Dr. Mary Travelbest

When you cross the border into Oregon from California, something happens. You get a feeling of relaxation and restfulness, especially if you're on vacation. You'll notice the price of gas is much lower, and they pump it for you. You'll really notice there's no sales tax. None. And you'll notice that the people who live there talk to each other as if they care. Even the parks there are clean and well cared for in other ways. We stayed in Harris Beach State Park for nine days and recommend this to singles as well as families like ours. You'll love the hot showers, the laundry facilities, the playgrounds, and walk to the ocean for great wildlife and experience the power of nature. One thing on your list should be fishing. We found the Sporthaven Marina in Brookings Harbor to be our "hangout" where we found a charter who would take us out and we caught our limit in two hours. We caught Vermillion (orange colored fish), sea bass, rockfish, ling cod, and ...

Top left: Hong Kong's Aberdeen Floating Junk and skyscrapers in background; top, Macau slot machine under lock; Middle, Shanghai, China 1988 street scene and bike riding in Shanghai; above, Taiwan's natural beauty; above, Tiannamen Square China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan were all distinctively different to this traveler. China varied with Bejing, reminding me of Washington DC vs. Shanghai, resembling New York City or Berlin. Highlights included walking the Great Wall and meeting with neighbors in Shanghai who had to sneak me into their homes, lest they get reported. Taiwan was full of motorcycles and commerce, perhaps the most commercial area I've seen in all my travels. Everyone seemed to be entrepreneurial. Macau is clearly a Portuguese cultural standout. Architecture clearly European in this tiny nation. I watched Hong Kong from many angles, and saw many changes that have since taken place for this region. Worth visiting again and again. When will you make the trip t...

Upper left: Queensland train through waterfalls, Upper right, Brisbane, with Patti King McGrath; left Surfers Paradise, below, Sydney When I'm asked, "What is your favorite place in the world?" my most common response is a question, since I have so many favorites. I rephrase, "Where would I like to return to visit, if I could go anywhere?" The answer to that question is: Australia. Which, of course, means New Zealand, too. Anyone who's been always says they're glad they went to both countries for a rich travel experience. Here's what I wrote to my two roommates named Nancy (yes, Nancy and Nancy), The photo on the front is a Eucalyptus, "Ghost Gum" tree seen throughout the outback or bush country. I truly enjoyed seeing this part of "down under" but I don't want to live there. It's like a mini-desert, almost Las Vegas-like. In Alice Springs, we went to the "out of place" casino. Climbing Ayers Rock was indeed a th...