For those who regard our planet as endlessly fascinating, there are few places on earth they yearn to see more than the world’s two great Islands of Mystery and Legend lost in the remotest South Pacific – Easter Island and Pitcairn Island.

(Spoiler Alert:  Pitcairn recently became perhaps the Ultimate Escape Destination to get away from it all.  See why at the end.)

Since we were kids, we’ve all seen pictures of Easter’s huge brooding stone statues – but how many people do you know who have seen and experienced them for real?  The power and magic of  being with the moai as they are called will never leave you.

And who among us has not heard the story of The Mutiny on the Bounty – of how, on April 28, 1789, Fletcher Christian, first mate of HMS (His Majesty’s Ship of the British Royal Navy) Bounty led a mutiny of the crew against the tyrannical Captain William Bligh, set Bligh and crew members loyal to him in a longboat, and took the Bounty to sail into history.

Clark Gable was Fletcher Christian in Mutiny on the Bounty, which won the Oscar for Best Picture in 1935. Marlon Brando played him in 1962, as did Mel Gibson in 1984. Everyone knows the story, for it is epically famous. Yet so very, very few have ever experienced being where it took place.

To experience either of these magically historical places is a dream of any explorer of the world – to experience both at the same time… well, that’s never been done before, except on a private yacht or huge cruise ship taking a month or two.  You and I, however, can in  two weeks this coming May.

I hope you had the Merriest of Christmases yesterday, Monday December 25, but according to the song, the First Day of Christmas is the day after Christmas, December 26.  That’s today.

Ancient Christians celebrated Christmas starting with the day after the birth of Jesus and ending on January 6th with the visit of the Magi in Matthew 2:11 known as the Epiphany.

Start with 12/26 and end with 1/6 and you get: the Twelve Days of Christmas.

No doubt you’re really tired of hearing Christmas songs by now, including this one, yet you may still be wondering what the heck partridges in a pear tree and eight maids a-milking have to do with the birth of the founder of Christianity.

So I thought it might be entertaining, as we recover from the festivities, to take a look at the song’s origin, meaning, and myth.  For all of the song’s twelve gifts are Christian symbols.

At the bar, a townsman says, “Shame what this town’s come to.”  Costner responds, “You can do something about it.”

The townsman is frightened at the prospect, objecting, “We’re freighters, Ralph here’s a shopkeeper.”

Costner looks at him with disgust: “You’re men, ain’t ya?”

The townsman, defensively: “I didn’t raise my boys just to see ‘em killed.”

Costner: “Well, you may not know this, but there are things that gnaw on a man worse than dying.”

At the end of Open Range, Costner and Duvall alone face the kingpin and all his henchmen.  Their courage in the ensuing gunfight inspires the townspeople to join the two grazers in gunning down the evil that had plagued them.

That is what Trump is doing for America.  Politics is downstream of culture, so they say.  Not for Trump.  As uniquely befits him, Trump is going in reverse – changing our politics will change our culture.

We’re going to talk today about the most unique, remote, unknown and interesting part of India.

It’s natural, cultural, and historical diversity is immense – from Tibetan monasteries in the high Himalayas to headhunters in dense jungles, from secluded tribes embracing Christianity to people who have retained their 4,000 year-old religion older than Hinduism, from modern cities to lands teeming with tigers and one-horned rhinoceros.

Yet it is also India’s most critical strategic vulnerability.  We’ll start by seeing why.  Then we’ll take a photo tour of the whole place.  We’ll end with how you can soon explore this fascinating region with me.

Tawang Tibetan Monastery, Arunachal Pradesh, India

2018 is upon us.

You can bet the farm that it’s going to be an adventurous year politically.  But what about you personally?  None of us is getting younger – the arrow of time only flies in one direction.  Often, as we keep saying to ourselves, “Someday, I’m going to…” that someday never comes.

So how about your someday coming next year – making 2018 an adventurous year doing what you’ve dreamed of?

Here are a half-dozen adventures I’m planning for next year.  Why don’t you let me know if any of them get your juices flowing?  Hopefully, you’ll be able to join me on at least one, or they’ll spark ideas of yours.  Let’s all look forward to the Adventure of 2018.

Easter Island

Nothing exemplifies Donald Trump’s political genius better than his campaign and now presidential slogan MAGA – Make America Great Again.

Just compare it to his opponent’s pathetically stupid and empty, I’m With Her.  A campaign about nothing but Her, focused entirely on Her, devoted completely and totally to the egomania of Her.

By contrast, Trump’s campaign was about America – the America that every normal voter knew used to be great until Obama opened the gates of the Left’s insane asylum creating a mayhem of cultural lunacy, the America that every normal voter wanted once more.

Trump’s question to the voters – “Do you want more lunacy with Her or do you want to make America great again instead?” turned out to be rhetorical.

But just what is it that made America great in the first place?  And whatever that is, why does it drive Lefties insane?

All my life, I have always thought it was the coolest thing on planet Earth to be an American.

I have been to something close to 300 countries and distinct political jurisdictions in the world, and whenever someone asks me, “Where are you from?” it is a special thrill to be able to answer, “America – I’m an American.”

Thanksgiving is the unique American holiday. We share Christmas and Easter with every other Christian nation. Most every country celebrates its Independence Day, and the birthdays of their founding heroes. Thanksgiving is ours, where we give our deepest thanks to Providence for the extraordinary gift of America to mankind.

Other countries have their special times to celebrate their uniqueness, when their citizens take pride in their country’s achievements, and all to the good. Thanksgiving is America’s Day, the time when all Americans – all – get to celebrate the achievements of the most successful society in history.

It is a tragedy that so many of our fellow citizens are mired in a quicksand of rage and bitterness towards their country and their President.  For them, this day is bittersweet, trying to enjoy a bountiful dinner with friends and family yet unable to feel a boundless joy in simply being an American.

Let’s answer why.

To my fellow TTpers -

At last, after exploring Hidden Eastern Europe, the Mysteries of the Gobi, and Everest and Beyond – my 4th Himalaya Helicopter Expedition – I’m back home with Rebel. And already, people are asking me, “What’s next?”

Actually, Rebel and I can hardly wait for our New Year’s Celebration in Portugal.

Click on that link, and up will come a Pdf of an exploration and experience with dozens of photos that I guarantee will blow you away. The pictures above are the fireworks over Cascais Bay in front of our balcony party at the famous Miragem Hotel.

For here’s a question – how many New Year’s Eves have you had? They come and go, some better than others.

But how many New Year’s Eves have you had that were so extraordinary you’ll never forget them as long as you live? If you’re able to join Rebel and me on our New Year’s Celebration in Portugal, this will be one of them.

Yet it’s so much more – we get to explore one of Europe’s most beautiful and historical countries, with great food, wine, culture and wonderfully friendly people.And the safest, far from the “refugee” plague infesting Europe elsewhere.

Everything is taken care of, marvelous hotels, great meals, all activities – plus you’ll be with your fellow TTPers to spend time together and talk about the world. All the costs and details are in the link above.

We also can put you in touch with a travel agent I’ve used for 25 years who can get you a great deal on airfares.

Bottom line: Just as you don’t want to spend New Year’s in your pajamas watching TV, you don’t want to have one no more memorable than so many others. And you’re only going to have so many of them to come.

What’s more, this New Year’s is one we have so much to celebrate, to be grateful for, and look forward to. So if you want to make bringing in 2018 a very special experience of a lifetime, please consider being with Rebel and me at our New Year’s Celebration in Portugal.

After perusing the itinerary, info, and photos, if you have any questions, feel free to write to me at [email protected].

Let’s have a Fabulously Happy New Year’s together!

- Jack

‘Let the jury consider their verdict,’ the King said, for about the twentieth time that day. ‘No, no!’ said the Queen. ‘Sentence first — verdict afterwards.’

‘Stuff and nonsense!’ said Alice loudly. ‘The idea of having the sentence first!’ ‘Hold your tongue!’ said the Queen, turning purple. ‘I won’t!’ said Alice.

‘Off with her head!’ the Queen shouted at the top of her voice. Nobody moved. ‘Who cares for you?’ said Alice, (she had grown to her full size by this time.) ‘You’re nothing but a pack of cards!’

--Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland, Chapter XII

You’re not going to get a more gin-clear example of the cowardice of Capitol Hill Pubs than their reaction to the WaPo’s lynching of Roy Moore.

Not a single one of them, not even Ted Cruz or Mike Lee, has the huevos to point out the obvious maxim that “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence” – immensely more than some 40 year-old “she said” allegation – and that WaPo and the entire howling mob of the Left are “nothing but a pack of cards.”

Not a single one of them has made a call for fair play regarding the scurrilous accusations of four decades ago against a man with a lifetime record of Christian decency.

Yesterday (11/13), Swamp Rat Jeb Bush, without bothering to talk to Moore at all, demanded Moore quit his Senate race for the sake of “decency.”

Let me explain something to you, Jeb, you indecent schmuck.  Decency is to assume innocence when a good man faces filthy flimsy accusations, rather than a yellow-belly cave-in to WaPo smears.

Pokhara, Nepal. One year ago today – November 9, 2016 – I was here…

This is Lake Tilicho, the highest lake in the world at 16,200 feet in the Annapurna range of the Himalayas.  It was here, at about 11am Nepal time, 12 midnight New York time, that I learned by satellite phone that Trump had carried Florida, Ohio, North Carolina, and Iowa.

I broke down and cried, realizing that America might be saved from the Curse of Hillary after all.

This is truly a Day to Celebrate, for me personally as November 9 is my birthday, for America as at 2:30am one year ago Hillary called Trump to concede thus making him the 45th President of the United States, and for the world as World Freedom Day – the day the Berlin Wall fell on November 9, 1989.

A year ago yesterday, November 8, 2016, America stood on the brink of absolute disaster.  The Left would be unleashed to complete its goal of destroying America’s culture, freedom, and economy, while the Clintons’ crime spree would remain totally hidden with their criminality continuing unabated.

Yet not only have we avoided that fate, our country is getting almost unimaginably better.  Here’s what we need to celebrate today.

New Year’s Fireworks at Miragem Resort Cascais Portugal

Here’s a question – how many New Year’s Eves have you had?  They come and go, some better than others.

But how many New Year’s Eves have you had that were so extraordinary you’ll never forget them as long as you live?

If you’re able to join Rebel and me on our To The Point New Year’s Celebration in Portugal, this will be one of them.

Rebel and I want to show you why Portugal is our favorite country in Europe – Rebel loves it so much, and its endearing people, that she taught herself Portuguese!

In so much of the US, New Year’s is cold – but not in sunny Portugal.  It’s one of the many reasons Portugal is “California in Europe” – with thousands of years more history and culture.  It’s utterly captivating, and we’ll show you why.

Portugal is the authentic Europe, unknown and unspoiled. It’s legendary for its weather, wine, and food. And for the friendliness of its people.  It’s an exploration and it is also a celebration!

For we, as rational conservatives, have so very much to celebrate at the end of 2017.  It’s been a long long time since Americans have had this much to celebrate, so much to look forward in the coming year.

Rebel and I want to celebrate all this with our fellow TTPers in a way, in a place, that will be a life-memorable glorious experience for all of us.

I hope you’ll join us.  You’ll never forget it as we bring in the New Year of 2018. We all have much to be grateful for and to celebrate, so let’s do it together.

Here’s our schedule. Enjoy the pictures!  Jack

Christopher Columbus

October 12 is for celebrating the 525th anniversary of Columbus’ discovery of America, for on that day in 1492, the Great Admiral landed on Guanahani (now known as San Salvador or Watlings) island in the Bahamas.

We commemorate this as a true discovery in contrast to all the claims of Vikings, Chinese, Irish, and others who supposedly came earlier – for once and only after  Columbus discovered America, it stayed discovered.

Unfortunately, Columbus Day is for most Americans just an excuse for a three-day weekend – which is why it’s a holiday today, Monday October 9.

What it should be is a commemoration and celebration of  Western Civilization – which is why the Left hates Columbus and his holiday.

If it’s your misfortune to run into any of these folk bemoaning the nightmare and tragedy of our coming here, you might suggest to them that they abandon every vestige of the civilization they hate as so evil.

Remember the day for it may go down in history – September 19, 2017 – the day the leaders of the world learned America has a Providential President.

No one ever has talked to them like that – ever, not even Ronaldus Magnus.  Trump’s speech to the UN was Reaganesque on steroids.  The most entertaining moment came when he condemned “the socialist dictatorship of Nicolas Maduro in Venezuela.”

Watch Trump’s expression in the clip below after he delivers this line:

“The problem in Venezuela is not that socialism has been poorly implemented, but that socialism has been faithfully implemented.”  

He was fully aware that the majority of people he was talking to were corrupt socialist despots – this is the UN General Assembly after all – who justify their rule with the same socialist bromides of being “for the people” as does Maduro.

So he stood there through their shock, daring them not to applaud – which they then reluctantly did.  Then he drove it home:

Is seeing Mount Everest, the world’s highest mountain at 29,032 feet, on your bucket list?  Funny thing is, trekkers who spend two weeks huffing and puffing up steep Himalayan trails to Everest Base Camp never see the mountain, except its point at the top as it’s always blocked by other mountains in the way.

Above is a view of Everest no one gets to see – the entire “Western Cwm” above the Khumbu Icefall, with the full Southwest Face of Everest on the left and straight ahead its sister peak of Lhotse, the world’s 4th highest mountain at 27,940 feet.

No one, that is, except for those who’ve been with me on my three Himalaya Helicopter Expeditions.  Now I’m leading my fourth and last this November.  This is beyond any doubt the single greatest one-week adventure it’s possible to have on earth right now.

For in going to Everest and Lhotse we’re just getting started.  We go to all eight of the highest, most magnificent mountains in the Himalayas.  We visit remote Sherpa villages, and a hidden Tibetan kingdom forbidden to get to until recently – it’s the last remaining true traditional Tibetan culture in the world.

The High Lama of the Kingdom of Lo

Stefan The Great defeating the Ottoman Moslems January 10, 1475

Zagreb, Croatia.  I have just completed my expedition through Hidden Eastern Europe, primarily through much of the Balkans.  It has been a historical lesson of sobering immensity.

Today is the 16th anniversary of the most evil attack on America in our history.  More morally evil than Pearl Harbor, which was an act of war targeting US military personnel (of the 2403 deaths, 68 were civilians). 9/11, by contrast specifically targeted civilians on purpose.  2,977 innocent human beings were slaughtered by Moslem terrorists, of whom 2,508 were civilians.

The Wikipedia entry on 9/11 casualties states:  “The attacks of September 11, 2001, were the deadliest terrorist act in world history.”

If you click on that latter link, up will come a list of 173 of the worst terrorist attacks, starting with 9/11.  Scroll down the list and you’ll be overwhelmed at how many are attributed to “Islamic extremism” – 120 out of 173.

The Moslem Atrocity of 9/11 is a trauma America will never forget and never forgive its perpetrators.  What Americans should also never forget is its context.  Here in the Balkans is where you learn that context in spades.

We suffered one horrific attack of Islamic barbarism.  What would it be like to suffer an unending series of slaughters and enslavements for century after century, for four or five hundred years?

Once upon a time in days of long ago when kids in school were actually educated, they all knew the story of Horatio at the Bridge.

Winston Churchill committed all 600 lines of Macaulay’s famous poem about it to memory as a young boy, a story of epic heroism that inspired him all his life.

Horatio, or Publius Horatius, was a soldier in the fledgling Roman Army in 508 BC when the small weak city-state rebelled against rule by the Etruscans. His nickname was “Cocles,” meaning one-eyed as he had lost an eye in a previous battle. A huge Etruscan army attacked, slaughtering the Roman army, the remnants of which fled across the narrow Pons Sublicius bridge over the Tiber River and through the gates to the city.

As the Etruscans stormed over the bridge to sack and destroy Rome, one man stood in their way and defied them. Horatio yelled back at his fellow Romans to cut down the bridge behind him while he fought and killed the Etruscans before him.

Then out spake brave Horatius, The Captain of the gate: “To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds For the ashes of his fathers And the temples of his gods,

“Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul, With all the speed ye may; I, with two more to help me, Will hold the foe in play. In yon strait path a thousand May well be stopped by three: Now who will stand on either hand, And keep the bridge with me?”

Once upon a time in days of long ago when kids in school were actually educated, they all knew the story of  Horatio at the Bridge.

Winston Churchill committed all 600 lines of Macaulay’s famous poem about it to memory as a young boy, a story of epic heroism that inspired him all his life.

Horatio, or Publius Horatius, was a soldier in the fledgling Roman Army in 508 BC when the small weak city-state rebelled against rule by the Etruscans.  His nickname was “Cocles,” meaning one-eyed as he had lost an eye in a previous battle.  A huge Etruscan army attacked, slaughtering the Roman army, the remnants of which fled across the narrow Pons Sublicius bridge over the Tiber River and through the gates to the city.

As the Etruscans stormed over the bridge to sack and destroy Rome, one man stood in their way and defied them.  Horatio yelled back at his fellow Romans to cut down the bridge behind him while he fought and killed the Etruscans before him.

Then out spake brave Horatius, The Captain of the gate: “To every man upon this earth Death cometh soon or late. And how can man die better Than facing fearful odds For the ashes of his fathers And the temples of his gods,

“Hew down the bridge, Sir Consul, With all the speed ye may; I, with two more to help me, Will hold the foe in play. In yon strait path a thousand May well be stopped by three: Now who will stand on either hand, And keep the bridge with me?”