Derek Ray | Stories | San Diego Reader

Pastoral Life, Medieval History: Kilkenny, Ireland

"We have relatives in L.A., and they are amazed at how different our way of life is here than what they are used to." My Servas host elicited a chuckle out of me as we ...

Spring Days in Dingle, Ireland

Dingle, the northernmost of three peninsulas along the southwest coast of Ireland, was annointed “the most beautiful place in the world” by National Geographic Traveler a few years ago. It had been recommended to me ...

Paradise, Thai-Style: Beaches and Islands of the Andaman Sea

I first became intrigued with the beaches and islands of Thailand while reading an account about a family selling their home in those halcyon days when the real estate market was skyrocketing. They intended to ...

Ambling in the Everglades

Get with the gators in Everglades National Park.

At 1.5 million acres, Everglades National Park is the third-largest national park in the U.S. It is, nevertheless, half the size it was a century ago. Once you’re away from the visitors and crowds, the ...

A Day in Provincetown, Cape Cod

Cape Cod’s most popular destination, Provincetown, is on the furthest tip of the peninsula and offers New Englanders and travelers alike a relaxing spot to refresh and recharge. A 90-minute ferry ride out to Provincetown ...

Hip Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

"In Ho Chi Minh City, there are eight million people and five million motorbikes," my guide informed me as we slowly wound our way through this bustling city en route to the Củ Chi tunnels. ...

Exploring the Mekong Delta, Vietnam

“I think that thing is staring at me,” someone in our tour group remarked nervously. No, it wasn’t a wild animal spotted while hiking through the wilds of Vietnam. It was the fish proudly displayed ...

Ayutthaya, Thailand: City of Buddhas

The ancient Thai capital of Ayutthaya, about eighty kilometers north of Bangkok, is a worthwhile day trip if you’re staying in Bangkok. To really appreciate Ayutthaya, it helps to know a little about its history. ...

An Ecuadorian Christmas in Quito

Over Christmas break in 2009, I chose to participate in a brief volunteer project in Quito, Ecuador, working with street kids. Once my volunteer stint was over, I wasted no time exploring this magnificent city ...

Montaña de Oro State Park, California

"Come forth into the light of things, Let Nature be your teacher." ~ John Muir I don’t know if John Muir ever visited what is now Montaña de Oro State Park, but the bard of ...

Do's and Don'ts in Bangkok

Bangkok is the introductory city to Asia for many Americans, and the hectic pace and traffic may remind New Yorkers and Angelenos of home. A city of eleven million, Bangkok can be a slow crawl ...

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: A Study in Contrasts

Kuala Lumpur is, above all, a city of contrasts. The capital of Malaysia is an interesting mix of the historic, traditional Asia and the modern, hip Asia. Its ethnically diverse population of Malays, Chinese and ...

Mellow Out in Topanga, California

When you’re staring at a deer beneath a grove of oak trees, it might be difficult to realize that you’re within the city limits of Los Angeles. Topanga is a hilly, wooded oasis located within ...

Hanoi, Vietnam: Looking Toward the Future

Hanoi, Vietnam’s capital and second-largest city, is one of the most beautiful capitals in Asia. Most well known to Americans for its role in the Vietnam War, Hanoi celebrated its 1,000th birthday in 2010. As ...

Khao Sok National Park, Thailand: World’s Oldest Evergreen Rainforest

Many travelers to Thailand head from Bangkok to one or more of the beautiful beaches and islands in the southern part of the country. Just a few kilometers inland from these beaches is Khao Sok ...

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Beyond the Angkor Temples

If you’re in Siem Reap, Cambodia, you’re most likely there to see the magnificent Angkor temples. But if you get “templed out” or have additional time, Siem Reap has more to offer. Many of the ...

Hoi An, Vietnam

Hoi An is about midway between Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi up the Vietnamese coast. If you’re traveling between the two largest cities in Vietnam, it is the perfect spot to take a break. ...

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

One hundred and fifty years ago, a French naturalist wandering the jungles of Cambodia stumbled upon an archaeological gold mine. Hidden in the jungle were several temples built by a succession of rulers of the ...

Bali: Land of a Thousand Temples

I was concerned that the reality of Bali would not match my expectations. I’d heard raves from friends and read amazing accounts of the alluring island in Indonesia. I was excited – but also prepared ...

Elephant Nature Park, Chiang Mai, Thailand

If you're feeling a bit hardened by modern life and sense a need to reconnect with the natural world – and even, perhaps, your own heart – try feeding an elephant that's been blinded by ...

A Walk on the White House Lawn

Every spring and fall, the White House South Lawn is open for a weekend for visitors to stroll about. The White House Garden Tour has been a tradition since 1972, but many visitors to the ...

Frank Lloyd Wright’s Taliesin West, Scottsdale, Arizona

Of all the buildings that Frank Lloyd Wright designed, his favorite was Taliesin West in Scottsdale, Arizona. It’s one of the most popular destinations for lovers and admirers of the architect’s work, and, with the ...

Baños, Ecuador: A Piece of Heaven

If you enjoy a warm, relaxing bath, I know a travel destination that just might appeal to you. Most international visitors to Ecuador are in a hurry to get to either the Galapagos Islands or ...

Laura Plantation, Louisiana

After visiting Oak Alley with its twin rows of 300-year-old oaks and impressive Greek Revival architecture, I found the modest appearance of the Laura Plantation an interesting contrast. Laura is one of several plantations off ...

Spring Break in New Orleans

I’m not a student anymore, but I still like to take a break in the spring to travel. My favorite place in the world to take a spring break trip is New Orleans. Who needs ...

Bergen, Norway: Gateway to the Fjords

Bergen is located on Norway’s western coast. The journey there from Oslo takes you through a wonderfully scenic part of the country, including some of the longest and most spectacular fjords in Norway. You can ...

Alexandria, Virginia: DC’s Underrated Neighbor

“Why don’t you come visit us? We’ll show you around Alexandria,” my cousins implored, inviting me to spend time with them in their historic hometown. I’d never thought much about Alexandria, Virginia, as a town ...

Cambridge, England – Brilliant

I’ve always loved university towns: the spirit, the energy, the combination of youthful, bustling enthusiasm and quiet intellectual reflection they exude refreshes me. Most university towns have a keen sense of place and radiate a ...

Essential L.A.: Getty Center and Getty Villa

A visit to the Getty Center in Los Angeles makes a lovely day trip for Southern Californians. The Getty is quickly becoming the cultural heart of L.A.; for many out-of-town and international visitors, it’s now ...

Intoxicating Florence, Italy

I arrived in Florence early morning on the train after leisurely working my way up via Rome, Capri, Pompeii, Siena, Assisi, Umbria and Tuscany. On my first visit to Europe, I’d now traveled through several ...

Mexico City’s Templo Mayor: The Heart of Tenochtitlan

To one side of Mexico City’s enormous central plaza, the Zócalo, stands one of the most astonishing archaeological digs of the last 35 years. It was originally believed that the huge cathedral in the Zócalo ...

Santorini: Oia and Akrotiri

Santorini is one of the undisputed jewels of the Greek Islands. Two of its most enchanting attractions are the village of Oia and the archeological dig Akrotiri, once a prominent ancient town. Oia and Akrotiri ...

Ojai, California: Searching for the Pink Moment in Shangri-La

In 1937 Frank Capra used a long shot of Ojai Valley to represent the mythical paradise of Shangri-La in the classic film Lost Horizon. Ojai (pronounced O-hi) is a small, artsy community nestled serenely near ...

Teotihuacan: City of the Gods

Located roughly 30 miles northeast of Mexico City, Teotihuacan is an essential day trip if you’re visiting Mexico City. Considered Mexico’s most important archaeological site, Teotihuacan thrived as a civilization roughly between 100 and 700 ...

Danish Days in Solvang, California

The rolling green hills in Santa Barbara County wine country provide little clue as to what awaits the visitor approaching the little town of Solvang. Also known as the "Copenhagen of the Pacific," Solvang is ...

Salzburg, Austria

My sleepy eyes drank in the Austrian countryside as the overnight train from Venice moved closer to Salzburg. The glorious green hills were a refreshing change from the equally stunning but distinct Italian scenery. I ...

Timeless Athens

En route to Athens, my flight connected in London with a stopover just long enough to view the famous Elgin Marbles in the British Museum. Greece has been determined to have them returned to their ...

Downtime in Montezuma, Costa Rica

I relax in the hammock, the sound of gently crashing waves reverberating in the near distance. I muster up the energy to raise my head and see a girl in her twenties relaxing on a ...

Skansen: Old Sweden in Stockholm

When visiting Stockholm, a must-see stop is the historical district known as Skansen. A trip to Skansen is like stepping into a time machine and being transported to a Sweden of centuries past. The world’s ...

Guanajuato, Mexico: Museum of Mummies (and More)

The Mexican poet Octavio Paz once said, “In the United States the word death burns the lips, but the Mexican is familiar with death, jokes about it, caresses it, sleeps with it, and celebrates it. ...

World Cup Fever in Mexico City

“They’re crazy about soccer down there. Should I be worried if, by chance, the U.S. beats Mexico?” I asked a friend a few days before my flight to Mexico City. “Bring a Canadian flag,” he ...

San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

“We looked at properties in North County San Diego, but we just couldn’t find anything so we decided to move to San Miguel de Allende.” As the couple from California told me their story, my ...

Louisiana’s Swamps and Wetlands

It is said that when Thomas Jefferson bought the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, he was mainly interested in New Orleans and its surrounding swamps. Two centuries later, it is now the section of the country ...

Walkable San Francisco

On a recent trip to San Francisco, I rediscovered what a great town it is for walking. The weather was miserable on the day of my arrival, reminding me of Mark Twain's quote that "the ...

Wimbledon, England: Tennis, Queues and Weather

The most prestigious tennis tournament in the world, Wimbledon also has the richest tradition. The unique grass courts add a certain mystique. Having watched it on TV for years, I always wondered what a visit ...

Arcosanti: Architecture Meets Ecology in Arizona

I headed down an isolated desert dirt road in Arizona to the experimental community of Arcosanti, not knowing quite what to expect. Arcosanti is a creative laboratory for innovative design strategies to combat urban sprawl. ...

The Winchester Mystery House, San Jose

Do you long for an excursion into a world rich with mystery and a healthy dose of the supernatural? On a nondescript street in San Jose stands one of the most fascinating homes in the ...

Delphi: Sanctuary of the Ancient Greeks

In the shadow of Mount Parnassus amid olive, pine and cypress trees stands one of the truly sacred spots of the ancient world. About 2,000 feet above sea level, Delphi is one of the best ...

Rome (in a Day)

“I love it here but after a while we get a little tired of seeing all these naked statues,” a Midwest couple confided to me about their first trip to Rome. I had already decided ...

The Museum of Tolerance, Los Angeles

Having lived in Los Angeles during the Rodney King riots of 1992, I’ve always viewed the Museum of Tolerance as a beacon of hope. Located at the corner of Pico and Roxbury Drive in West ...

Stories by Derek Ray