Julie L. Kessler
lawyer traveler writer

News

Staycation Getaways

Feb. 26, 2017

My article on Staycation Getaways in Hawaii appeared on the front page of today's edition of The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. It covers tennis and golf heaven at The Mauna Kea on the Big Island, an Uncruise Adventure from the Big Island to Molokai, and the iconic Kahala Hotel on Oahu. Aloha.

https://www.vagabondlawyer.com/uploads/News/Staycation_Getaways.pdf
tagged: Mauna Kea Hotel, Uncruise, Kahala Hotel

The not-so-new world disorder

Feb. 2, 2017

My article on Trump's immigration ban appeared as a feature story in today's edition of The Asia Times. These are frightening times indeed. 

 

Click on the link for the full article.

https://asiatimes.com/2017/02/nation-immigrants-must-heed-past/
tagged: immigration, Trump, refugees, politics,

Cruising the Rhone River

Jan. 15, 2017

My article "Cruising the Rhone River" appeared on the front page of today's edition of The Honolulu Star-Advertiser's Sunday Travel Section. Commencing in Lyon and ending in Avignon, seeing this lovely part of France on Viking's Buri longboat river cruising was a delight. A final night at the Sofitel Marseille with its gtreat views and scrumptious food made it  a perfect France experience.  

tagged: Rhone River, Viking Buri, Sofitel Marseille,

South Africa, Mozambique and Dubai

Jan. 12, 2017

Onward shortly to South Africa, Mozambique and Dubai on several assignments. Looking forward to writing about some new adventures. Newspaper articles to follow.

A parlay with Papua New Guinea Supreme Court justice Ambeng Kandakasi

Jan. 6, 2017

My article on the chance encounter with Papua New Guinea Supreme Court justice Ambeng Kandakasi in the remote Tari  region of PNG appeared in today's edition of The Asia Times. It was initally heart stopping, but ultimately very interesting. The link to the full article is below.

https://asiatimes.com/2017/01/chance-judicial-encounter-remote-papa-new-guinea/
tagged: Papua New Guinea, Ambeng Kandakasi, Exxon-Mobil LNG, Tari Gap, Huli Wigmen, Karawari River,

Being a royal in Paris

Dec. 20, 2016

My article "A Royal Challenge" on eating and sleeping royally in the City of Light appeared this past Sunday on the front page of The Honolulu Star-Advertiser's Travel Section. The full article link is below.

 

Bon Apetite et Bonne Nuit!

https://www.vagabondlawyer.com/uploads/News/Being_a_royal_in_Paris.pdf
tagged: Paris, Shangri-La Paris, Paris Perfect, Restaurant Le George, Restaurant La Bauhinia,

Testament of the Solomon Islands

Nov. 25, 2016

My interview with Solomon Islands High Court Chief Justice, Sir Albert R. Palmer, entitled "Testament of the Solomon Islands" appeared in yesterday's edition of The Asia Times.  The full article can be viewed on the link below.

https://asiatimes.com/2016/11/testament-solomon-islands/
tagged: Solomon Islands, Solomon Islands High Court, Chief Justice Sir Albert Palmer, Guadalcanal Campaign, Andrew Nori, Malaitan Eagle Forces, RAMSI, FFA

Secrets of the Solomon Islands

Nov. 21, 2016

My article "Secrets of the Solomon Islands" appeared on the front page of yesterday's edition of The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. With the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor coming up on December 7, 2016 and the 100th anniversary of JFK's birth in a few months, it was a particularly poignant time to be in the Solomons. A memorable experience in a truly memorable place.

 

A full PDF version of the article is attached.

https://www.vagabondlawyer.com/uploads/News/Secrets_of_the_Solomon_Islands.pdf
tagged: Solomon Islands, Lt. John F. Kennedy, P-T 109, WWII, Pacific theater, Tavanipupu, Western Provinces, Vilu WWII Museum, Guadalcanal, Bonegi Beach 1, Bonegi Beach 2, Kinugawa Maru, Hirokawa Maru,

Seven days later

Nov. 16, 2016

My article on the aftermath of the election entitled "Seven days later" appeared in today's edition of The Asia Times. No doubt will be a wild ride. Hang on. Maybe for dear life. 

http://www.atimes.com/seven-days-later/
tagged: 2016 election, Hillary Rodham Clinton, Glass ceiling, Donald J. Trump,

Adventure travel in Papua New Guinea

Nov. 14, 2016

Here is my Papua New Guinea article which appeared in yesterday's L.A. Times, Sunday Travel Section. It's like no place you've ever been before. Bon voyage.

http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-papua-new-guinea-20161113-story.html
tagged: Papua New Guinea, Huli Wigmen, Tari Basin, Karawari River, Mighty Sepik,

Solomon Islands and Fiji

Oct. 13, 2016

Off shortly to the Solomon Islands on assignment in advance of the 75th anniversary of Pearl Harbor and the 100th anniversary of JFK's birth. JFK's boat, PT-109, was attacked by the Japanese in the Solomon Islands and capsized. He was rescued several days later after swimming several miles, often carrying one of his crew. For his leadership, courage and valor in saving his men, he received the Navy Medal of Honor, and for the injuries he sustained, the Purple Heart.  While in the Solomon Islands, I will also be interviewing the Honorable Sir Albert R. Palmer, Chief Justice of the High Court.

 

On my way back to the US, I will be spending a few days in Fiji also on assignment, on the island of Yasawa. 

 

Several newpaper articles to follow. Stay tuned.

tagged: Solomon Islands, P-T109, Sir Albert Palmer, Yasawa Fiji

The Great Escape: Giddy up to Paws Up

Oct. 2, 2016

My article "The Great Escape" on the Resort at Paws Up, a luxe dude ranch 40 minutes from Missoula, MT appeared on the front page of today's edition of The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Sunday Travel Section. Giddy up!

http://www.staradvertiser.com/2016/10/02/travel/the-great-escape/
tagged: Resort at Paws Up, Glamping, Chef Pete Evans,

Seduced by Sydney

Sep. 12, 2016

My Sydney and Hunter Valley article on the front page of The Honolulu Star-Advertiser's Sunday Travel section. 

https://www.vagabondlawyer.com/uploads/News/Seduced_by_Sydney.pdf
tagged: Sydney, Anason Restaurant, Hunter Valley, Keith Tulloch Winery, Usher Tinkler Wines, Tempus Two Wines, Chateau Elan Rothbury, QT Hotel Sydney, Black Star Pastry

Hard-sided luggage with zipper-less expansion is first of its kind

Sep. 3, 2016

My review of the new Briggs & Riley Sympatico CX line of luggage that appeared in The Honolulu Star-Advertiser. It's the first engineered hard-sided luggage that has zipperless expansion. A traveler's dream suitcase with a lifetime warranty.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/travel/hard-sided-luggage-that-also-expands-is-first-of-its-kind/
tagged: Briggs & Riley, Sympatico CX,

Seduced by Sydney

Sep. 1, 2016

Back from sensational Sydney. While the UH Rainbow Warriors lost to the UC Berkeley Golden Bears at the 2016 NCAA Championship Football opening game at Sydney's Anzac stadium in front of over 61,000 attendees, a good time was still had by all. Watch for my upcoming feature article in The Honolulu Star-Advertiser on Sydney's incredible dining and art scene as well as the great appellations of the Hunter Valley. Fair dinkum as Sydneysiders say. 

tagged: Sydney, UH Rainbow Warriors, 2016 NCAA Football, Hunter Valley NSW,

Hello to Hangzhou

Aug. 21, 2016

My article "Hello to Hangzhou" appeared on the front page of today's editon of The Honolulu Star-Advertiser's Sunday Travel Section. Despite time and modernization, many of Marco Polo's descritpions of 13th century Hangzhou ring true today, and reflect that Polo may have indeed been more of a poet than any of us realized.

https://www.vagabondlawyer.com/uploads/News/Hello_to_Hangzhou.pdf
tagged: Hangzhou, 2016 G-2 Summit, Marco Polo, Shangri-La Hangzhou, West Lake, Xixi National Wetlands

13.5% Wine Bar in Baltimore

Aug. 14, 2016

If your business or travels take you to Baltimore, make sure and stop by the 13.5% Wine Bar in the hipster section of Hampden. Not only are there great cocktails, and of course wonderful wines - all very reasonably priced, but the food, oh my!

 

The kale salad was delicious and perfectly dressed, but the talented and innovative Chef Eddie West caught my attention with the grilled cauliflower wraps with Bibb lettuce and pistachio aillade and a dash of Grappa. Hearty, intensely flavorful and filling; and I don't even like cauliflower! But I would certainly go back just to have this dish again. However, Chef West brought tears to my eyes with his utterly dreamy chocolate Pot de Créme. Chocoholics anonymous unite because honestly, it simply does not get better than this.

 

And if you need more - which you don't - the food is that good, have a glass of vino and listen to live music on select evenings. Check the restaurant site at 135Winebar.com for the performance calendar.  Open seven days a week with happy hour Mondays to Saturdays from 5-6pm.

 

Do not pass go and do not collect $200, but you MUST try Chef West's Pot de Créme at 13.5% Wine Bar following a great evening at a very cool little restaurant and bar.

135winebar.com
tagged: 13.5% Wine Bar, Chef Eddie West, Hampden Baltimore,

Ancient Blend - Travel in Israel

Jul. 17, 2016

My article "Ancient Blend" on travel in Israel appeared on the front page of today's edition of The Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Sunday Travel section. You can read the full article here:

 

 

https://www.vagabondlawyer.com/uploads/News/Ancient_Blend_-_Travel_in_Israel.pdf
tagged: Israel, Jerusalem, Kibbutz Degania, Sea of Galilee, Judean Desert, Tel-Aviv, Jaffa,

Israeli Chef Ruth Rousso

Jul. 11, 2016

Great press lunch today at Crossroads on Melrose in Los Angeles, the renowned plant-based Mediterranean restaurant of Israeli-born chef Tal Ronnen where I and several other food and travel journalists had the great pleasure of meeting Ruth Rousso (center). Chef Rousso is a well-known food expert in Israel, where she hosts a food TV show, owns her own trendy cold-pressed juice company (called “Jusso”), writes a regular food column, and is a former guest judge on Iron Chef Israel and Game of Chefs (a popular culinary reality TV show).  Chef Rousso is also one of the stars of a new documentary on Israeli food produced by Roger Sherman called "In Search of Israeli Cuisine," which will air on PBS nationwide next year (and is currently touring the film festival circuit, to great acclaim).

tagged: Ruth Rousso, Tal Ronnen, Jusso, Crossroads Restaurant

Sumptuous Singapore

Jun. 28, 2016

My article "Singapore: Where culture meets cuisine" appears on the front page of today's Honolulu Star-Advertiser, Sunday Travel section.

https://www.vagabondlawyer.com/uploads/News/Sumptuous_Singapore__.pdf