INDO...The best Sushi in Myrtle

While spending time in the Myrtle Beach area this past summer I was craving some sushi. I noticed a cute little place in a strip mall across from where I was staying, but my schedule didn't permit the time to check it out while I was there. So, while I was sitting at the airport waiting for my flight back to New York; Sushi was on my mind. It was then when I herd the announcement that my flight had been cancelled due to crazy lightning storms in New York, I knew at that moment in time exactly where I was heading for dinner.

I had the cab driver take me back to the hotel just so I could secure my bags and then I made a bee line for the cute little Thai restaurant across the way.

Skully, my good looking American bartender poured me some Saki while I had a chance to look over the menu. I decided on the Fresh Rolls, they were to die for, but the Pan Fried Grouper was something out of this world! Smothered with portabella mushrooms, asparagus, and avocado topped with a Thai red Curry sauce that will keep you sippin your Saki. The homemade Miso soup was a hit as where the Spider Rolls. Greg my sushi chef out did him self! Fresh ingredients made all the difference in this culinary experience.

Laura Smith, the owner of INDO was a most gracious host. She checked on me and made me feel like family.

As I watched the rain pour down in buckets outside, I was warm and dry with my Saki and new friends inside. I had a great meal, and soon rest would follow, only to wake in the morning and attempt my journey home once again.

It has been months since my wonderful meal at INDO, but it is still fresh on my mind.

Thank You Laura for the great eats, and super hospitality! Skully, Thanks for reducing the stress level from my canceled flight. I couldn't have had a better last night out in Myrtle had I planned it that way.

I regret that my camera was back at my hotel, so you will have to take my word for the beautiful presentation of my food. When in Myrtle, check out INDO, and while your there say hello to Skully for me!



Indo, Thai;Sushi;Hibachi Restaurant

980 82nd Parkway, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572

Laura Smith;Owner

Tel: 843-629-7000

Fax:843-692-7020

Life At The Lake

What can I say, I'm a lucky girl! Even when I'm not on vacation, I'm on vacation. I have been at our little lake house for three weeks now, the days started running together about a week ago. The day, the time, the date, who cares, it just doesn't matter. It's a great way to live! I have been starting each day with a cup of Green Tea and ending it with a glass of wine,while taking in a spectacular sunset.

Lake Ontario has long been known for World Class Salmon Fishing, people come from far and near. I have been on the other side of a fishing pole reeling in the 'big one'. The excitement is wild, your hands become sweaty and week from the pressure of trying to land the creature that was a few moments ago swimming in the cold depths, 50 feet below the surface. The area just below your belly-button aches from the fishing pole digging in for leverage. Pull up, real down, I keep reminding myself. Finally, the shiny fish shows itself on the surface, people scramble to get the net, they are busy reeling in the other poles, the Captains watchful eyes concentrate on the boat traffic, yelling out orders so we will be successful at landing the mighty fish. Once hauled on board, it's hard to tell who looks worse for the fight. I of course opt to hurry and toss the winner back to his home, he is on a mission after all, he's traveling home to spawn. He will travel back to is homeland, through the lake, up the river and through the streams. He will climb the ladders of his childhood and when he reaches the end point of his life he will then die of natural causes. Seems poetic, but it's nature at it's best!

Off in the distance, the birds chirp and sing their musical tunes. I watch from my deck as a large Osprey swoops down into the water and emerges, dripping wet, with a Gobi fish in his talons. Gracefully, the large bird flies off with his catch, turning slightly towards me on the shore to show off his kill, then heads west towards the flat rocks where he can be alone to indulge in his catch. The gray herons make there way past our camp late in the day, always looking busy as if trying to stay on some type of schedule, perhaps a curfew of sorts. As the fishing boats head off into the distance, I watch the sail boats gently glide past the lighthouse, killing the engines and popping the sails as they emerge into the great expanse. The beautiful colors of the spinnakers always make me feel happy.

The winds on the lake vary, some days none, most days some, and other days 60 MPH. Everyday is a new one, all different, and most are enjoyable. Sunsets, each one different, the cloud cover depicts a new masterpiece every evening. Mesmerizing watercolors, pinks and blues and purples, shadows of the clouds reflecting off the water. The end comes soon, each day is always met with the knowledge of waking and doing it all over again the next day.

Free Style Music Park, It's Not Just For Music Lover's...

When John Stine, Director of Sales and Marketing for Myrtle Beaches newest theme park, The Freestyle Music Park, started to talk about all the different adventures that the park offers, I could barely contain myself. Being a relatively young Mom of three, very active and adventurous daughters, I am not new to riding roller coasters. Granted it's never at the top of my list but all the same I do it for the kids. I would never want to be branded as the one who didn't have fun! I only wished my kids could have been along for this ride.

The Freestyle Park spans approximately 55 acres, and has somewheres in the neighborhood of 14 million annual visitors. It's loaded with more than 50 attractions, including roller coasters, restaurants, fireworks nightly, and Polly Nesian's Splash Bash, a kids water park complete with a crashing bucket of water that lands down on the heads of the waiting people below.

A must see at the park is 'Adrenaline Rush', it's a fast-paced, high energy extreme competition show. It's a cross between BMX, roller blading and skate boarding. They even light a stunt man on fire and he free falls to a waiting pool below. Kids of all ages will love this!

You must also ride 'The Time Machine', over 150 feet in the sky,this coaster has a total of six inversions: a 120-foot-tall loop; a 95 foot tall cobra roll, and reaches speeds of 65 mph, making it the fastest and tallest coaster in the Carolina's. The 'Round About' is no joke either, this ride was my favorite. It's a cross between a coaster and a Ferris Wheel, you climb in your motorcar and prepare for the ride of your life. Once you reach the top of the Ferris wheel portion of the ride, it lines up on a track and launches you off at super speeds, twists and turns, when your done with this one you'll know your ALIVE!

If you find yourself in the Carolina's you must check out The Freestyle Music park!

Freestyle Music Park
211 George Bishop Parkway

Myrtle Beach, SC 29579

website http://www.freestylemusicpark.com/

The Eden Rock, St Barth's

With imprinted memories of the Voyager ferry buried deep in the back of my mind, I boarded the 65-foot motor yacht, 'The Eden Rock', of St Barths; luxury like non other, with over sized blue and white striped cotton cushions filled with feathers to make the perfect sun bed. Pilou, the Captain and part owner welcomed me with a glass of champagne. If you are a boat person, then trust me on this one, the only way to see St Barths is from the deck of 'The Eden Rock'.

web site http://www.masterski-pilou.com/
email lepilou@wanadoo.fr

Saint Barth's...Serenity Discovered, Paradise Found

I hope you enjoy the following excerpt from my St. Barth's story, soon to be published on the web at GoNomad.com and also in print in The Lincoln Eagle newspaper.

My choice was the Voyager Ferry, affectionately known on Trip-Advisor as "The Vomit Commit". My excursion began in Oyster Pond, St Maarten, DWI at The Dinghy Dock Bar where for good measure I proceeded to wash a Dramamine down with a Carib Beer. With passport in hand I departed Saint Martin for the 40 minute Voyager Ferry ride that would bring me to Gustavia, in St Barth's.

My years of sailing experience told me to make my way to the upper deck, as you never want to stay down below the waves. I found a seat that was relatively dry and settled in for the short jaunt over to St Barth's. It all started out calm, blue sky and puffy clouds, but quickly changed to doom. The sky started to turn gray, and the wind started to pick up. The salt water sprayed me as the boat rocked up and down against the large swells. Still not too bad, I thought, until it seemed that someone had just thrown a bucket of salt water directly at me. I looked around and there was no one with a bucket, just the other brave ferry goers. Hummm...It made me think of a past spa treatment that had a salt exfoliation scrub. The boat was full, so there wasn't another area for me to move to, not to mention it would have been very hard to walk around at this point. So, I had very little choice but to ride it out and hope for the best. By the time I reached my destination, my jean's weighed in at about 10 lbs......To read more keep checking at Gonomad.com soon, or pick up an edition of The Lincoln Eagle.

During my visit to this fabulous place on earth I stayed at The Hotel Le Toiny, check out there web site at http://www.letoiny.com/ or to make reservations contact them at reservations@letoiny.com

14 B, Any Seat But This One!

Well, I have been home for a few days now and still find myself thinking about seat 14B. Honestly, I'm not sure what Delta was thinking when they put this seat in the plane. It is located directly across from the toilet. It is the last seat on the plane, and it may as well be located outside of the plane. The smell would have been better from the exterior! So let me see if i can explain this a little better for those of you having a tuff time getting a visual for this...

After going to the airport the first day and having that flight cancelled, I returned to my hotel for one more night of FUN in Myrtle Beach. Day 2,back in the saddle again, I returned to the airport for another go at it and all seemed well. I boarded my flight, with my belongings in tow, as I walked the distance of the plane I realized my seat was ALL the way back. As I settled in for the just under 2 hour flight to LGA, I clearly realized that this could be a "Crappy" seat, no pun intended!

For starters, every time someone had to use the facility's there 'ass' brushed up against my arm. That's just not right! OK , So in or out! Do people realize the longer they leave the door open the more of a whiff we all get in back of the bus. I could almost taste the air freshener that sprayed every few minutes to keep the area smelling mighty fine. I have been waking up nights hearing the 'GUSH' of the flush. That reminds me of another question... why do they only have 1oz Vodka on board? It was soon clear to me that I needed to make the best of this situation fast. The pretty blue water that was sucked 1000 MPH outwards into oblivion made me turn up my i-pod even louder. I thought for sure the peanuts where dipped in glade, they had a special sheen about them. I took my sweater off of my head long enough to wash them down with my Vodka and Fresca. Quick, back into the cocoon! As for the bible belt, God fearing, non-stop talking big sister who never shut up and never told her little brother to stop flicking the light on and off and who never hinted that he might cut his jugular by ripping his can of ginger ale apart with his bare hands, Thank You for getting the hint that I was not in the mood for small talk!

That's just apart of the glamorous life of a travel writer, next time I could get lucky and be in first class! All in a days work!

A Getaway With My Sister

My bags are packed, in spite of me forgetting a batch of great clothes at the dry cleaner's. We are all checked in, and will be on our way early in the morning. I'm looking forward to getting away with my sister Chris, we should have a fabulous time together. Bonding once again like years past, I was the little sister, so I would hide her car keys under the couch so she wouldn't leave without me. She would go CRAZY looking for them while I just sat there and said nothing. I always wanted to go everywhere with her, now I'm taking her with me! She needs a little jaunt away, the everyday stress of life can become a heavy burden. Myrtle Beach is just the answer. Follow our adventure, guaranteed to be filled with laughter.

We are all travelers in the wilderness of this world, and the best we find in our travels is an honest friend. - Robert Louis Stevenson -

http://www.marinainnatgrandedunes.com/ check out our hotel, AAA, and 4 Diamonds! It will never be the same!