Travel Tips and Guide.

2nd Annual Sanibel 10K Race 4 FISH
Saturday October 16, 2010
Introduction Friends In Service Here (FISH) is the leading non-profit, non-sectarian, human services organization focused on “neighbors helping neighbors” on Sanibel and Captiva. The 10K Race 4 FISH on October 16th is our key fundraising event for 2010. The race will be held on Sanibel and is run in conjunction with the Fort Myers Track Club. We are expecting over 500 runners this year, most of the runners will be from South West Florida, including a significant number of Sanibel and Captiva residents who will be taking part. We have even had some early entries from as far away as Indiana!

We serve over 900 clients on Sanibel and Captiva, and in 2009 with our 195 FISH volunteers we delivered the following services:

• Provided 9,475 miles of transportation on 304 medical related appointments
• Delivered 1,906 hot meals to the housebound or those living alone
• Provided 237 pieces of medical equipment
• Collected and distributed 31,574 lbs of food from our Food Pantry to 60 families
• Provided $74,025 of emergency financial assistance to 75 families/ individuals
• Made 699 daily reassurance phone calls with investigative follow up if no answer
• Made 225 client visits for those housebound needing interactive conversation
• Encouraged 320 participants to come to our monthly ‘Friendly Faces Luncheon’
• Helped 552 walk in clients at the Walk-In-Center
• Provided 56 holiday meals
• Helped 17 young people with Youth Scholarships, including lunch.

Source: laradunston@mac.com (Lara Dunston)

Once more, it is the time of year for optimal viewing of the natural phenomenon known as the Northern Lights. The Northern Lights, or Aurora Borealis, is a natural phenomenon that creates swirling streams of brilliant greens, blues, purples, reds and oranges in the night sky that can be seen from varying points throughout the Northern Hemisphere. In particular, areas in Alaska, northern Canada, Greenland, Iceland and Scandinavia can offer clear views of the natural phenomenon on a fairly regular basis throughout the last quarter of the year.

And from September 15 through the end of the year, curious travelers will be able to book Reykjavik’s Northern Lights Experience vacation package for a first-hand experience of the Northern Lights from Reykjavik, Iceland. Reykjavik’s Northern Lights Experience features three nights’ lodging and the guided Northern Lights Mystery tour. Along the tour, you will take from the cityscape of Reykjavik into the surrounding wilderness as your knowledgeable guide helps you to track and experience the Northern Lights for a time that not only offers unprecedented views of our world, but also provides the thrill of the chase. Whether hoping to unlock the scientific reasoning behind the Northern Lights or simply wanting an awe-inspiring experience, this is truly an unforgettable vacation experience.

Vacations Made Easy is a primarily online based travel company that has been in operation since 2001. They offer activities, lodging and complete packages to hundreds of destinations on every continent, including Antarctica, as well as general information to help in planning itineraries and times for traveling.

For additional information, contact Vacations Made Easy by phone at 1-800-987-9852 or by e-mail at sales@vacationsmadeeasy.com.

Source: laradunston@mac.com (Lara Dunston)

Visit Japan and Tokyo for the food? That’s an emphatic yes. Japanese cuisine is a great reason to visit – nevermind the country’s castles, temples, gardens, and geisha. Eating in Japan is like a tour of historical attractions in its own right. And with more than a dozen types of specialty restaurants, my plan was to eat my way from one end of my week-long visit to the other.

Japanese food on display (even the plastic samples look tasty)

What I didn’t realize was that my gastronomic tour of Japan would shatter a few long-held perceptions. Namely, that the food is mostly healthy, often unfamiliar, and unequivocally Japanese. I was surprised to learn that many of the country’s specialties are imports, brought in from the West and refined to the point they’ve become distinctly Japanese, which (by the way) is synonymous with perfection.

Whether a highly coordinated meal delivered personally by the chef, or a DIY affair cooked at your own table on a piping-hot grill (mind your elbows), eating in Japan is an experience full of variety, with a side order of history. Following are three of my favorite specialties, both foreign and familiar at the same time, that comprise a mini-timeline of the politics and events that have shaped Japanese cuisine.

Japanese Cuisine: History of Tempura

We have the Portuguese to thank for tempura: seafood and vegetables battered and deep-fried to golden perfection. Portuguese missionaries and traders in the 16th century introduced this method of cooking to the Japanese – historians believe the word tempura comes from four days known as “Ember days”, or Quator Tempora, during Lent when no meat was eaten. The Japanese added their own twist to the name by spelling the word with the character for ‘heaven’.

I usually regret eating deep-fried foods, but tempura is different: crisp, light, and not so greasy. The secret is in the batter, a purposefully lumpy concoction of egg, ice water and flour that gives the coating on the food (or ‘cloak’ as the Japanese refer to it) a paper-thin, bubbling texture. They say that tempura aficionados can tell the difference between a novice chef of 5 years and a veteran chef of more than 20. Considering that tempura is all about precision in the mix of the batter, the heat of the oil, and cooking time, it’s not surprising that a chef of 5 years is still considered a novice.

Tempura shops usually serve set meals (teishoku) that include rice, miso soup, and Japanese pickles. In Kyoto, I dined at a tempura restaurant with a menu that had only two options: ‘small’ or ‘large’. When your only choice comes down to size, you know it’s got to be good. And it was. I paid $35 for the large portion, about 12 items, each served to me one at a time by the chef himself, straight from the cooking pot. Tempura is best while it’s hot, so try to get a seat at the counter and show the chef your appreciation by eating the tempura immediately.

Japanese Cuisine: Tonkatsu

Tonkatsu is a deep-fried pork cutlet (and obviously an import from abroad — what culture would incorporate both raw fish and deep-fried pork into its cuisine?). Tonkatsu falls into a category of food known as Yoshoku, a Japanese interpretations of Western fare. In the late 1800s, when Japan opened up to the West for trade after a long period of isolation, a centuries-old ban on eating meat was overturned and tonkatsu was born (the same trend has also introduced dishes to the Japanese menu like spaghetti with ketchup sauce, hamburger patties without bread, and omelets filled with rice and ketchup).

Tonkatsu. Who doesn't love a deep-fried pork cutlet???

The origin of tonkatsu is traced back to the French item, veal cotelette and, like all Yoshoku dishes, was modified over time to suit the Japanese palate; veal was replaced by pork, grated cheese was replaced with batter, and the whole thing was deep-fried, like tempura. It’s usually served as a set meal, with rice, miso soup, Japanese pickles, and a side of shredded cabbage (an accompaniment that goes back to WWII, when skilled cooks were few and far between, and food shortages popularized cheap cabbage).

When you visit a tonkatsu restaurant, there may be several choices of set meals depending on the type of dipping sauce, additional sides like croquettes, and the cut of pork. Order Rosu-katsu for a fatter cut of pork loin, or Hire-katsu for pork tenderloin, which is leaner and a tad healthier. Like tempura, I found tonkatsu to be more delicate and less greasy than deep-fried foods of the West, an attribute I assign to the craft involved with specializing in a single item. I spent about $30 on a Hire-katsu set meal in the Ebisu district of Tokyo.

Japanese Cuisine: Okonomiyaki

Okonomiyaki is as fun to eat as it is to say. It has an elusive history that either links this type of food to an ancient import from China, or places it firmly in the yoshoku category (though it’s unclear what type of Western food this would be related to). The latter posits that okonomiyaki was popularized during WWII, during rice shortages, and was called Issen Yoshoku or one-penny Western food.

The Art of Okonomiyaki

Nowadays okonomiyaki means “cook what you like, the way you like” and has been likened to pizza. Though aside from its round shape there really is no comparison. For starters it’s made of a flour-and-yam-based batter mixed with chopped cabbage and then pan-fried with fillings of meat or seafood. Add toppings like cheese, bonito (fish) flakes, a fried egg, or even kimchee, and finish it off with Japanese Worcestershire sauce and a healthy dose of mayonnaise.

Okonomiyaki is a DIY affair at your own table, with a spatula as cooking implement. I can’t help but think of okonomiyaki as working class food — a blue-collar meal to be eaten while consuming beer or, perhaps, as hangover food. Osaka is often cited as the home of okonomiyaki, but there appears to be a fierce rivalry between Osaka and Hiroshima for the title.

Okonomiyaki is probably the least known of all Japanese fare to those of us in the West, but commonly found throughout most of Japan. It’s become so popular, there are chain restaurants that specialize in this unique item, along with a variety that includes noodles, called Modanyaki. Typically priced at about $9 per order, it’s an affordable option in comparison with other types of food. I suggest trying it at a few different places, especially if you first wind up in a restaurant that cooks it for you, which isn’t such a bad thing. Receiving a bowl full of batter, cabbage, and fillings as a first-timer is a little perplexing.

-Cheryn Flanagan

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s tours & things to do in Tokyo (including a food tour in Tokyo), Kyoto tours & attractions, Osaka tours & things to do, and travel & tour ideas across Japan.

Source: Scott Mc

Plan your Lombok vacation with the Frommer’s comprehensive Lombok travel guide. The travel guide includes information about hotels, restaurants, attractions, shopping and… Tagged as: lombok, vacation, frommer, comprehensive, travel, includes, information, hotels, restaurants, attractions, shopping

Source: laradunston@mac.com (Lara Dunston)

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Have you checked out our “Store” tab lately? We have awesome clothes for guys and girls. We have shirts, underwear, mugs, hat and many more objects with our logo and other popular Fort Myers and Fort Myers Beach Logo. Click here to see what we have to offer!

Source: laradunston@mac.com (Lara Dunston)

Sanibel / Captiva Island Vacation Rentals, Staycation

This Key West style 3 bedroom beach home in Captiva’s village is located on very popular Wightman Lane. It’s a short, 2-3 minute stroll on our private, sandy lane to the beach. Captiva’s Caribbean style beach is consistently rated the most romantic for its calm, warm water and gorgeous sunsets.

Our private, screened 33-foot long pool is heated year round to a comfortable 85 degrees. Depth is 5.5 feet in the center and 3.5 feet at each end. The pool deck is totally furnished for sunning, dining or relaxing. Pool and beach toys, as well as beach towels, umbrellas and chairs are provided.
The living room is surrounded on three sides with glass and a sliding glass door opens as a veranda over our pool. It is equipped with a queen size sleeper sofa, hidden shades providing ample privacy as desired.
A widescreen Sharp Aquos cable TV with DVD adds to your enjoyment, along with an Onkyo Stereo with a 6-disc CD changer and Infinity speakers. Enjoy our eclectic CD music collection, and a large DVD selection is available for loan at the Captiva Library, just a 5 minute walk from the house.
Dining area choices include a separate dining room off the living room, the sun & moon deck, or the poolside table, near our Weber gas grill.  Our kitchen is fully equipped for the needs of a family with children, two or even three couples.
Your master bedroom on the second floor, totally redone in a British West Indies style,  has a king size bed and a remote cable LCD TV  and a master bath in the suite. You’ll have private access to our secluded sun & moon deck that’s totally furnished for enjoyment any time of the day or night.











The first floor bedroom has a queen size bed, cable TV, and its own full bath. It’s a great room for the nanny, the grand-parents, or another couple. This area is separated from the main living area for privacy. A desk is located in this room.
An additional second floor bedroom has two twin beds, audio system and cable LCD TV with DVD, and its own full bath inside the bedroom for privacy. It also has access to the sun & moon deck from the hallway.

Full size washer and dryer with ironing board are also on this floor.

The house has central air conditioning for the summer months. Open the windows and turn on the ceiling fans to make the fall, winter and spring quite comfortable. A cordless phone with answering machine, fax machine and Wireless High Speed Internet is included. There is cell phone reception on the Island.

Leave the car in our garage, as you’re only a 2-minute walk to the wonderful local restaurants and shops in Captiva’s “island style” village. Enjoy the extensive bike paths on Captiva and Sanibel with our new men’s and ladies’ 7-speed aluminum bicycles. Children’s rental bikes and helmets can be delivered to your door. Golf is available at two 18-hole courses just 20 minutes away on nearby Sanibel Island.

Larry Hahn &
Donna Casella
US & Canada:
877.727.7100 (Toll Free)
Outside US & Canada:
239.590.0707

Source: laradunston@mac.com (Lara Dunston)

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Source: laradunston@mac.com (Lara Dunston)

Maybe it’s the negative ions, or the sparkly lights. Or, perhaps the bubbly had something to do with it. Whatever it was, not long into our Sydney Harbour Dinner Cruise, this group of jaded Sydney-siders was joyfully running around taking pictures of the Opera House as if we had never seen it before. Just imagine how excited we would have been if we had never seen it before!

Sydney’s city lights

Views and Tunes

From the top deck of the MV Sydney 2000, Sydney Harbour is showcased brilliantly. Sydney’s icons shine from this vantage point. Nobody can guarantee a warm, clear night like the one we had but you can be sure views don’t get much better than this city on the Harbour from the water.

Where else can you dance to Waterloo and Brown Eyed Girl on a weeknight? A live band got us up and bopping and even snaking a conga line around the dining room. “You can dance, you can jive, having the time of your life” (I cannot tell a lie, there was even a bit of Dancing Queen involved).

All This and Dinner Too

This is, of course, a dinner cruise and dinner doesn’t disappoint. In between running from one deck to another to gawk at the view and dashing to the dance floor, we were treated to an elegant three course dinner. I started with a satisfying gnocchi topped with parmesan. But I have to admit I was eyeing my neighbor’s plate of fresh seafood.

Scrumptious seafood

In my defense, I had ordered the salmon for my main course. For dessert I shouldn’t have had the “Captain’s Mess” which was a yummy sweet concoction that I couldn’t resist. Resistance is futile. Just blame it on the moonlight.

-Melinda Harrington

Planning a trip? Browse Viator’s Sydney tours and things to do in Australia.

Source: Katrina

Question: I heard that the new DS-160 online application form is complicated. Is it okay for me to use a travel agent to fill out the form? DS-160 form Answer: Since April 2010, all applicants applying for non-immigrant visas at the US Embassy in Kingston have been required to use the new DS-160… Tagged as: question, online, application, complicated, travel, answer, applicants, applying, immigrant, embassy, kingston, required

Source: laradunston@mac.com (Lara Dunston)

Everybody wants to take some time off and to go on a relaxing vacation even for just a day or two. But then not everyone has the budget to travel. Everybody… Tagged as: relaxing, vacation, budget, travel

Source: laradunston@mac.com (Lara Dunston)