Derek Ray

Derek Ray is a Reader contributor. See staff page for stories and blog entries.

Comments by DerekRay

Hill Tribes of Sapa

Excellent story. Sounds like you're ready for India!
— March 1, 2013 6:05 a.m.

NOLA: Voodoo and the Spirit of the Hurricane

Great story. I can tell you were inspired by your visit to the Big Easy. Makes me want to go back. I've been to Johnny's Po' boys and enjoyed their fried oyster po'boys. Never had an egg and bacon one, though...hmmm...
— February 18, 2013 9:54 p.m.

Delve into Delhi

Thanks, Sam. I've enjoyed your stories and photo as well. My trip to India was one of the most memorable and rewarding cultural experiences I've had. I recommend a visit and I'm sure you'll return with some rich material.
— February 13, 2013 6:28 a.m.

Guatemala: My First Trip Abroad

Nice story, Max. Sounds like quite an adventure!
— January 11, 2013 2:40 p.m.

San Juan Capistrano: A SoCal Treasure

Junipero Serra died in 1784, so he led mass at Serra Chapel "over two hundred years ago"- not "nearly two hundred years ago." My bad.
— August 10, 2012 12:02 a.m.

Western Ireland: Don’t Drive

Having recently returned from a trip to Ireland, I can empathize with your feelings on this topic. Driving was nerve wracking at times on those narrow roads, especially the first few hours when I was just getting adjusted. I had heard so many tales of cars scraped up against hedges and stone walls that I got the Super CDW coverage for (at least some) peace of mind. I would recommend this for anyone renting a car over there. Your regular car insurance will most likely not cover you. Watch out for blind intersections and stop signs obstructed by trees or hedges. I nearly had a collision coming out of Kilkenny on a detour. The intersection was blocked by a hedge and a car speeding by almost hit me. When I told this story to a friend he said the same thing happened to him. Once I got used to it, though, driving wasn't so bad, especially out in the countryside where there's hardly any traffic. I actually came to prefer the roundabouts to our intersections here. I found the GPS to be extremely helpful (although the "recalculating" became annoying when I took a different route than what my GPS friend desired). I would have become hopelessly lost without it. Ultimately, I'm glad I rented a car because I saw amazing stretches of scenery I would have missed had I opted for the bus or train. Slea Head Drive in Dingle was especially spectacular. I think it's an individual decision whether to drive or not to drive, but anyone heading over there should be aware of the challenges.
— June 22, 2012 3:33 p.m.

A Long Weekend in Sequoia and Yosemite

Thanks, mveseskis. Visduh, I absolutely agree with you. On my last visit to Yosemite, I stayed for a week and every day was special. If I had had a week this time I would have taken advantage of it. Unfortunately, I know many people that just cannot get more than four days off at a time. Americans get less vacation time than just about any other developed country. A four day weekend is something that, for many, is a rare opportunity. So, if that's all you have, you can still have a memorable visit. It will whet your appetite for more when you get that week or two weeks off. -Derek
— June 19, 2012 8:39 p.m.

Hopping and Crawling through Dublin

Maybe next time. I wonder if they have a Walmart.
— June 11, 2012 7:21 p.m.

Enchanting Chiang Mai

Thanks, mveseskis and ExpatChiangMai. Best wishes for a future visit to Thailand, donnapcrilly. BuddyD, I just share my travel experiences. Your experience in Chiang Mai was obviously different than mine. Feel free to share any "facts" or "problems" that would be worthwhile for someone planning a trip there to consider. -Derek
— June 4, 2012 7:27 p.m.

Doing Europe: Summer in Rome

Congratulations on a great story, Matt! Loved hearing about "The Scream."
— April 17, 2012 6:20 p.m.