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Be forewarned. When you drive up to luxurious Matakauri Lodge south of Queenstown, New Zealand, drive a car with a low-roof. Why? Because Matakauri is so private and exclusive, that you have to drive through forest to get to their front door. In moments, you'll forget Aspen-like busy-ness of Queenstown (Aspen and Queenstown are sister cities) and arrive in a peaceful oasis. The Lodge is set on nine acres of native bush, partially landscaped with rolling lawns, a meandering stream and surrounded by a pine forest, overlooking spectacular Lake Wakatipu, creating an atmosphere of supreme privacy and enjoyment.

Don't look for a big sign or reception area. There isn't one. When we drove up, we thought we might have accidentally stumbled into someone's private compound — and that's exactly what folks at Matakauri want you to feel like. We tip-toed through front door, only to be greeted by our host, a delightful German woman, named Wiebke (VEEB-keh). She offered us a drink (Bob had a single-malt Scotch; I sipped a local Zinfandel), and showed us around lodge.

The Matakauri Lodge is just four years old (2000), and was built with a main house for family who lived there, and four cottages, each with two suites that are a few yards and miles of privacy away. General manager Tomas Kastberg told us that while other lodges in area are more formal, with white gloved butlers and such, Matakauri was designed to reflect New Zealander lifestyle — more relaxed, simple and elegant. Think of a simple but very elegant Zen Buddhist structure, add Kiwis' zesty love for outdoors, and you begin to get picture.

Our suite in one of cottages could have been a large apartment in many metropolitan areas. The sitting room was built from local stone and wood, elegantly decorated with furniture of simple lines and sumptuous fabrics and garnished with a gas-started wood-burning stove. A minibar was stocked with teas, coffees, cookies, and other goodies, all included in price of room (except for alcohol, which was extra). Commanding entire room was stunning view of Lake Wakatipu, with 270 degree views. Across lake, mountains fill your eyes with stunning beauty, and not one iota of human presence. Having come from San Francisco Bay Area, it was ocular refreshment.

Casablanca is on just about everyone's top ten movie list. The classic was filmed in just 18 days, but producers and writers didn't know what ending exactly should be, so they shot several and picked scenes of DC3 revving up in foggy Casablanca airport with Lazlo and Ingrid Bergman aboard while "Rick" (Humphrey Bogart) and Claude Reins walked off into fog bank. That ending scene was filmed at then avant garde Long Beach Airport.

The Long Beach Airport has to be funkiest airport on West Coast. There is still no jet way - you climb down stairs like in newsreels. The baggage carousel is outside and bag waiting passengers sit under an awning of canvas. The quirky airport was completed just in time for 1942 World War II movie and it has changed little since 40s. It has expanded out a little, and it now serves as West Coast hub for JetBlue airlines.

The airport is so laid back it reminds me of airport in St. Kitts, in Caribbean. On a wall board outside lobby is a bank of telephones and you find your hotel by a number. I pick up phone and punch #10 for Hilton Long Beach and I am immediately connected to front desk - for free. How cool is that! I though I would have to walk blocks to get onto a city bus, but 50 feet away I stroll across a narrow, empty street to bus stand and minutes later hop on 90 cent Diesel, thus avoiding taxi guys and their $17 flat rate.

The buses in Long Beach are roomy and airy. In mid-August heat breezes blow off bay like springtime zephyrs. The bus ends in downtown Long Beach near light rail station going to Los Angeles (only $1.35). Long Beach I find out is a best-kept secret in southern California. I discover that Hilton Long Beach is only a few blocks away from bus stop, so walk past huge city library is enjoyable in afternoon sun.

The Hilton Long Beachis well positioned for leisure and business traveler. The Long Beach Convention Center and Aquarium of Pacific are only blocks away. The high speed catamaran cruise terminal to Catalina Island (www.catalinaadventureourts.com) is less than a block down a gently rolling street, and over bay bridge to San Pedro and new Carnival Cruise Line pier near Queen Mary is literally on Hilton's corner.

Later I find out you can pick up AquaCat water taxi (part of Long Beach Transit www.lbtransit.com) near Hilton to Queen Mary dock for $1 and then connect from Queen Mary to rest of 20-mile-long Long Beach Bay and numerous marinas by Aqualink water taxi for an additional $1. This is way to get around immense southern facing harbor. The U.S. Navy is long gone from Long Beach, and along with it tattoo parlors and gin joints along Pine Street, which has been resuscitated into a toney restaurant row. During World War II my mother was a riveter on Liberty ships here, and I can only imagine port in its heyday.

I always like a hotel where staff is happy. The first person I meet at HLB (short for Hilton Long Beach) is Allen, bellman, who it turns out is a budding author. After speaking with him about writing and journalism, I find out he loves his job so much as a bellman he has turned down numerous promotions, and serves as Hilton's concierge when needed.