Derek Ray

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

Comments by DerekRay

Ambling in the Everglades

Thanks, Matt. It's a great place and I'd love to return there someday.
— March 20, 2012 8:19 p.m.

Getaway to Key West

I'm heading there next week. Thanks for the tips!
— February 12, 2012 4:22 p.m.

Montaña de Oro State Park, California

As far as I know it is not. In 2008, however, it was one of 48 parks slated for closure by Governor Schwarzenegger. Thankfully, there was a public outcry over this and it was saved. -Derek
— December 8, 2011 7:11 p.m.

Siem Reap, Cambodia: Beyond the Angkor Temples

Thanks for the link. He's an amazing person and very dedicated to his cause.
— September 21, 2011 8:44 p.m.

Angkor Wat, Cambodia

Thanks Matt. I'm loving the Doing Europe chronicles! -Derek
— August 18, 2011 9:10 p.m.

Bali: Land of a Thousand Temples

Thank you, antigeekess. Hey, I remember a while back when you and your buddies were planning a visit to Sedona. If you decide to go to Bali, let me know and I'll tag along too...lol -Derek
— August 13, 2011 9:17 a.m.

Pre-Circus Protesters Speak Out for Welfare of Elephants on Sports Arena Blvd.

I'm writing this from Thailand. Elephants are extremely important animals for the economy and culture of Thailand, but they are routinely mistreated and abused in their training. There are some people (and one woman in particular) who are working to spread awareness to change these practices. I'll be writing a story about this shortly.
— July 17, 2011 5:49 a.m.

A Walk on the White House Lawn

I should add that the cherry blossoms were in bloom during this trip adding a wonderful aura of color, beauty and seasonal regeneration. They are particularly striking in the area around the Tidal Basin and Jefferson Memorial. 3,000 cherry trees were a gift from the Japanese in 1912 and the National Cherry Blossom is celebrated each year when they emerge. Their soft, pink and white petals come into bloom for about two weeks in early spring, although the exact dates vary from year to year depending on the weather. You can research the predicted dates online but the average date is April 4th. This makes early April, in my opinion, the best time of year to visit the nation's capital. -Derek
— July 8, 2011 11:32 a.m.

Grayton Beach State Park, Florida

We used to go take summer week- long trips to Grayton Beach when I was a kid. We'd rent a cottage right on the beautiful white, sandy beach. I had a fun time but the sunburns were awful.
— June 26, 2011 4:54 a.m.

(Mis)Adventures in Colombia and Peru

There’s no question that long term travel is more difficult for most people in this lousy economy. But for many it just comes down to choices. I’ve chosen travel over accumulating more things in my life. I really don’t care about keeping up with the Joneses. I have very few material things, drive a Toyota Echo instead of a Lexus, etc. I’m very happy to have made this choice because travel has made my life so much richer -and I’m not talking about money. Also, travel to other countries doesn’t have to be as expensive as you might think. Our dollar goes much further in certain parts of the world, particularly Asia and Latin America. You can accumulate flight points on your credit card and couch surf when you get there. I encourage people to make wise decisions with their lives. If you can swing it, I agree that you should travel as much as you can. A gap year trip or volunteer experience overseas can change a life. But this may entail a bit of research, planning, saving and sacrificing. Just dream about that llama you may get to kiss!
— June 2, 2011 12:25 a.m.