air. My route wound through Brunei, Burma, Thailand, Sri Lanka, India, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman—each place adding its own color, flavor, and bit of wonder to the story.

This adventure was born from an unexpected turn: a layoff after 17 years at the same company. But I can see God’s fingerprints all over it—turning a harsh circumstance into an adventure to cherish.

Thailand was my base of operations: warm people, incredible food, postcard-perfect beaches, and an infrastructure that made it the perfect place to catch my breath.

It may seem odd to mention, but Thailand is home to the best Thai food on the planet.

Pad Thai and Tom Ka Kai soup with a Coke on the beach for less than a Happy Meal.

Breakfast isn’t bad either…

My transportation on land was a scooter; it’s one way to see every hidden corner of an island.

Navigating the island roads on a scooter can be tricky; you might even bump into a Muay Thai boxing match on wheels!

I visited several tropical islands in Thailand, and they all had their unique charm. Here’s the view from my hotel room in Koh Ya Noi.

After seeing all these little islands from my balcony, I had to take a boat out and get a closer look.

Typical transportation to the little islands are these long tail boats. They have a car engine attached to a long shaft with a propeller at the end. This monkey swam out to the boat to meet us!

On the more populated islands, there are plenty of parks, paved roads, and shops.

Along with streets comes street art…

One day, I spotted an incredible pool at a nearby hotel and was able to sneak in for a swim.

Typical morning routine: read Psalms by the beach and sip on some caffeine or interesting yogurt drinks.

I try to make an effort to attend local church services when I travel. Finding friendly locals and hearing an encouraging word is always a highlight that helps keep my priorities straight!

Goa India 2025

Posted: May 7, 2025 in 2025, Travel
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India! It’s amazing, colorful, and sometimes chaotic. The Goa area is famous for its beaches and was a huge destination for the hippies of yesteryear. The mellow vibe persists today. Every morning, after the Word and coffee, I ate mangos and jumped in the bathwater-warm ocean before venturing out on my scooter.

I was based on Palolem Beach, a long, laid-back stretch of sand in South Goa—a dramatic contrast to my previous trip to the intensity of Calcutta. Even the stray dogs are chill here.

Cows are holy in Hindu culture, which means they can wander wherever they want. So when one parks itself in the middle of the road, traffic doesn’t argue.

The beloved tuk tuk: a three-wheeled chaos machine and the undisputed workhorse of India. They’re everywhere—taxis, haulers, ice-cream trucks—and they squeeze through alleys that seem legally too narrow for humans. Cheap, efficient, and sometimes mildly terrifying.

Gandhi is on every bill in India, calmly judging your life choices one purchase at a time.

This was my neighborhood; pretty comfy and casual.

I ate lots of Indian food, but the chicken tikka masala with naan is hard to beat, although the rumor on the street is that it wasn’t invented in India…

Some more sacred cows cruising downtown…

As I departed, India treated me to one more wonder! Bangalore’s international airport is lush—with waterfalls, palms, and over 3,000 plant species—it quietly flexes on every other airport in the world.

Brunei 2025

Posted: April 15, 2025 in 2025, Travel
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Brunei Darussalam is a small, wealthy country on the island of Borneo—about the size of Delaware but wrapped in rainforest, and quietly exporting a ridiculous amount of oil. Fewer than half a million people live here, which makes it feel calm, orderly, and slightly surreal.

On the ride from the airport, my driver summed up the weather as “like Arizona, but humid.” Five minutes of walking later, I realized that wasn’t small talk—it was a heads-up.

Brunei is a Sunni Muslim country, and easily the most strictly observant in Southeast Asia. Sharia law is enforced here, with punishments that range from amputation for theft to the death penalty for drugs or adultery. Alcohol sale is illegal.

The upside? No crime. The downside? Me, trying to find a church on Easter Sunday.

Life in Brunei is safe, comfortable, and tax-free—zero personal income tax, plus free healthcare and education. There aren’t many tourists, which seems to make locals apologize that their country isn’t “exciting enough.”

The markets, though, quietly show off—overflowing with fruits you never see back home. Dragon fruit is just the warm-up act.

The Empire Hotel is one of the most expensive, over-the-top luxury hotels in the world.

I admired it respectfully—from far away—because I did not stay there.

I really enjoyed Brunei. My hotel? Not so much. It will remain unnamed to protect the guilty.

I’m low-maintenance and not here to complain—but travel isn’t always beaches and sunsets. It wasn’t the mystery hair in my room or the pool so green I couldn’t see my feet. It was the aggressive mildew smell and the ultra-loud air conditioning units outside my window that made it hard to think.

Between the noise, the air, and a mild respiratory rebellion, sleep has been elusive. On the bright side, this experience has deepened my appreciation for Thailand.

This guy runs everything here. He’s one of the richest people alive, the world’s longest-reigning monarch, and his birthday is a national holiday.

Pulling in over a million dollars a day, every day, helps explain some of his flexes: He dropped $17 million to have Michael Jackson perform for him and his friends, he also owns the largest car collection in the world with hundreds of custom Rolls-Royces and other exotics, and he lives in the world’s largest residential palace.

Fun fact: “sultan” just means Muslim king.

The Sultan’s home has over 2 million square feet of living space, air-conditioned stables, and a 110-car garage. It is notoriously difficult to get a picture. I tried. I walked all around the perimeter (where I was allowed) and even hired a private long boat to try to catch a glimpse from the water, but the palace is almost totally hidden by mangroves. This is the best shot I could get – credit Wikipedia.

On the same long boat tour, we searched the mangroves for Proboscis monkeys and visited the stilted village.

The stilted village of Kampong Ayer is said to be the “Venice of the East”, but that may be a stretch…

Not everyone lives in luxury.

Some highway signs are hard to understand. Since I didn’t have internet outside the hotel, I couldn’t book a ride and had to walk the highway for about an hour to get back from the market.

This is durian – considered the king of fruit in Southeast Asia. It looks epic and tastes… controversial. Fans love it; critics say it tastes somewhere between stale vomit and a long-dead cat.

The smell is so aggressive it lingers for days, which explains why nearly every hotel bans it like a biological hazard—and why bringing it onto public transportation can earn you a fine.

Oh, and that Easter Service I was looking for? God provided! New churches are illegal here, but older ones—grandfathered in from the early 1900s—are allowed to exist.

This Anglican church was filled with warm, welcoming people. The worship was strong, the sermon focused on the sacrificial love of Jesus, and it was engaging, had a touch of humor, and was in English!

You made it to the end of my long post?

You are rewarded with grilled chicken rectum from the night market!

Burma 2025

Posted: March 7, 2025 in 2025, Travel
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After 18 years with the same company, I was laid off along with 4000 others. Although I couldn’t help but be sad about this turn of events, it allowed me to travel the world at a much quicker pace than if I were working remotely.

First stop – Burma!

What is the real name of this country? Even people who live here call it by different names. The military overthrew the democratically elected government and changed the name from Burma to Myanmar in 1989. The renaming remains contested, with many political and ethnic groups continuing to use Burma – they don’t recognize the legitimacy of the military government. The United States, the UK, and the internal democracy movement call it Burma, while the UN and others call it Myanmar.

Myanmar is a beautiful country with over a thousand miles of coastline and is the largest country in (mainland) Southeast Asia, bordered by Thailand, Laos, China, Tibet, India, and Bangladesh. It was a little hot when I visited…

Because of unrest and unexploded land mines, I spent my time in Rangoon, the largest city. It was the capital of Burma until the military junta renamed it Yangon and moved the capital to Naypidaw – where Russia is helping to build a nuclear reactor.

The Burmese people are warm and wonderful! They are also caught up in challenging times for their country.

This boy has a common sun protection on his face derived from a ground root.

Some interesting facts about Burma… The time zone is ½ hour off from the surrounding countries. Burmese rubies are considered some of the finest and rarest rubies in the world. Burma was part of the British Empire from 1886 to 1948. You can see the colonial architecture in downtown Rangoon here:

For almost half the price of a Motel 6 in the USA, I was able to score a room at the Wyndham Grand, one of the best rooms I’ve stayed in anywhere in the world!

My hotel overlooked this beautiful lake hosting the Karaweik Palace, a replica of a Burmese royal barge.

The Shwedagon Pagoda is covered with more than 40 tons of gold plating and is adorned with precious gems and stone. The umbrella crown near the top is embellished with over 5,000 diamonds and 2,000 rubies. At the very top sits a massive 76-carat diamond.

I think these guys are supposed to be guarding it.

Burma is always someplace I’d wanted to visit, and I am so thankful to God for allowing me to see another interesting place! I’d love to visit again once things settle down with the civil war, landmines, and ethnic cleansing.

Dubai (United Arab Emirates) 2025

Posted: March 5, 2025 in 2025, Travel
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For centuries, Dubai was a sleepy land where nomadic tribes roamed the desert dunes. Date farming, camel breeding, and pearl diving drove the economy. Oil was discovered in the 1960s, and exports started in the 70’s. Now the city has a GDP of over $100 billion a year. I have mixed feelings about this place – part of me is impressed with the opulence, and the other part is exhausted by the financial showmanship and is ready to drop out of the rat race.

Christian Nommesen in Dubai

It isn’t the law for women to cover up, but very common. 90% of the population of Dubai is expats. They are the servants and workers. Those elites born here are well looked after by the government.

Dubai holds over 350 Guinness World Records, like the world’s deepest swimming pool, largest indoor ski slope, longest zip line, and fastest police car – a Bugatti Veyron. Every year, the city makes new records of the world’s most whatever thing. This building boasts the world’s longest cantilever! (Which hosts the longest suspended infinity pool…)

This is one of the world’s most complex structures. The Museum of the Future is covered with windows that form Arabic poetry from Dubai’s ruler. The museum also contains the world’s first fully functional 3D-printed office building.

Christian Nommesen at the Museum of the Future

This is a pleasant spring day. It can rise to over 120 degrees Fahrenheit in the summer.

There are some insanely cool buildings here. This is one of my favorites!

Of course, this is the most famous building, the tallest in the world, the Burj Kalifa. (The nearby Dubai Mall is the largest mall in the world.)

I took a rather expensive elevator ride to the 148th floor, from which I could see the entire city of Dubai from the world’s highest observation deck.

Beyond the off-ramp encircling the ruler, you can see how tall the Burj is compared to the other buildings.

The current ruler of Dubai is Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum. He’s into polo.

One of the royal palaces.

Dubai has the largest desalination plant in the world. It provides ample fresh water to areas like this. It would be a lot of sand otherwise! Ambitiously, Dubai’s Clean Energy Strategy aims to have 75% of the city’s energy needs met by clean energy by 2050. Lots of solar fields are being built in the desert!

Before air conditioning, there were Arab wind catchers. You can see in the upper right this traditional element used to harness the wind to create cross ventilation and passive cooling inside and below.

The Dubai Frame offers views of the old town on one side and the new city on the other. My hop-on on hop-off tourist bus is in the lower left. The views out are epic, and naturally, it is the world’s largest frame.

Camel milk is rare in America, at least where I live. Apparently, it’s packed with nutrients and has less lactose with more antioxidants than cow’s milk. Supposedly, it’s good for skin and has loads of other health benefits. They say camels are more efficient than cows at producing milk and meat by consuming less feed and water, making them more sustainable, especially in a desert like this place.

My children told me that Dubai Chocolate is all the rage on TikTok, so I had to stuff a few bars down my throat. Not cheap, but oh what pistachio goodness!

People watching at the airport. I’m a captive audience.

I’m not a big fan of photos from a plane, but this was the only way I could capture the Jumeirah Burj Al Arab (the world’s only 7-star hotel) and the Palm Jumeirah (the world’s largest man-made island). For 20k you can get a room for the night, including a private butler and a helicopter ride from the airport. Maybe next time…

Oman 2025

Posted: March 4, 2025 in 2025, Travel
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While spending time in Dubai, I made a quick trip to the neighboring country of Oman. Oman is the oldest continuously independent country in the Arab world and is an exporter of frankincense and myrrh.

We set sail to explore the Arabian Peninsula near the Strait of Hormuz aboard a traditional Dhow boat.

The arid desert area provides some interesting landscapes.

It is a unique and desolate beauty.

This art was years in the making…

I was thankful to have this opportunity to see a small bit of a country not many have a chance to visit.

Thailand – White Lotus 2025

Posted: March 2, 2025 in 2025, Travel
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While in the Thai islands, I went on a little “side quest” – exploring the White Lotus Season 3 filming locations. Though I’m not endorsing the show, it is a pop culture juggernaut filmed right here, so I thought I’d hunt down the filming locations.  It was filmed (primarily) at Four Seasons on the island of Koh Samui. Hopefully, you can see why they chose to film in such a cool location.

This is the pool where many scenes take place.

The spa…

The White Lotus effect isn’t evident everywhere in Thailand. However, since it was primarily filmed on this island of Samui, local businesses are milking it.

This tree can be seen in many scenes near the guard station.

This is the actual guard at the hotel entrance. He wears the same uniform as Gaitok, plus this cool hat.

This is the White Lotus lobby. The armed thief entered here and took a hard left to rob the jewelry store.

The scene where the girls go to this pool (at Valentin’s suggestion) was filmed here. Jaclyn asks her friends, “Doesn’t something seem off?” The scene highlights the character’s struggles with age and the pursuit of youthful experiences – I can relate.

It’s a pretty chill place for those who can afford it… (I didn’t stay here.)

The fog coming in over the water lilies turns out to be the hotel staff fumigating the property.

The Radcliff family’s luxury villa featured this private pool, outdoor living spaces, and breathtaking ocean views. I talked my Four Seasons golf cart driver into diverting to some filming locations before dropping me off.

The jewelry store that got robbed to setup a major plotline.

This is the bridge where three major characters were shot and killed during the finale.

Thai food tastes great wherever you find it, so you don’t need to go to The Singing Bird Lounge, where the breakfast scenes are filmed.

South Korea 2024

Posted: March 17, 2024 in 2024, Travel
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My main mission (excuse?) for this trip to Korea was to see the Major League Baseball 2024 season-opening game between the San Diego Padres and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

This was the first time American major league baseball was hosted in Korea. Koreans are huge fans, and Ha Seoung Kim is a Korean superstar who plays for the Padres.

Tickets couldn’t be bought from the USA, so I thought I’d be able to score a ticket there. However, I didn’t have an extra $5000 to get in, so I enjoyed hanging around with the other fans at the stadium and watching the games on screens.

Being born and raised in San Diego, you know who I was rooting for!

I rented an amazing apartment with a great view of Seoul!

I visited Gyeongbokgung Palace, the main palace of the Joseon dynasty.

I noticed that many of the visitors were wearing very colorful clothing. These beautiful dresses and costumes are the Korean national dress, hanbok! One of these tourists is wearing his traditional Arkansas costume.

Gyeongbokgung Palace consisted of 330 buildings and had up to 3000 staff, all serving the royal family. During Japanese colonial rule, most of the palace was destroyed – much of what you see today is an accurate reconstruction.

Wandering the streets of Seoul and finding cool things made me happy!

While strolling down a side street, I encountered this church with architecture I’d never seen before!

I popped inside for a closer look at the sanctuary…

The Lotte Tower, the tallest building in Korea, is over 100 stories high and boasts the highest glass-floor observation deck in the world. The view from up there was amazing!

Maybe you remember a famous K-pop song, Gangnam style? This monument commemorates the dance moves…

Food everywhere was delicious! I could’ve filled pages with all the yumminess, but I spent more time eating it than snapping pictures.

I tried to visit North Korea, but there wasn’t an option that’d allow me to return. “You cannot enter North Korea from South Korea […], you may be arbitrarily arrested and/or detained at your point of entry.” (Photo credit Smithsonian Magazine)

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