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Neon Tommy - Annenberg digital news

LA Times Travel Show Transports Attendees To Exotic Places

Tanaya Ghosh |
January 31, 2012 | 5:48 p.m. PST

Staff Reporter

The 14th Annual LA Times Travel Show was a hit with attendees of all ages (Photos by Tanaya Ghosh / Neon Tommy)
The 14th Annual LA Times Travel Show was a hit with attendees of all ages (Photos by Tanaya Ghosh / Neon Tommy)
Upon entering the LA Convention Center on Sunday, drums pounded loudly as costumed dancers from Belize performed to the beat. Attendees milled around the 14th annual LA Times Travel Show, exploring the many aspects of travel. There was something for everyone, including activities and tours from different countries, and workshop sessions in which attendees could learn more about their particular areas of interest.

While the travel show was a perfect opportunity for attendees to dream up their perfect vacation, there were also hands-on activities to engage in, such as ziplining and rock wall climbing in the Xtreme Adventure Zone. Many were able to cross these items off their bucket lists, and a number of attendees, when asked what their highlight of the day was, said the rush they got from ziplining was number one.

The Kids' World offered a mini rock wall as well as bubble rollers, where kids rolled around in clear hamster-like balls in a pool of water. Many adults looked on in amusement, wishing they could participate too.

Top Chef season 9 contestant Nyesha Arrington's live chef demo at the global Culinary Stage was a delectable highlight. The Executive Chef of Wilshire in Santa Monica shared her Top Chef experience and how she began cooking as she demonstrated how to make seared scallops with curried lentils. At the end, the hungry guests tasted the dish. The flavors were wonderfully balanced, with the scallops cooked perfectly and the flaked coconut and plantain chips sprinkled on top giving the dish another layer of texture.

Chef Frances Lee of the Mighty Boba Truck also cooked up some crunchy Taiwanese popcorn chicken for the audience, using ingredients like rice flour and basil, which gave it a beautiful flavor and aroma.

The travel photography workshop was led by a panel of expert LA Times photojournalists, who gave professional tips to an eager audience. They showed examples of their work and offered some out-of-the-box ideas for breaking the rules of photography to hone creativity.

The Guam booth stood out with colorful balloons adorning it. With so much variety, it's no surprise that the annual event was ranked in the top ten trade shows and conventions by Bizbash.

Another treat for foodies, Adam Richman (host of Travel Channel's Man v. Food) held a signing for his book, "America the Edible." Other travel world celebrities in attendance included Rick Steves (Europe Through the Back Door), and Arthur Frommer, longtime expert in budget traveling.

Traveling is the best way to expand out horizons and learn about the world we live in. One of the many reasons to keep coming back each year to the Travel Show is that the things to explore in this world are endless. There is always a new country to explore, a new activity to engage in, and a new perspective to see the world in. It's no wonder that the three-day event, the first day being a trade show, was a grand success for the LA Times.

 

You can reach reporter Tanaya Ghosh here or follow her on Twitter.




 

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