About @Odinnthor
78 years old • Male • International Tour Director. Retired.
I was born and raised in Reykjavik, Iceland, but left at an early age and joined the Entertainment Staff on the Chandris Lines cruise ships for a few years. The Staff was a kind of ensamble cast of various entertainers, - singers, dancers, specialty acts and comics. I was the resident comedian and sometime M.C. Then spend decades as a Tour Manager for several five star tour operators, which further expanded my travels. I was one of the first to bring tourists into the then USSR, and to Russia, and I was also first (or close to it) bringing tourists into China after Nixon opened the gates. Finally, getting married did not stop the madness, - until I had my beautiful daughter, - and wanting to be there for her growing up, I spent some time creating expensive FITs (Foreign Independent Traveler), and only doing occasional tours that I created. Unfortunately there was not much money in it, at the time, (the money was all on the road...), and I was forced to seek other work. Got involved in California Workers Comp law, which I did on a contract basis. Fortunately, I still had a lot of contacts in the industry, which enabled me to do occasional tours in between contracts.
- Hobbies:
Hobbies are in sync with my travels. Travel is number one, but I am also a pilot, having learned to fly in Iceland. Learned to fly gliders at 15, and obtained a private pilot license as soon as I was of age. I am a writer as well, and working on two books at this time. And last but not least, I am a devoted Reggae music lover. I once met and had a conversation with Bob Marley when he came to Maui where I lived at the time. Life is too short to drink cheap wine.......d:o)
- Favourite places:
Have lived for a time in several places, ( Maui, London, Athens, Jamaica, ) - presently in Southern California. Having visited over 150 countries it is not easy to pick favorites. Trinidad is up there, so is Belize, and Papua New Guinea. I had a ball doing the USSR and Eastern Europe when it still had the Iron Curtain, and also had a great time doing China from the ground up. China at the time had only two ladies working incoming tourists with one teletype between them.
"LIFE: Ride that sucker 'till the wheels fall off!!"
Photos
Trips
Odinnthor hasn't logged any travels yet.
Forum - Latest posts
Travel Help
Maldives Republic
Greetings! The Maldives are often considered the most expensive destination on the planet. Not quite true, but not exactly untrue either. There are a number of things people need to know about the Maldives prior to planning a trip. A Muslim country, the island of Male is the "city" and it is the capital as well. It id considered the most cramped capital in the world. The island is completely covered in city with no room for any expansion. There are different rules for Male, as opposed to the many resort islands. If you want to visit, there is a way to navigate the wildly and often outrageous prices on the resort islands, and last and not least, if you want to visit the Maldives, do it sooner rather than later, as before the end of this century, the Maldives will be no more, as they will be the first country to be a victim of the global warming/climate changes. The government is already pleading with a number of nations to give the Maldives people a picce of land to call their own, which they will call the New Maldives, or fact simili there of. I may be off by some centimeters, but I saw a news item stating the highest point of the nation is 43 centimeters.
Ask Odinnthor a question about Maldives Republic.
Tonga
Malo e lelei. Ahh Tonga. I was a member of the Entertainment Staff on the very first cruise ship that moored off the island of Tonga. Along with the top officers, the E/Staff was also invited to a Royal Feast prepared for us by the king's chefs. This was done in the gardens of the Royal Palace, and it was magnificent. Int'l Dateline Hotel, on the island has the distinction of being squarely on the Int'l Dateline. Back then it was said that it was Sunday in one end of the hotel, and Monday in the other. Bottom line, I have been to Tonga several times in the past and am fairly well versed in the Tongan tourism. My claims that, ".....I have dined with kings!......", I am really talking about the King of Tonga.........d:o)
Ask Odinnthor a question about Tonga.
Tanzania
Jambo! I am a huge lover of Africa in general, and have visited 26 countries on the continent. As a Int'l Tour Director I did a number of safaris in Tanzania, some of them included Kenya as well. I have an extensive knowledge of the various and plenty tour and safari operators in Tanzi, and am familiar with most of the Tanzanian destinations. I can also help with choosing an operator, and I am not trying to tout those I know personally, but rather help with choosing one from the on line pages of any and all of the local operators, and how to recognize the not-so-good from the good ones. Knowing how to tip on a safari is an art. Holla if you are contemplating a safari or Park and tribal visits in Tanzania.........d:o)
Ask Odinnthor a question about Tanzania.
Iceland
Yes, Iceland, my ancestral home. I was born and raised in Iceland, and I have extensive knowledge about my island, and love to help people understand my people and country. No matter what is on your mind, I can cover it. (Drops mic....!)
Ask Odinnthor a question about Iceland.
Kenya
Jambo! I am a huge lover of Africa in general, and have visited 26 countries on the continent. As a Int'l Tour Director I did a number of safaris in Kenya, some of them included Tanzania as well. I have an extensive knowledge of the various and plenty tour and safari operators in Kenya, and am familiar with most of the Kenyan destinations. I can also help with choosing an operator, and I am not trying to tout those I know personally, but rather help with choosing one from the on line pages of any and all of the local operators, and how to recognize the not-so-good from the good ones. Knowing how to tip on a safari is an art. Holla if you are contemplating a safari or Park and tribal visits in Kenya.........d:o)
Ask Odinnthor a question about Kenya.
New Orleans
The two greatest cities in the United States are San Francisco and New Orleans. Both are like no other city, and they both have a kind of a theme. As a Int'l Tour Director, those two cities were a staple of my tours from other countries into the US. NOLA or Naw'leans, is completely unique, with its own Mardi Gras and its own music and its unique food. Have some ideas about local tours, places to visit, and especially the music scene, and the Creole and Cajun influences that weave through all things NOLA. Some big music stars live and play in New Orleans all their lives, like the Neville Brothers, Dr. John, Winton Marsalis, Fats Domino, and the Ragin' Cajun Doug Kershaw.........and if you don't like what the Doctor says, - "Jackomo finne an dey.....d:o) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=objvCrF7XEU
Ask Odinnthor a question about New Orleans.
California
My time in the US, has been in California and Hawaii. At present I am living in Southern California. However the reason I can help with travel in the state, is due to having done several Grand California Tours as a Tour Director, and as such know the state pretty well, including the iconic Highway 1 coastal road between San Francisco and Los Angeles. I will admit, I am not really that familiar with Northern California, north of Napa/Sonoma wine country, but from Wine country to the southern Mexican border, - including Tijuana, I am fairly proficient. Oh, and I may be up there in years, but I can inform young visitors on the best ways for them to enjoy La La Land, including the clubs and good hostels and other things of interest to the younger set. Benefits from having a great daughter at a late age who is now 27. Hey I was too busy travelling.........d:o) Holla back folks.....d:o)
Ask Odinnthor a question about California.
Fiji
I first came to Fiji working on one of the first cruise ships that docked in Suva, as a member of the ship's Entertainment Staff. That was when Suva was still a sleepy little tropical village. My first dozen visits were with the Queen Frederika, but in the years to follow I was there frequently as a Tour Director, and as such flew into Nadi. I know a lot of places to visit, island hopping, fishing, resorts and the Korolevu Coast I know better than the not as popular North Coast. I love Fiji, - but not Suva so much anymore. I can of course explain........d:o)
Ask Odinnthor a question about Fiji.
Maui
Aloha nui........d:o) I lived in Lahaina on Maui for a number of years. I know pretty much everything you could think of about my Maui. At the moment I am writing a book about my times in Lahaina, which were during the magical decade of the 70s. Although I left Maui after some years, I have frequently been back, and have a lot of local contacts. How about a some nuggets about paniolo (cowboy) country? Paniolos are Hawaiian cowboys, mostly of Portuguese origins. Today you can visit a couple of full blown cattle ranches, and rent some horses for a day. Maui is no ka oi (is the best). Aloha nui loa..........d:o)
Wiki Travel Guide
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