How to Get a Passport for a Minor

Does a minor need a passport? Yes, minors who plan to travel out of and return to the United States with or without their parents need to obtain their own passport. This requirement applies to newborns and infants as well. Each child must possess his or her own passport. What does it take to get a passport for a minor? This article provides a list of requirements to answer this question.

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Rush Passport - How to Expedite Your Passport Application

Rush passport expediting is the quickest means to obtain your passport in an emergency situation. Normal processing takes from three to four weeks. It can take longer during periods of increased demand. When you need your passport application processed in a hurry, you have three options.

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Visa Information

If you plan to travel overseas, there is a good chance you will need a visa. A visa is oftentimes referred to as a travel visa and, infrequently, as an entry visa or foreign entry visa. There are a few misconceptions about this travel document that the visa information in this article should clear up for you.

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Staycation FAQ - Alternative to the Traditional Vacation

Are you planning a staycation? You may not even know what a staycation is. Supposedly, the first appearance of the term was back in 2003 although Google Trends doesn't show any search activity for staycation until 2008. According to Google, the average number of searches per month for this term is presently at 8,100. Compare that to more than 45 million searches for the term "vacation" and you can see that it is still in its infancy.

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Tips to make traveling with kids easier

Traveling with kids doesn't have to be a bad experience. You just need to be prepared. Here's a few ideas.

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Save Your Summer Vacation with These Money-Saving Tips

Summer is drawing near. It's time to start planning for summer vacation, especially if you want to make it a memorable yet affordable experience for your family. For most families this year, the emphasis falls on "affordable". However, there is no reason that affordable has to be sub-par. Following are three destinations that can be low-cost and still provide your family with an enjoyable experience.

Amusement Park: Play as Much as You Like and Still Be Able to Pay

Amusement parks are great for kids of all ages. They're not always great on the bank account. Factor in entrance fee, food, entertainment and souvenirs and the total cost can get pretty high. Here are a few tips to save money on an amusement park vacation and keep the dream alive.

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Snowboarding At It's Best

Snowboarding by itself is a fun and safe sport which is basically a cross between skiing and skateboarding. Using a single large snowboard, enthusiasts rush down slopes through the snow. The feel and balance is quite different from regular skiing since navigation through the snow is achieved on only a single board, and unlike skateboarding, snowboarders let gravity do all the work of propulsion for them as they slide down the slopes.

Naturally, once snowboarding caught on in popularity, it was only a matter of time before the most highly skilled practitioners decided to tackle harder and harder slopes, finding ones with more dangerous terrain, or natural formations that allowed for stunts like turnpipes in skateboarding.

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Where Arkansas Residents Can Get a Passport

Are you an Arkansas resident who needs to apply for a new U.S. passport? If so, there are three places you can turn when you need to get your travel document. They are a nearby passport office, a regional agency or a travel document expediting company. The one you choose will depend on the amount of time you have before your departure date.

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Personalized Luggage Tags Help You Identify Your Bags

Most of us have, at some point or another, had a problem finding our luggage in the airport. Since there are only a few major luggage manufacturers, many bags look the same. There's a considerable risk of ending up with the wrong bag, spending a lot of time looking for the right one, or even having someone else accidentally pick up your suitcase. It could be some time before your bag gets back to you if that happens. Even if you don't get the wrong luggage, finding the right one can be a real hassle.

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The Benefits of Automobile GPS

The benefits of automobile GPS keep this type of technology on the leading board when it comes to electronic gadgets. These systems integrate a high level of functionality so that when you put the unit to work, you can enjoy several different types of benefits that can prove to be highly practical when traveling from one location to another.

In this guide, you will be introduced to the main advantages of Global Positioning Technology. Continue reading "The Benefits of Automobile GPS"

Barack Obama's Inauguration at 35,000 Feet

When we booked our United Airlines flights to and from Zurich months ago, I certainly gave no thought to the fact that the day of our return, January 20, 2009 was Inauguration Day! Not only was it Inauguration Day but the return flight was connecting through Washington Dulles Airport a few hours after his swearing in. Augggh....visions of heightened security and lengthy delays were flashing through my mind. And yes, even in Zurich, they scanned my laptop for explosives, and all passengers underwent more than one security check. Understandable...

Fortunately, I had an unworn, pristine clean Chicago t-shirt to proudly wear home and ex-Marine and I scored Business Class upgrades on United. The flight between Zurich and Washington Dulles happens to be one of the few that has been reconfigured with huge, individual monitor screens, video on demand and completely flat seats. Give a yell for United...Go...United!

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Urgent Passport Expediting - Three Ways to Get a U.S. Passport Fast

A rush passport can be obtained three ways if you find yourself in an emergency and need to get your travel document quickly. Regular processing takes at least three weeks and, usually, longer during peak travel seasons. When you need to get a passport sooner, your only option is to expedite the application. The three methods for obtaining your passport quickly are discussed below.

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Food, Glorious Food...A Few of Sheila's World Favorites

On the way to Au, Austria, Walter (our taxi driver) asked me a question, "Do we like food?" Do bears *#@! in the woods? I adore food and every vacation not only gives us a chance to eat old favorites but also introduces us to new tasty morsels. I'm not referring expensive, Michelin*** restaurants but simple, everyday dishes. Some of my fondest (short list) food memories are:

- The huge dessert table loaded with tartes, cakes, mousses, puddings and other goodies served every night at our hotel in Chamonix, France;

- Raclette in France and Switzerland. A huge hunk of Raclette cheese is slowly melted either in front of a fire or at your table on a special machine. You then scrape off this gooey, melted cheese over boiled potatoes and snarf away. Raclette is usually served with a green salad, cold meats, pickles and lots and lots of red wine. Try Raclette the next chance you get;

- Gelato. What can I say about Gelato that hasn't been said before. Rich, creamy, bursting with fresh flavors. Happiness is a trip to Italy or Buenos Aires (huge Italian presence in Argentina);

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Sheila's Fast and Easy Namibia, South Africa

You may have heard of Nambia for two reasons - Angelina Jolie decided to give birth here and those cute little Meerkats running around "Meerkat Manor" on television. Namibia is part of South Africa and was once known as German South-West Africa.

If you are looking for someplace unusual to visit this winter, Namibia is an extremely popular destination, perceived as a "safe country without any problems" and you can be fairly certain that there won't be any. Besides that, Namibia is clean, efficient but not so easy to get around unless you drive yourself. Group travel makes it simpler over long distances and these are a few of the highlights:

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Take A Grandchild (or Child) to Paris

And, why not! Isn't it important to develop a love of travel, explore and see other cultures through their eyes while learning history and language in a fun atmosphere? When we asked "Where in the World would you like to go?"...the answer was: Disney World, Cooperstown, Six Flags, etc... persisted and heard: Tokyo, Paris, Rome (like "Lizzy McGuire") and Australia.

Plane fare is the most expensive part of adding a third person to your itinerary. Fourteen-year old, Josh would share our room and the other costs would be insignificant. Problem solved by redeeming United Airlines miles for a free ticket. Paris is a perfect place to spend four days. Only an eight-hour flight from Chicago, you can drink the water, and Paris is one of the most beautiful cities in the world with incredible sights.

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The Luang Namtha Minority Region of Laos

The December 2009 issue of Conde Nast Traveler had an article about different cultures in remote societies that included the Luang Namtha Minority Region of Laos. Luang Namtha is home to 39 minorities, the largest number in the country and located in the northwestern part of Laos.

Our first visit to Laos was in 1999, a fast in-and-out to Luang Prabang and Vientiane only but a more in depth return to Laos in 2006 with Explore U.K. (booked through Adventure Center - see side bar on my website) took us into Luang Namtha for a full days walk into the UNESCO controlled Namha National Biodiversity and Conservation Area. Guided day hikes can easily be arranged in town from the Nam Ha Ecotourism Office.

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Mallorca/Majorca For All Seasons

You may have always thought of Mallorca as a European destination. A place to work on tans and party. But Mallorca also has rugged mountains, historic, cobblestone street towns loaded with charm along with a reputation for good food, and wine.

Many different airlines fly to Mallorca via Europe (also, ferries from Barcelona). Check out Kayak and (Find Cheap Flights from 100+ Sites with One Click.) and once there, use an efficient bus system to get around the island. Other options - Rent a car, bicycle, ride a horse or walk the little-used tracks and trails throughout Mallorca. ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and I hiked the GR 221, a 170 km/105 mile long-distance route which runs through the Tramuntana Mountain Range of Mallorca with a group.

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A Damascus, Syria Update

Damascus was a pretty happening place when we were there years ago even though you wouldn't have thunk it but a recent article by Andrew Lee Butters in Time Magazine really surprised me. According to Andrew, the Damascus Gate Restaurant calls itself the world's largest, there is a rooftop nightclub at the Omayad Hotel called the Z Bar that provides a place to literally dance on the tables and contemporary art galleries.

Now, there are new reasons to visit Syria beside the ones given you in my series about Syria.

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Sheila's Fast and Easy Buenos Aires, Argentina

What would Buenos Aires be without reminders of the so-called "holy trinity" - Evita (Eva Peron), Diego Maradona and Che Guevara? Their faces on t-shirts, posters, refrigerator magnets, postcards, etc.

Argentina is the world's beef capital. Prepare to eat lots of beef in Buenos Aires, do serious trendy shopping and visit one of the World's best flea markets, the exciting San Telmo Flea Market, Sunday's only. Buenos Aires is also inexpensive by European and American standards, doesn't have that many "must see sights" (there are museums if interested), and is a destination to just enjoy oneself. Spend time strolling through the different neighborhoods and eating. Greater Buenos Aires (pop. 15 million) is the largest Spanish-speaking city in the world. Has your interest level risen? Check out the Argentina Ministry of Tourism website for more information.

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Sheila's Fast and Easy Hanoi, Vietnam

Hanoi is an exciting city with an abundance of sights, excellent restaurants, and hotels that range from Backpacker Hostels to 5*****. Hanoi is also incredibly noisy and chaotic with motor scooters and cycles by the gazillion weaving in and out of traffic. Basic Lesson one - not everybody is going to stop when the light is red or speeding around corners. Keep eyes peeled, look oncoming traffic directly in the eye and cross.

Before visiting anything, head for the excellent Tourist Information Center, 7 Dinh Tien Hoang Street, in the heart of the Old Quarter. You'll need a backpack to carry away brochures and there is also a booking center for Vietnam packages/tours.

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London, England - Windsor Castle

Forty kilometres west of London, Windsor Castle, with its high stone walls, towers and turrets, is the archetype of what a palace should be. It is also the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. The current Queen has long counted it as "home" and is often there at weekends. You can tell she's there if the royal standard (red, yellow and blue) is flying.

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The Santa Maria del Mar in Barcelona, Spain

The simple elegance of this medieval basilica makes it one of the most striking buildings in Barcelona. It is an outstanding example of the Catalan Gothic style, and provides a spectacular contrast to the more complex creations of later Gothic and Modernist buildings in the city.

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Sheila's Fast and Easy Amalfi Coast, continued...

Sorrento, located on the Northern side of the Sorrentine Peninsula is another busy town above the sea filled with hotels, villas and the starting point for other destinations, Pompeii, one of them. (Don't miss Pompeii.) Sorrento has a wonderful network of paths: coast-to-coast; between towns; easy or difficult; and almost all accessible by public transportation from either the beginning of your walk or the end. I can't encourage you enough to take even short little strolls into the countryside. It gives you a chance to really savor the views, chat with friendly locals and other like-minded walkers, escape the crowds and burn off a few pasta, vino and gelato calories. Trails are either blazed with CAI red and white marks or orange marks to guide you along over old mule paths, alleys and little villages.And the views of Sorrento and the peninsula are breathtaking from the top.

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Sheila's Fast and Easy Amalfi Coast

The famous Amalfi Coast is known as "Sea of Ulysses, Land of the Sirens" and playground for the rich and famous. but you may not know that the entire peninsula is crisscrossed with marked hiking trails for those inclined. Very easy to travel independently and visit Travels With Sheila for all the details. Basic Information --

Where to stay? Ravello, Amalfi, Positano and Capri - all on the southern side of the Sorrentine (or Amalfi) Peninsula, and Sorrento on the opposite side.

- Ravello is only three miles from Amalfi, up a mountain, spread out over the hilltop with many gardens and walkways. The deluxe Palazzo Sasso, in Ravello is consistently ranked one of the finest restaurants and hotels in the world.

- Amalfi was maritime power in the Middle Ages with several historical sights, beaches, and another charming town leading inland into the Valle di Mulini (Valley of the Mills). Amalfi was easy to fall in love with. The Duamo, souvenir shops, lemons and tomatoes everywhere, and stands selling umpteen flavors of Gelato. I loved it on sight.

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There are numerous ways of enjoying a holiday season and one such method is to adopt the benefits provided by various time share resorts. If you wish to spend a peaceful holiday, you would have to spend a huge amount of money to get the required benefits. This is where Florida timeshare promotions come into picture. Over here, you not only get the advantage of enjoying a luxurious holiday, you can do so without spending a fortune in turn.

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A Perfect Gift of Discount Travel for the Holidays Global Resorts Network

If you want a unique gift to give to someone special this holiday season, why not give the gift of discount travel?

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Choosing Starwood Timeshares

Starwood Timeshares are known the world over for their exotic holiday packages. If we probe deeper, we would realize that the group owns top hotels like Meridian, Sheraton and W Hotels. The advantage of using Starwood Timeshare group is the ease of flexibility. Over here, you have an option of choosing your holiday as and when you like and you are not fixed to a particular time. You can adjust your weekly vacation in accordance to your need and you can also have the privilege of using the internal exchange options. Here, you can choose to visit a different resort instead of the usual one.

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Sheila's Big Five Animals Continued - Penguins and Two More

Number Five is not endangered. Penguins. Yes, you can see Penguins in zoos all over the world but nothing is even close to (or resembles) the Antarctica experience. You are surrounded by busy little penguins, walking to and from their nests to the sea, stones in their beaks for nest-building, squabbling amongst each other, braying like donkeys when a predatory bird flies overhead, taking the same trails up and down... Masses, hundreds, thousands of Penguins. Gentoos, Adelies, Chinstrap, Galapagos (only saw one lonesome Galapagos Penguin in the...duh...Galapagos). Also visited the Magellanic Penguins in Punta Arenas, South America but Antarctica is where you want to go. Neither ex-Marine (husband, Steve) nor I ever got tired of watching and laughing at the antics of these little, waddling birds.

Two others on my personal "must see list" are Polar Bears and Lemurs. The Polar Bears are classified as "vulnerable" which makes it even more imperative to head up to Churchill, Manitoba and visit via Tundra Buggy. October/November is the time to go and most tours are already sold out. Make plans for next year now. Your only other choice is a summer cruise in the Arctic area. Again, start making plans.

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Sheila's Big Five Animals Continued - Orangutans and Pandas

Number Three, the Orangutans of Borneo. The Orangutans are another member of the great ape family. They have both intelligence and personality plus. Orangutans spend nearly all of their time in trees and fashion nests every night from branches and foliage to sleep in. More solitary than other apes, Males and females usually come together only to mate while mothers stay with their babies until they are six or seven years old. Your best chance of seeing Orangutans is in a Borneo sanctuary (Malaysian or Indonesian side). If lucky, you may spot one in the rainforests of Borneo and Sumatra. Dr. Birute Mary Galdikas is one of the pioneers in wild Orangutan study. She arrived in 1961 at Tanjung Puting Reserve, Borneo. Dr. Galdikas created Camp Leakey and protects this haven for Orangutans in Borneo. Illegal logging and mining is stripping away the Orangutans' habitat at an alarming rate. Dr. Galdikas' Camp Leakey would definitely be on my next visit to Borneo. Right now her Orangutan Care Center and Quarantine Facility houses over 210 orangutan orphans.

ex-Marine and I visited the Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, Sabah, Borneo and had to be torn away from there by our guide. How much more human can you get than these two Orangutans, one sucking a thumb, and the other holding his/her buddy for comfort? The Orangutans can only be viewed at feeding times when they come out of the forest to their feeding platform at Sepilok. These two "buds" stood within touching distance of us but don't even think it... First, it's not allowed and second, a full-grown Orangutan is six times more powerful than a man!

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Sheila's Big Five Animals to See in Your Lifetime

The "Big 5" African Game Hunter list has been around for eons. Lion, African elephant, African buffalo, Black Rhinoceros and Leopard. Some endangered, some not, all easily seen in zoos. Why not forget about these Big 5 and follow this suggestion. I've got another group of animals/species that you really must see. Four are endangered. One is not. And then there are two on my future list... The first two: Mountain Gorillas and Tigers.

Number One, the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda/Uganda. Don't think that you can just go to your local zoo and see one of these incredible apes that have 95% of our genes. No siree...Mountain Gorillas don't do well in captivity. Lowland Gorillas, maybe...Mountain Gorillas, a definite no. You can watch the movie Gorillas In The Mist (or read the book about groundbreaking Anthropologist, Dian Fossey) but nothing...and I do mean nothing...compares with your first sight of them in the wild. It absolutely brought everyone in the eight-person group to tears. Our Gorilla visits with the Hiro and Amahoro groups took place in Rwanda but there are also habituated groups in Uganda. Keep in mind that you must have the ability to hike in to wherever the Gorillas are situated that day so don't leave it for "someday"!

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Sheila, exactly how sick on vacation were you?

So dreadfully sick it would have been a blessing if a car ran back and forth over me to make sure I was dead. A mercy killing to be dropped down a well, clunked on the head, thrown off a cliff or Dr. Kevorkian showed up with his little euthanasia kit - anything to end the misery. Every traveler worth his/her salt remembers exactly when and where death was preferable to drawing one more breath.

During travels, I drink bottled water when tap water is considered unsafe or purify with iodine tablets. Don't eat off food stands in primitive, unclean circumstances. Wash the fruit (no longer peel...I know...that's still a no-no). Cooked vegetables only. And for what...may I ask? To get food poisoning in "so-called" good and safe places?

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What Are the Disadvantages of Timeshare Owners

While time sharing ownerships are on a steady increase, there is a constant negative feedback about the entire concept of timeshare ownership. Out here, you pay for not an individual ownership but you pay to get a property which you are supposed to share with a lot of other people. So before you go ahead and invest in a condominium, you need to understand the disadvantages of timeshare owners.

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Family Cruising

All right now. I remember when cruising meant:

- You had to dress for dinner. Jackets and ties, cocktail dresses for women and formal nights;

- There were only two seatings for meals. Early or late, and one main restaurant;

- Room service? Not available on the ships I cruised on; and

- Cruising with small children was inconceivable.

There still are some cruise lines that follow these rules but not the majority. There are children's clubs, children-only pools, climbing walls, entertainment, teen discos and behemoth ships with enough to occupy a family 24-hours a day.

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All Inclusives for Families - The Only Way to Go!

Don't even consider anything else for a carefree family holiday with small children, teens or intergenerational. Been there...done it. There was no such thing as an all-inclusive when my children were small and McDonald's had just started their voyage into posterity. Traveled with games, toys, watched expensive food dropped, spilled and uneaten because they didn't "yike" the icky food. Can you imagine I had to amuse them all day by myself without the aid of free, all you can drink Pina Coladas by the pool? Shudder to think of that.

It wasn't until grandchildren came along that we discovered a Jamaica All Inclusive (Ta-Da...) followed years later by Hualtuco and Playa del Carmen, Mexico.

Ah... Jamaica. I remember it well.

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Hawaii Packages are a great way to enjoy a tropical vacation

Hawaii packages are great choices when planning your next vacation. Vacations are a great way to get away from the stress of the everyday life. But do you just pack up and leave without planning first? No, you want to make sure that you have a place to stay and also be able to enjoy the entertainment that is there to be offered. With purchasing Hawaii packages will provide you with everything that you need and desire for your next great get away. But what is involved in these packages. Let's have a look.

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Coping with Sea Sickness on Your Hawaii Cruise

There are several ways to cope with sea sickness on your Hawaii cruise. You have probably saved for a long time to take that luxury cruise to Hawaii. Most people who partake in this particular trip have worked very hard to save the money to take it, and look forward to the day that they step foot on the ship to set sail.

Unfortunately, many of these individuals have never been on a cruise. Shortly after setting off into the deep, exotic seas many find that they have sea sickness, but never knew it before the cruise. This can be a very troublesome and rough experience. Here, I will share with you some strategies on coping with sea sickness on your Hawaii cruise.

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Take a Haunted Vacation in Hawaii could be the thrill of your lifetime

Many individuals who have an interest in the paranormal elect to take a haunted vacation in Hawaii. As Halloween draws near, many are scheduling flights, making hotel reservations and making a list of all the ghost tours that they want to engage in upon their arrival. While there are a large number of ghost stories that are passed around in Hawaii that are simply made up, there are several with a lot of truth to them.

In Hawaii, you will learn about curses that linger over some of the villages, children spirits, and even the belief of the "uhane", or the soul of humans that leave the physical body at night in order to reach a heightened state of consciousness and wisdom. If you want to take a haunted vacation in Hawaii, I will provide some of the landmarks that are known for paranormal events here.

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Getting an Infant Passport

Getting an infant passport is as important as getting your own. If you are traveling abroad, you will not be allowed to travel without a passport for your infant. Even if you are not traveling, it's a good idea to get it made and keep it ready just in case you need to travel.

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Why Hawaii is one of the Most Popular Destinations in the World

Hawaii is an adventurous and exotic vacation for anyone to consider. Hawaii has a multitude of different attractions for the vacationer to enjoy. If you are interested in outdoor and water sports, Hawaii is the place for you. If you enjoy nature hikes and the beach, Hawaii is the place for you. There are so many different destinations around Hawaii that every person who visits is bound to find something that they enjoy.

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Tips for Planning Your Hawaiian Vacation

Many people are quite interested in planning a trip to Hawaii. For many of these people, the travel plans that will need to be made may seem overwhelming. Thankfully, planning a trip to Hawaii is becoming an easy affair. In the following text you will find some great tips for planning your vacation to Hawaii.

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Planning a Family Vacation to Hawaii

If you are looking to plan a family vacation to Hawaii, a vacation resort is one of the best choices. Hawaiian vacation resorts are so great for family vacations because they offer many onsite activities. Most of these resorts offer onsite activities such as: golfing, children's game rooms, adult game rooms, swimming, and many others. A lot of these Hawaiian resorts are designed for parents traveling with their children.

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Beijing's Panjiayuan "Dirt" Market

Beijing's little known but rapidly becoming more famous, weekend Panjiayuan ("Dirt") Market is one of my favorite places. If any of your Beijing in-and-outs happen on Saturday/Sunday, go to the "Dirt Market." We had only one day in Beijing this particular trip, and immediately went into warp speed by jumping into a fast $3.00 taxi ride there.

The usual routine is to walk the outside perimeter before heading under the roofed area. This is the area where people from the country and Beijing outskirts bring items to sell. They spread out blankets, start laying everything out and here is the spot that something a little more unusual or "valuable" may show up. (Read past articles on http://www.TravelsWithSheila.com on Panjiayuan: Great Wall); Cheap tours to China)

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Hawaiian Vacation Rentals

It is simple to imagine yourself on any of the Hawaiian Islands enjoying a great vacation, but in truth, you will need to do some serious planning for this dream to come to fruition. While there is no doubt that the islands will offer the beauty that you dream of, there is some competition with getting the best vacation rentals to enjoy this beauty in. To be able to truly embrace the beauty that will be flourishing around you, you will want to make sure you have the proper lodging to make you feel right at home in Hawaii.

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Best Time of Year for Hawaiian Vacation

Because Hawaii is such a popular vacationing destination, there is no doubt that there are visitors year round. As a matter of fact, there are around eight million people a year who vacation to Hawaii. Each year this number seems to increase. Because this state is naturally blessed with beautiful landscapes at every corner, it is no mystery why Hawaii is so very popular. Not only is Hawaii blessed with a beautiful landscape, but also with friendly weather all throughout the year. So, with this in mind, there really is no best time to visit Hawaii unless you are going in the whale watching season. However, the best times to visit usually fall in between the busy seasons.

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Extremely Useful - Overnight Passport

No matter how prepared you are, there are times when you need to get your passport as soon as you can. There can be an emergency such as sudden death in the family, overseas or you may need to travel for business purpose. It is always a good idea to always get your passport made in time so that you can avoid the last minute rush, but sometimes, to get an overnight passport becomes absolutely mandatory.

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Backpacking Safety

Backpacking is a great pastime to be involved in and is very rewarding for many reasons. It allows you to experience nature, stay fit, and explore new places. But in order to fully enjoy your backpacking experience it is important that you practice good safety measures and know what to do on the trail in case of emergency.

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Backpacking - Deciding What to Pack

Backpacking is an enjoyable pastime that allows you to stay fit, enjoy nature, and escape the grind of everyday life. When you take a backpacking trip you are responsible for providing yourself with food, shelter, and any other gear you may need which is why it is important to know exactly what to pack before you leave. To make the most of your trip you will want to make sure you bring all the necessities, as well as some luxuries, while at the same time keeping your pack as light as possible.

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Is Your Body Ready for backpacking?

Backpacking can be a lot of fun and even relaxing as it takes you away from the stress of everyday life. But backpacking can also be a demanding as well as rewarding pastime, especially if you hike on particularly rugged terrain. If you are new to backpacking and are thinking about trying this enjoyable hobby, you should make sure that you prepare yourself first so that you have the endurance and strength that backpacking requires.

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Backpacking basics - choosing the right pack

If you are new to backpacking and need to get the right gear, the most important thing you will need to purchase is a backpack. Your backpack is how you will transport all of your gear, supplies, food, and clothing while on your trip so it is essential that you choose the right pack for your comfort and for your unique trip. Getting a pack that is too small, too big, or uncomfortable will put a damper on your trip and may even cause a safety issue. You will want to focus on capacity, weight, comfort, and durability when choosing your backpack.

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Backpacking in Europe

Backpacking is a fun pastime and is especially popular in Europe. Europe is a great tourist destination and if you love backpacking it is one of the best places in the world to take a backpacking trip. Most of Europe is very open and welcoming to backpacking and most places make it convenient to take even long trips with ample (and affordable) places to stay and trails to hike. There are many potential backpacking areas throughout Europe that you should consider when planning your trip as well as travel considerations before you leave.

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London, England, UK - The Tower of London

A fortress, palace and prison, where people have been murdered as well as executed on the orders of the state, the Tower of London shows both the brutality and splendour of Britain's medieval period. The Tower of London is a must-see for any travellers, visitors, tourists and vacationers to London, England, UK.

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Global Resorts Network - GRN - What Is It? No Need to Ever Buy A Timeshare Again

[Global Resorts Network] aka GRN is a discount travel club membership unlike any other. If you travel at all, you need to take a look at what Global Resorts Network has to offer. How do I know? I am a member.

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Alaska Cruise Reviews - A Must Read

Do you want to escape the heat? Come with us and read the Alaska cruise reviews, to plan a perfect the best vacation. We will discuss a couple of Alaska cruises to make it easier for you to make a choice.

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Choose From a Multitude of Alaska Vacation Packages

Are you planning an incredible vacation with your family or friends? Are you planning a great date with nature? We will advice you to visit Alaska, if you want to enjoy the splendor of nature. There are plenty of interesting and exciting Alaska vacation packages. Alaska stretches 2,400 miles east and 1,420 miles north to south. It's a large state. In fact it has distinctive geographical features. The high mountains add to the natural beauty and the rainforests are a major attraction.

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Orlando Timeshares | Things You Should Know!

Are Orlando timeshares really worth it? Let's find out! If you are a frequent vacationer, then you do realize how expensive the traveling and cost of the rooms can be. Also every time you do make arrangements for traveling you have to go through the same rigmarole of locating a good hotel in a convenient location with the rooms you require, shortlist hotels and select one which is in your price range, secure bookings and get a deposit and then check in to pay the balance. After doing all this you realize that you don't really like the hotel and it's not what you wanted.

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Why A Global Resorts Network Membership Is Better Than Owning A Timeshare

Many vacationers are asking why a Global Resorts Network Membership is Better than Owning a Timeshare. The bottom line is SAVINGS of THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS on your family vacations. Listen to my story before you decide to purchase a timeshare or if you already own a timeshare. With a Global Resorts Network Membership you will never have to purchase a timeshare. I am a member now and I only wish that someone had told me about this before I spent over $70,000 on timeshare purchases.

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What Engraved Luggage Tags Can Do To Make Your Trip Easier

Engraved luggage tags are a durable way to easily identify your luggage. Unlike many other types of personalized tags, they're tough enough to stand up to rough handling. If you travel a lot, this is an important feature, since airport baggage claims can be hard on your luggage. Engraved luggage tags are a favorite of many travelers, and also make great gifts. Look for them in brass and similarly durable materials, so they'll last a long time.

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Airfare Compare: How to get the cheapest airfare rides ever!

As prices of every oil barrel continue to soar, airplane companies are now finding it hard to keep their airplanes on air without hiking up the fare. In 2007, airplane travel authorities recorded a total of 23 airfare hike attempts with 17 of them being successful. But this year, airplane officials disclosed how 2008 is barely over yet there are now 21 airfare hike attempts with 14 of them successful!

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Kyiv and Odessa: Popular Ukraine Travel Destinations

It can be a challenge to pick the things you want to see and do in a country with as many options as the Ukraine. A couple of the most popular destinations for those who travel to the Ukraine are Kyiv and Odessa. Both cities offer a vast array of experiences for travelers of all ages and interests.

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Is Global Resorts Network (GRN) A Scam - Attention: Should I Buy a Timeshare Instead?

Is Global Resorts Network a scam? Should I buy a timeshare instead? I've been on the internet for over two years now and I have gotten scammed by companies who promised to make me an internet millionaire in under a year. I now know how it works and can see how the majority of people make their money and many of the programs are scams. However, Global Resorts Network is definitely not a scam and NO, you should NOT buy a timeshare. If you travel, you should join Global Resorts Network (GRN) and here's why.

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How to Save Money on Your Trip to Moon Palace Resort

Moon Palace Resort is one of the more popular all inclusive resorts in Cancun Mexico. It is part of the chain of resorts owned by the Palace Resorts. It offers over 2000 rooms, six intertwining swimming pools which are the largest series of pools in Cancun, 11+ restaurants, a disco, a gorgeous golf course, and many shops right within the resort. It is a very popular resort for families. The only downside is that it can be very expensive. So, how can you save money on your trip to Moon Palace Resort?

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Why Would You Want to Consider Taking a Vacation in the Maldives?

It's possible that you have never even heard of the Maldives. I know I knew nothing about them until I did a bit of research and found out that this tiny chain of islands houses some of the most beautiful beaches in the world.

Why would anyone want to take a vacation in such an out of the way place as the Maldives? The words beauty and serenity come to mind and the Maldives resorts have much to offer.

[Taking a vacation in the Maldives] will be a very unique experience. Although it may not seem so because of the local culture, there are some very popular Maldives resorts including the brand name Hilton Maldives Resort which attracts tourists and offers the vacationer a wonderful, relaxing vacation with all of the pampering needed to have a great time.

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Why Would You Ever Buy a Timeshare When You Can Do This?

Why would you ever buy a timeshare when you have such a wonderful alternative available to you? It's simple. You just don't know that this membership exists! The world is full of saavy consumers these days. In this less then desirable economy, everyone is looking for a bargain. Bargain shopping is being done when planning vacations too. So why would you ever [buy a timeshare] if you are trying to save money on travel?

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What Kinds Of Jobs Are There With Nascar?

If you are interested in the exciting world of race cars, perhaps you may be asking the question: "what kinds of jobs are there with Nascar"? There are many types of positions that are available that might be of potential interest to you. The world of Nascar does seem so glamorous and in many ways it is. On the other hand, it is important to also consider that when you find a position that you like within Nascar you will need to be prepared to be on the road constantly if you are an immediate part of the team and away from your home most of the time if you work directly with the race car drivers themselves. The first and most obvious answer to the question "what kinds of jobs are there with Nascar" would be a race car driver. Becoming a race car driver, however, is a dream only obtainable by a few.

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Moon Palace Resort Cancun Mexico - How to Get Great Discounts

Moon Palace Resort in Cancun Mexico is a five star resort that offers just about anything a family could want. The only thing that an inexperienced vacationer to Mexico might not like is the price. Although very reasonable for what you get, most are shocked initially at how much an all inclusive stay at the Moon Palace Resort can cost. It is a steep price to pay but well worth saving for. Is there any way to get a great discount at a five star resort like Moon Palace? The answer is YES!

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Mexico Travel Vacations While on a Budget

It is possible to enjoy Mexico travel vacations on a budget if you know the many ways to save money. This can be done through package deals, low-cost airfare, discount accommodations, dining out, and traveling within the country.

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Using Embroidered Luggage Tags

Embroidered luggage tags are an inexpensive, easy way to make your baggage more interesting and recognizable when you travel. No one likes sitting at the luggage carousel waiting for the right bag, and wondering which of the identical suitcases might be theirs. It's easy to accidentally end up with the wrong one or to have someone else take your suitcase thinking it's theirs. To prevent this, make your suitcase easily recognizable from a distance, using embroidered luggage tags. They'll help you figure out which bag is yours from a distance, meaning you won't have to stand right next to the carousel and fight with other travelers to identify your luggage.

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How Custom Luggage Tags Can Help You

Most people have had a problem with finding our luggage at some point or another. Often, there are a lot of very similar pieces of luggage on the baggage carousel. No one wants to get the wrong bag, or worse, have someone else wander off with their luggage. Even when you get the right bag, finding it can be annoying. After a long flight, we all want to minimize hassle as much as possible. That means making sure you can easily identify your baggage.

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Alaska Cruise Reviews

There are many wonderful different cruises that you can take in Alaska. There are some excellent cruise packages to help you save money on your trip. Many people enjoy taking an Alaska cruise for honeymoons, vacation and to simply have time to explore more of the world. The best way to determine what type of cruise is best for you is to read some of the Alaska cruise reviews.

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Christian Alaska Cruise

Many people will tell you that Alaska is one of the best states to visit in the United States. The scenery is breath taking. The wildlife is simply amazing. There are areas that are so fresh and beautiful without being filled with commercial things such as strip malls, traffic lights and traffic jams. You can spend time experiencing this beautiful state through a Christian Alaska cruise.

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Discount Travel Vacations - Cruise to Cash

Why is Cruise to Cash one of the most desirable new travel vacation clubs to enter the $7 trillion travel industry? Cruise to cash not only offers one the chance to travel at huge discounts and take advantage of a full service, online travel agency, but it offers the buyer to earn money from telling others about this fantastic program.

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Global Resorts Network - Talk of the Travel Industry

Why is [Global Resorts Network] the talk of the travel industry? It's simple. It combines huge discount vacations to over 5,000 locations worldwide to timeshare properties without having to own a timeshare and it provides an incredible source of income if the member chooses to tell others about the membership.

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Alaska Cruise Tours

Are you considering visiting Alaska? Are you ready to see areas of the Alaska that many people never get to experience? The Alaska cruise tours are an ideal way to get to see many parts of Alaska that are only accessible through the tours. The greatest aspect of the Alaska cruise tours is having someone guide you and tell you all about the different areas that you will experience.

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Alaska Vacation Packages

When one thinks of Alaska they often vision rough wilderness and cold climate. The area of Alaska is not harsh and brutal as one might initially anticipate. The land is gorgeous and there are some incredible wildlife areas to take in for your adventurous spirit. One of the best ways to view and truly experience Alaska is through the different Alaska vacation packages available.

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Royal Caribbean Alaska Cruise Tour

One of the most popular tour groups available is the Royal Caribbean Alaska Cruise Tour association. They are well known for excellent service, quality tours and very reasonable packages. If you want to travel to Alaska and really enjoy the beautiful scenery, the Royal Caribbean Alaska Cruise Tour is one option that you do not want to miss.

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Timeshare Vacation Membership Cancun Mexico and Cabo San Lucas

There is no doubt about it. If you don't read this information and you do buy a timeshare, go on vacation, or even go to sites like Expedia, Travelocity, or Priceline to book your vacation before you read it, in my opinion, you will lose literally thousands of dollars on your vacations over your lifetime of travel. I can say this from first hand experience and I honestly wish I would have known about this years ago. Whether you are considering a timeshare membership in Cancun Mexico or a timeshare membership in Cabo San Lucas or any other part of the world for that matter, you will want to take a look at what you have been missing.

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Timeshare Vacation Membership

If you are not taking advantage of a timeshare vacation membership you are wasting a LOT of money on your vacations. Most people don't even know that these types of memberships exist. Like me, they often find out about them AFTER they have purchased a very expensive timeshare. When they realize what they have done, they are now stuck with a timeshare that they can only resell for pennies on the dollar. But I didn't give up. I still looked into the timeshare vacation membership and here's why.

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Cancun All Inclusive Resorts - What a Great Vacation!

If you have ever thought of going on vacation to one of the Cancun all inclusive resorts, don't hesitate for a minute. It seems as though I can never stop talking about the breathtaking beauty of the colors I have seen in the waters of Cancun Mexico and of the service I received at the four and five star Palace Resorts was unlike any other service I have experienced in other places I had traveled to in various parts of the world

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Discount Cruises for Baby Boomers

Discount cruises that offer excellent service are available for baby boomers if they just know where to look. Every baby boomer knows the value of hanging on to every dollar they have since boomers are living longer than ever. That leaves more time to travel and enjoy life after working for so many years. Boomers also have a lot more time on their hands to travel, so finding discount cruises for baby boomers who have the time and who want to save money is a wise idea.

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Discount Timeshare Rentals For Baby Boomers

Baby boomers do not have to pay top dollar to travel. There are ways to save huge amounts of money. Baby boomers can get great discounts on timeshare rentals without having to buy a timeshare. Want to know the secret? Read on.

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Alaska Cruise Reviews - Visit Alaska

The state of Alaska is not only the largest state of the United States of America, it is also one of the most diverse states in the US. The per capital income of Alaska is higher than many other states too. Boasting of a huge coastline, Alaska is quite popular with tourists all over the world. Alaska has grown as a tourist hub in the past few decades. What are the reasons for the incredible popularity of Alaska as a tourist destination?

Alaska is home to mountain glaciers, ice fields and beautiful sky-blue icebergs. Alaska abounds in marine life; oysters, seals, dolphins and killer whales are present in huge numbers in Alaska. The native culture of Alaska is popular throughout the United States of America. Cruise-ship passengers frequent Juneau, the capital of Alaska. This city is popular for fishing, camping and hiking.

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More Tips for Buying a Timeshare

If you do decide to buy a timeshare it is a good idea to fly to the vacation resort and check it out first. This is the only way to really determine whether or not you are about to buy a lemon or a hot vacation spot. You should never buy a timeshare sight unseen.

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Some Advantages of Buying Timeshares

A timeshare is simply the nickname for what is known as fractional ownership. It describes a situation group of individuals share ownership in the same property but the perimeters of ownership are defined by time. Usually the property is a vacation home, condo or second home located in an exotic local but it can be extended to planes or boats as well.

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Vacation Ownership in Las Vegas - Enjoy a Holiday in Las Vegas with a Time Share

If you happen to love the glitz and glam of Las Vegas, you may want to consider vacation ownership in Las Vegas. If you have a time share in Las Vegas, then you'll have the ability to go on a vacation to the city whenever you want to. So, if you are looking for a great way to make sure that you get a great vacation every year or you want a cost effective way to manage your vacation investment, a time share in Las Vegas is a great choice. So, whether you just want to rent a timeshare or you decide to purchase one in the Las Vegas area, you are sure to be thrilled with your choice.

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Time Shares in Florida - Why They are Great Investments

If you want to invest your money and really make some money back, you may want to consider purchasing time shares in Florida. Many real estate agents have noted that they are a great way to invest your money for a variety of great reasons. In fact, just about any place in Florida is a great place to purchase a time share. No doubt once you do you'll find that there are a lot of great benefits. So, let's take a look at why time shares in Florida are such great investments.

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Affordable Travel

We all wait patiently for those yearly travel events to come around. Well, maybe we don't wait so patiently, but the point is they don't come around often. What most of us strive for is an affordable travel plan with all the perks of an outstanding vacation.

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All-inclusive vacation with a little Nip and a little Tuck

Ready for that vacation you've been dreaming about? Or would you rather put that vacation off to get that little cosmetic surgery to even thinking about? In today's global economy why not both? Have you ever considered a medical surgery vacation before? Today they are more common than ever before. So what is a medical surgery vacation you ask?

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India Tour Attractions Worth Seeing

Given India's immense size, rich history, and cultural diversity, it is no wonder that there is a superabundance of notable India tour attractions in India. If you only have a week or two, you will have to make some decisions about what to see and do. A few of the most popular attractions are listed below.

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Disney Cruise Vacations

If you have been wondering if you should take a cruise, but are not sure which cruise line would be right for your special vacation, then you might want to give some thought to taking a Disney cruise. Disney is well-known for making everything they do seem magical and for attending to those little details, and they continue in that tradition with their custom-built cruise ships. Disney cruises are not only perfect for families, but they also present a wonderful experience for people of all ages.

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Take a Picnic Basket when you go to Cade's Cove

Venture back to a simpler time. A time before television, radio or the automobile. A time when families ate, worked and lived together. A time when this country was young and unexplored. When you visit the Great Smokey National Park, you get a sense of this time. When you visit Cade's Cove you can see for yourself. Be sure to take along your picnic basket because you are going to want to take the time to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet this remote portion of the Smokey Mountains offers

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Suitcase Exporting

The craft market in Otavalo is huge fun - dozens of vendors offering amazingly beautiful tapestries for wall and floor; huge stacks of sweaters, all 'alpaca'; soft cotton shawls of all colours; tables full of silver handcrafted jewellry; colourful tagua necklaces and bracelets, ponchos of all types and colors; unique art and carvings, and on.... and on....

Bargaining is mandatory. If you don't offer at least 30% less than the quoted price, you're going to be sorry. Besides, it's fun! I've found that everyone is willing to bargain, and you will never feel pressured to buy. But you will buy!

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How to Get Free Travel Vouchers

If you know what a travel voucher is and you understand how a travel voucher works, you know you can save thousands of dollars on vacation travel over the years. You also know that a "free vacation travel voucher" is usually not truly, 100% free unless someone redeems the voucher for you. The more appropriate name for these free travel vouchers would be "discount travel vouchers".

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Honda Element versus the Ford Escape

It seems today everyone is searching for the next big SUV to use for camping vacations or for shuttling the family from point A to point B. Two of today's most popular Sport Utility Models are the Honda Element and the Ford Escape, or Ford Escape Hybrid. We've recently imported both of these vehicles into Canada and in our opinion this is how they shape up, head to head.

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Belize City, A Small town lifestyle awaits

You've always dreamed of living in the tropics right? But you swear you couldn't live with out your everyday American amenities such as the nearby Walmart, the Neighbourhood Shopping Mall and your local banker? We'll it may be an adjustment but venturing off to live in Belize City is almost a happy medium between the everyday hustle and bustles big city North American Lifestyle and the pure serenity (read: boredom) of a far off desolate beach paradise. This article is provided courtesy of www.movingtobelizeguide.com/

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Orlando Timeshare - The Affordable Way

An Orlando timeshare will make it more affordable for people to enjoy Orlando, which is one of the world's most popular family vacation destination. Blessed with one of the longest white sandy beachfronts of the world and safest bathing beach Orlando offers unlimited excitement and fun. It is a paradise for vacationers and especially children. Dotted with theme parks it offers a complete experience to the visitors.

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Retire in Belize, Pure Paradise

The dream of cashing in and soaring off into the sunset to live the life of luxury in a tropical paradise may be closer than you think. Unlike 30 years ago the baby boomer generation has set themselves up for a luxurious lifestyle in retirement. Couple the savings habits of this generation with a boom in American equity values and access to foreign low cost countries and you have the settings for a dream retirement in a tropical paradise.

So how about moving to Belize, retiring in Fiji or sailing on the coast of Costa Rica? All are possible if you consider you financial opportunities in living the life of geographic arbitrage. What exactly does that mean? It means, taking financial assets and income from one geographic location, such as the United States and spending those earnings in another location, such as Central America or Mexico.

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Winterizing Your Vacation Home

Winterizing your vacation home is an important part of caring for your vacation residence. Winterizing your vacation home is a little different than your regular home because most people are not in the residence as much as their regular homes. Here are some handy tips for this process.

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Nevada Camping

The state of Nevada has varied terrain, including desert, mountains, rivers, forests and lakes. It's a terrific area for observing wildlife and geological wonders. There are numerous ways to enjoy the scenery but Nevada camping sites get visitors close to the natural world. Many of these campgrounds are contained within State Parks and conservation areas.

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India Travel

Long haul vacations have become commonplace today as more of us seek out exotic destinations. There is nothing more fascinating than India travel, exploring a country of great culture and history. It is a country of contrast, with wonderful scenery, top class accommodation and ancient temples.

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Disabled Travel

If you're disabled, there is no reason why you shouldn't be up to travel just like everyone else. Though there may be restrictions on where you can go and what you can do, you may find that the vacation of your dreams is within your reach. You can find many travel packages that work for almost anyone. Disabled travel does not mean you have to choose a destination you do not like, or settle for anything less than what you want to do.

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Daytona Beach

There are many resorts in Florida, attracting visitors to the sunny climate and beach lifestyle. Daytona Beach is one of the most popular areas and it has a varied mix of activities and places to see. There are 23 miles of white beaches and a large number of hotels and motels cope with the rising population during summer. Fishing and water sports are popular, including kayaking, surfing and parasailing.

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What is an "Incoming travel agent"

Most travel agents are 'outbound'; that is, they send their customers out of the country on holidays abroad.
An 'inbound' or 'incoming' agent, on the other hand, welcomes customers from abroad, providing them with services in the country where they're based. Traditionally, incoming agents have worked in the background, providing services to 'outbound' agents on a purely wholesale basis. When your local High street travel agent sells you a package in the Maldives or Bermudas, he's usually relying on an incoming agent over there on the islands. The outbound agent arranges flights and payment; the incoming agent provides accommodation, activities and transfers on site.

As far as long-haul destinations are concerned, this schema still works although it's beginning to crack. But the arrival of low-cost short-haul airlines means that the old order has imploded: the customer can now find, book and pay for his own flight. She can now organize her own holiday without the outbound agent ... even to the point of hiring cars, booking hotels and arranging activities abroad. Does this mean that the incoming agent is as obsolete as the out-going one? Probably not so, for a number of reasons: firstly the incoming agent lives and works in the country, therefore he knows more about what to see, what hotels to avoid, which ski resorts are good etc. Secondly, he has built up a relationship with his suppliers (car hire, transfers, hotels, activities) which means getting a better price than you would get. The result is that he can create and market packages as cheap as (or cheaper) than you could ... sparing you the time and guaranteeing you quality accommodation and service.

Officially, an incoming agent in France is an 'agence réceptive', with a State travel agent license and compulsory insurance and bonding. France has about the toughest licensing requirements of any country in Europe, guaranteeing customers of the financial soundness and seriousness of license-holders. An 'agence réceptive' may not sell airline tickets but may book, sell or organize any tourism-related product once the customer is in France.

African Safari - The Wildest Adventure Ever

Seeing wildlife up close and personal and in their own habitat is hard to beat. Add wonderful scenery and it's a memorable experience. African safari vacations have become very popular and there are numerous companies that provide packages designed to bring a bit of adventure under expert supervision. Accommodation is usually in lodges and camps, equipped with hot showers. Meals and barbecues are prepared by the company cook.

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Discount Cruise Ship Vacations - Are They For Real?

In this society of deals and discounts, there are also discount cruise ship vacations? Besides shopping at discount stores or use multiple coupons, this is yet another way of saving money.

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How to Estimate the Cost of Your Cruise Ship Vacation?

When it comes to planning a cruise ship vacation, many families are concerned with the cost. If you are spending your next vacation aboard a cruise ship, there are a number of different ways that you can estimate the total cost of your vacation.

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Preparing for Trips to Mexico

Preparation is the key to your safety when planning trips to Mexico. Begin with a careful and well thought-out plan, including your budget, where you will stay, as well as important information and contact numbers in case of an emergency.

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Exotic Travel

Most individuals have the urge to travel. They want to take adventures to far off lands and see new things. Things that they feel are unattainable in some way if they remain within their country's borders. I'm not really one of these people. I love the USA, and am so glam I was born here.

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Camping Sites

Now that the weather is getting nicer, many are thinking about what they want to do over the summer. Camping is a popular activity, and many like to find the best camping sites as early in the year as they can. When calling a place to book a site, it is important to ask a few very important questions, as not all of these places are good, and each site will have something different to offer.

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Family Vacations In Mexico - Popular Destinations

Family vacations in Mexico is quite common aside from it being popular with young adults and couples. If you and your family are currently searching for your next family vacation destination, you will want to take Mexico into consideration.

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Banff Springs Hotel

Nestled in the Canadian Rockies is a beautiful hotel that people from all over the world flock to. It’s a perfect venue for holding a wedding and ideal for a couple in need of some special away time. It’s the Banff Springs Hotel and whether you love the crisp Canadian air or not, you’ll enjoy spending a weekend lapping up the luxury of this northern treasure.

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Enjoy Touring the California Wineries And California Wine

California wine and wineries are well known. While they do not have as much romance and mystery as their European counterparts do, they, however, have a vibrance and body to them that is hard to deny.

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Best Gas Mileage For An SUV

So how do average middle class individuals and families afford such atrocious gas bills? I'm not so sure many of them can at this point. If that were the case, car companies wouldn't be coming out with more economical models such as the Rav-4 and Honda Element. I think people are now on the look-out for the best gas mileage SUV.

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Family Camping In Europe

On a trip with Explore, U.K., some of fellow travelers told us about their COMPLETLY PROVIDED FOR family camping experiences in Europe. Now, I had never even thought that something like that was possible, let alone existed.

What I discovered was Key Camp, a company that organizes camping holidays with sites in France, Spain, Italy Luxembourg, Holland, Austria and Switzerland. Their holidays include: a choice of luxury two-three bedroom mobile homes, chalets and even spacious four-bedroom supertents - something for every budget and fully equipped! They have on-line route planners for your vacation, children's clubs (from tots to teenagers), and suggestions for couples seeking an activity holiday. Depending on your camp site, it's possible to scuba dive, sail, windsurf, canoe, golf, fish, and much more.

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How to get the best timeshare bargain

When looking for a timeshare bargain it's in your best interest to make enquiries regarding various time share providers.

You also need to understand the particulars about what each time share vacation offers and how they differ.

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Tour of Kampala and On To Ngamba Island - Uganda

The Boma served breakfast from very early in the morning...a necessity since most international flights arrive in the wee hours. After a semi-leisurely breakfast...View image..., the group was off to start our trip....View image...

First up was a tour of Kampala, only 33 miles away from Entebbe but with horrendous traffic jams getting into, and through, the center of the city. Kampala is built on seven hills (like Rome), 10% of the country's population lives there (over 2 million) and English is the main language.

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British Airways to Uganda

Duffels packed and off to London Heathrow (one of my least favorite airports in the world - until today). Those of you who always fly Business Class can just ignore my ravings. This is for us poor schleppers who usually sit in steerage unless able to shake loose a free Business Class ticket using miles. The British Airways
flight to Entebbe only had two classes - Business and Economy. Full-recline sleeper seats in Business Class with unusual configuration - one seat facing towards the back of the plane and the adjacent seat facing front....taking off backwards took some getting used to....View image...an easy, enjoyable flight.

Arrival at Heathrow, and the usual haul between terminals (Heathrow has 4!) to Terminal 4, where most British Air flights arrive and depart from. With Business Class boarding passes in hand, we were welcomed into the BA club which includes a Molton Brown Spa...with showers (multiple heads on the wall plus a rain shower) and free MASSAGES! You have your choice of a 20-minute back/neck, facial or foot massage but it's important to make a reservation. Since our flight arrived at the oh-so-lovely hour of 6:00 a.m., it was easy to get a reservation at any time we wanted.

Welcomed into the second level...

BA welcome Continue reading "British Airways to Uganda"

Rwanda Facts and Planning

Rwanda is a poor country, a little smaller than Maryland, with almost 90% of the population engaged in subsistence farming. It is the most densely populated country in Africa. After the 1994 genocide decimated Rwanda's economy it took many years for the country to stabilize and rehabilitate itself but Rwanda also has done a complete about face and made it a wonderful place to visit. The country is filled with warm, smiling faces and officials who are really glad to see you.

Dian Fossey is almost single-handedly credited with bringing the plight of Rwanda's endangered Mountain Gorillas, their conservation and protection from poachers, to the attention of the world. She was murdered by an unknown assailent in her cabin at the Karisoke Research Center in the Virunga Mountains in 1985, the same mountains we were going to visit. There are only approximately 625 gorillas left in the wild - completely heartbreaking after our visits to observe these awe-inspiring gentle creatures. The world's remaining Mountain and Lowland Gorillas are scattered in three countries: Uganda (Bwindi Impenetrable Forest National Park), Democratic Republic of Congo (completely unsafe to visit) and Rwanda.

Rwanda map Continue reading "Rwanda Facts and Planning"

Bathrooms Around The World

If you are potty-trained in the United States, using a bathroom doesn't require much thought. Whether it be flushing the toilet, filling the bathtub, turning on the shower or sink...easy, right? But venturing out into sometimes remote destinations requires a completely different mindset unless you stay exclusively in major tourist hotels.

We've discovered that taking care of personal hygiene requires a little adaptation and flexibility in each unique circumstance:

- Hiking, in the bush or along the road, find a secluded spot and do your business. Apologies to all eco-friendly people...I have never developed the knack of burning my own toilet paper...and opt for the scuffing out a dirt hole with my boot, covering and tamping down;

- The other "hole in the ground" eastern-style toilets are a little more difficult. Straddling, balancing, keeping your pants from getting wet...while holding a purse, backpack, toilet paper...not easy;

- Even a regular flush toilet takes some time figuring out if there is a chain to pull, button to push in top of tank, or a handle that pulls UP instead of down to flush.

I thought that we'd seen them all but recently experienced two new toilet-types during our Uganda/Rwanda trip:

Continue reading "Bathrooms Around The World"

Uganda Facts and Planning

Uganda's original boundaries were created by Britain but was never colonized because the monarchy system worked so well Britain didn't think it was necessary. Instead, Britain made it a Protectorate and grouped together a wide range of ethnic groups with different politics and culture. Because of these differences, it was not possible to establish a working political community after independence in 1962. Along came the regime (1971-1979) of dictator Idi Amin, a person responsible for the deaths of over 300,000 Ugandans in eight years. This was followed by a guerrilla war and human rights abuses under Milton Obote which claimed at least another 100,000 lives.

Uganda is now a shining example of how economy should be in Africa and how to turn a country around. It has substantial natural resources. Coffee accounts for the bulk of export revenues, and agriculture is the most important part of the economy (Uganda has extremely fertile soil) in this densely populated country. Over 80% of Uganda is subsistence farming.

Continue reading "Uganda Facts and Planning"

Visiting Uganda and Rwanda

It was 1976 when I first paid serious attention to the East African Country of Uganda. The Entebbe incident, was all over television. A daring rescue mission was performed by Israel to free hostages on the hijacked Air France plane at the Entebbe Airport. The dictatorial regine of Idi Amin was responsible and everyone had heard of him. That removed Uganda from my "must-see places." (A recent must-see thriller is "The Last King of Scotland" about Idi Amin that held me glued to my seat.)

Rwanda was a completely different situation. The first travel operators started running trips to see the Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda (Abercrombie &Kent, comes to mind), perhaps 15 years ago. The gorilla permits were too expensive for ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and myself at that time and then came the Rwanda genocide in 1994. That took care of visting the Mountain Gorillas.

East Africa Continue reading "Visiting Uganda and Rwanda"

And Then The Problems Began... - Myanmar

At the Mandalay Airport waiting to fly from Mandalay-Yangon-Sittwe, the problems began. There was a low pressure system over the Bay of Bengal causing unseasonably, heavy rains. This created a major snafu in all Myanmar airports. The first rule of flying in Myanmar is: there are extremely few non-stop flights. Most planes make at least two stops on every route. If your flight is a rare non-stop it is only because the plane has already made several stops and is on its way back to Yangon. Our plane was coming from Yangon, stopping at Pagan, picking us up in Mandalay, going on to Kentung, returning to Yangon, where our connecting flight was flying to Sittwe.

The waiting room was packed with people going to Pagan, Yangon and Kentung because it was too cloudy and rainy for the planes to land in Pagan. Everyone visits Mandalay and Pagan on their first trip to Myanmar...we did. Thank heavens for Toe otherwise we wouldn't have had a clue as to what was going on. Occasionally, a static filled announcement was made that no one could understand. Toe went back and forth to the personnel trying to get the latest news while tourists traveling without guides would come up to us and ask, "do you know what's happening?"

Continue reading "And Then The Problems Began... - Myanmar"

Mingun - Myanmar

Mingun is located about 6 miles up the Ayeyarwady River from Mandalay. The main attraction is the ruined Mingun Paya, a Buddhist temple with the remains of a massive stupa begun by King Bodawpaya in 1790. The temple was not completed, because an astronomer claimed that the King would die when the temple was finished.

A gigantic bell was cast to go with this huge stupa. The Mingun Bell weighs 90 tons, and is today the largest uncracked bell in the world.

You reach Mingun by ferryboats across the river. It takes an hour upriver and 40 minutes for the return. A little private boat was arranged for our transport and we walked across the larger tourist boats until we reached our canopy-covered boat. There were several lawn chairs to sit on, freshly made tea and cookies waiting for us. Unfortunately, the hot, sunny weather was changing to cool with possible rain and I just about froze to death. The lady boat-owner kept bringing bath towels and life vests to keep me warm.

crossing to our boat transport

Continue reading "Mingun - Myanmar"

Mandalay, Sagaing, and Innwa (Ava) - Myanmar

Headed back down Golden Rock on the trucks and drove back to Yangon for the evening. ...View image... Flew Air Mandalay early the next morning from Yangon and started our sightseeing with a visit to Sagaing Hill which is perhaps the living center of Buddhist faith in Burma today. The hillsides are dotted with numerous pagodas and monasteries. Arriving at the top, I suddenly remembered that we had visited Sagaing in 1988. Not much has changed over the years but my mind!

Lunch at the Silver Sky Restaurant, on to the local ferry to visit Innwa (Ava) located on an island between the Ayeyarwady (the famous "road to Mandalay...") and Myitnge Rivers. We visited Ava by horse cart (you could also walk although the distances were great or even take a bullock cart). ... View image...The ruins of a brick and stucco monastery called Maha Aungmye Bonzan (also known as Ok Kyaung) is the main site.

along the Ayeyarwady River Continue reading "Mandalay, Sagaing, and Innwa (Ava) - Myanmar"

Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock) and Mandalay - Myanmar

Kyaiktiyo is "Golden Rock," a huge boulder completely covered with gold leaf. The gilded boulder is delicately balanced on the edge of the sloping surface of a separate rock table. The boulder and rock barely touch each other. The legend is that the position of the boulder is held by virtue of the power of a Hair relic of Gautama Buddha, enshrined in the pagoda. Built in 574 BC (more than 2500 years ago) and recognized as one of the wonders of Southeast Asia, Golden Rock is an important pilgrimage site. The Kyaiktiyo Pagoda (Pagoda and/or Stupa are interchangeable words) is located on top of Mt. Kyaiktiyo at about 3,600 feet above sea level.

You get to the top by taking an open truck (very crowded) up the 6-mile dirt road to a mid-staging point. ...View image... The lower area is surrounded by food stalls and lots of hustle and bustle. The truck operators have their routine down to a science...wait until each truck is completely loaded, jowl-to-jowl,...cheek-to-cheek... and head on up with everyone hanging on for dear life. We smooshed ourselves in towards the backside of the truck to hold on because it resembles a bumpy, roller coaster ride. At the half-way mark, all foreigners get off with the aid of a little ladder and start walking to the final stage (another three miles), up steep paths. Foreigners are not allowed to travel any higher by vehicle because the road is steep and dangerous. ...View image...

truck up to Golden Rock Continue reading "Kyaiktiyo (Golden Rock) and Mandalay - Myanmar"

Yangon, Bago and Kyaiktiyo

Toe, our guide, was standing in the airport inside customs waiting for us with all our Visa-on-arrival forms filled out. He rushed us into a small room where the Customs Official took our $$, stamped our passports, and we left the airport, past all the lines of tourists waiting to enter Burma! This was a very unexpected and impressive "rich and famous" moment.

To Trader's Hotel (part of the Shangri-La Hotel chain) in downtown Yangon and a fast visit to the market to exchange money. Toe couldn't accompany us into the market because he said there were many police standing around, but he told us what to do. Go up to one of the many jewelers inside, ask if they are exchanging dollars. If not, go to the next one until you find the proper person. Mission accomplished, we walked out with 1,000,000 Kyats barely stuffed in our fanny packs, looking like two pregnant whales. There are also people standing around on the street asking if you want to change money and Toe said they would have taken you into the market, directly to their favorite money-changer. We were just too chicken to try that.

Continue reading "Yangon, Bago and Kyaiktiyo"

Planning A New Trip To Myanmar

Tour Operators? We have always used Diethelm Travel. Diethelm has a huge presence in Southeast Asia, is extremely reliable, and has an excellent reputatiion - so important in this part of the world. There are many other Myanmar tour operators but we stick with Diethelm. E-mailing back and forth to make plans (leisure@diethlem.com.mm) and use wire-transfers for payment - no credit cards. It's very easy to wire-transfer. Diethlem usually requires a minimal deposit and they are very responsive to your needs. As a reminder - I never recommend anyone that we haven't used, receive no discounts and pay our own way.

Visas? Yes, you must have one. Diethelm obtained our Visa-upon-arrival for a small surcharge, but you can also go on-line to Embassy of Myanmar, download forms, fill out, and mail off application and passport to get a Visa. The Embassy had on-line applications for Visas in 2004, but it was discontinued. Who knows, perhaps they will reinstate it because it was so easy to do.

Continue reading "Planning A New Trip To Myanmar"

Returning to Myanmar/Burma

This was our third trip to Myanmar (Burma) using the same tour operator, Diethelm Travel, and same guide, Than Toe Win. Why do we keep returning?

- This small country has a lot to see with the Myanmar Government constantly opening new areas to tourism . There aren't many countries where you are probably the first Westerner the locals have ever seen and one of the first Westerners who have ever visited that area. With tourism growing, get there now!

- Because tourism is still relatively undeveloped, you have a chance to experience South Asia the way it once was. Albeit, without many frills.

- The hotels and food situation has improved dramatically since our first trip in 1988 when the food was inedible, and is extremely delicious.

- The people are thrilled to welcome us to their country, and intereact. Gracious, sweet people who need tourism badly, starved for outside contact, and we have a chance to make a positive impact on their lives.

With Diethlem's input and many e-mails, we planned a trip to Kyaiktiyo, Mandalay, into the Rakhine State, ending in Ngapali (pronounced Napoli) for a little R&R, an up-and-coming beach resort area. Rakhine State is a very remote area in the west of Myanmar with simple accommodations, bad roads, erratic supply of electricity but few tourists. That is a big selling point to us.

Myanmar/Burma Map Continue reading "Returning to Myanmar/Burma"

"The Golden Kingdoms" Revisited - Ghana, Togo and Benin

Our cardinal rule is never ship anything...box it up and take it with you on the plane. If you have to pay overweight, so be it...but don't ship. Based on that, we spent hours concocting boxes using pieces of cardboard, duct tape (a must for us when traveling - we've even used duct tape - or "electrical tape" - to hold husband's hiking boots together when part of a sole separated from the top of one boot), and bubble wrap. The Chief's chair was the biggest and bulkiest and be very glad you weren't there to hear all the profanities ex-Marine was spouting...

At the time we visited, you checked your bags at Accra during the day and then returned in the evening for your flight. Of course, what did the Custom's Inspector want to open? The Chief's chair!! ex-Marine begged, pleaded, groveled and almost cried. The Inspector took pity on us, told the baggage handler to put it through and then immediately said..."do you have a Christmas present for me?" (African for...give me money) We played extremely stupid, wished him a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, and left the airport as quickly as possible.

Continue reading ""The Golden Kingdoms" Revisited - Ghana, Togo and Benin"

Elmina and The Slave Trade - Ghana

Ghana's abundant gold deposits were found in the region we drove through on the way to Elmina. We also stopped at Kakum National Park, a protected virgin rain forest that has monkeys, elephants and other African fauna. It has one of the largest remaining rain forest canopies and we viewed the canopy on forest walkways above the ground. But, no elephants.

Elmina itself is a port connected to the sea by a narrow canal. The port was one of the first European settlements in West Africa and is a small fishing village. Elmina's castle, the St. George de la Mina, was built by the Portuguese in 1482 as a trading post, and is the oldest and largest of the early European buildings in West Africa.

Elmina port with St. George's Castle Continue reading "Elmina and The Slave Trade - Ghana"

An Ashanti Funeral in Kumasi - Chana

Attend a festive Ashanti funeral? This had to be carefully explained to us. The person for whom the funeral was held, actually died some time ago. It could have been years before. The family saves up their money and plans a major send-off when they can afford it.

There are "funeral scouts" who do nothing but smooze around to find out when the next big send-off was being held, where and for whom. The funeral, important to Ashanti culture, is a major social event. The participants dress in accordance with tradition. The immediate relatives dress in red while the others wear black cloth and every piece of gold jewelry their bodies can support. There are many rituals: giving offerings to the spirits of the ancestors, food, drinks and the women perform lively, traditional dances.

The "funeral scout" found a top-of-the-line funeral for us. The former ???? (can't remember but he was a major big-shot) - perhaps you'll recognize his photo.

photo of the deceased

Continue reading "An Ashanti Funeral in Kumasi - Chana"

Kumasi, Ghana

On the road to Kumasi, we left our vehicles and made our way up stairs through dilapadated rooms and came out on the second level of a merchant with tons of "stuff" for sale. Burlap bags of trade beads...an entire room with carved chief's chairs in different sizes and stages of disintergration; antique gold weights; bronze figurines from all over Africa...the array was stupifying. The six of us set to immediately...dumping out bags on the floor...examining ...and bargaining. (See some of our "finds" at the end of this entry.) Completely brain-dead from all the power-shopping-decision-making, we continued the drive to Kumasi, second guessing ourselves...."should we have bought the gold weights?....how about the bronze figurine?..." Very exhausting.

A little background information:

- Gold weights were used to weigh gold dust for about five centuries. The first ones were geometric forms, but by the 17th century, forms representing humans, animals, etc., started appearing.

Continue reading "Kumasi, Ghana"

Wa, Wenchi and Kumasi - Ghana, Togo and Benin

Driving from Wa to Wenchi, we drove along the ancient caravan route that linked the Kumasi region to the Kingdom of Sudan. Gold and kola nuts were carried along this route. Traders imported kol anuts from the forests of Asante for hundreds of years, carried in large, donkey caravans from the middle Volta basin Sudan. Now there is a big business in Cashew Nuts...one of my favorites.

We stopped in one village where there was a local blacksmith and spent time watching him make jewelry and tools (on consignment) for the locals, then sat around in his workshop...listening to tales from the elders...View image...telling a little about ourselves...talking to the family...and getting a picture of their everyday lives. Tip: I always seem to forget to bring postcards of Chicago while traveling to hand out. It's helpful in describing where you live (even though it may be hard for them to comprehend a city looks like that). You may want to remember this since I can't!

local blacksmith Continue reading "Wa, Wenchi and Kumasi - Ghana, Togo and Benin"

More Lobi and Another Witch Doctor - Ghana, Togo and Benin

The Lobi are famous for ceremonial plugs worn in the lips of the women. We saw a few still wearing them but no photos. They too, build fortress-style, mud brick homes, have animist beliefs and still hunt with bows and arrows Very friendly people who played some traditional Lobi music for us.

We then visited a house belonging to the local witch doctor who had died a little while back. Approaching his house, we stopped a respectful distance away and waiting for a family member to invite us in. On top of the house was what looked like a Scarecrow. Supposedly, this Scarecrow was a lookout for the Witch Doctor and told him if anyone was approaching his house.

scarecrow lookout Continue reading "More Lobi and Another Witch Doctor - Ghana, Togo and Benin"

Wa and Lobi People - Ghana, Togo and Benin

Continuing on once again to Wa, capital of Ghana's Upper West Region, a predominantly Muslim area. Since it was Friday, we hoped to see the local people going to the Mosque. Jumu'ah (also known as Friday prayer) is held just after noon.

Wa is the regional capital and the gateway to the Upper West Region from the sout with a number of attractions including the Wa Na's (King's) Palace. It is said to be more than 500 years old. Constructed of traditional materials, the Palace is a blend of Sudanic and Moorish architecture and is beautiful. There was also an old mosque in the village of Nakori. In addition to these ancient Sudanic mosques are modern ones, which are also interesting.

Nakori Mosque Continue reading "Wa and Lobi People - Ghana, Togo and Benin"

The Gurunsi, Talensi and Kassena Groups - Ghana, Togo and Benin

Moving along, our route followed part of the ancient caravan trail through territory inhabited by the Gurunsi, Dagarti, Talensi and Kassena (a subset of the Gurunsi) ethnic groups. these people all live in communal, fortified villages. The Gurunsi and Kassena people are known for the murals decorating the walls of their mud huts. Most of the smooth-walled, mud-brick homes are covered with geometric artwork created by the village women.

The villages consist of narrow streets with houses grouped together in harmonious round formations. Both the Gurunsi, Talensi and Kassena decorate in a similar fashion.

The Gurunsi/Kassena are famous throughout the world for the beauty of their mural decorations, which adorn the outside their round clay huts. The women are responsible for painting gorgeous frescoes on the walls.

Gurunsi/Talensi decoration closer details Continue reading "The Gurunsi, Talensi and Kassena Groups - Ghana, Togo and Benin"

Northern Togo and Ghana's Different Ethnic Groups

The Moba are a group of warriors who still practice the rite of female circumcision. (Owie, that hurts!) They inhabit the north and build their homes of clay, with conical roofs made of straw. A wall surrounds and protects the huts belonging to members of the same family and form small villages spread out over the territory.

But the most important part of this day was Christmas Eve and we would be tenting in the Somba region. On the way back from an excursion to visit a "bracelet village", we passed a young man biking along the road with a turkey hanging by his feet from the bicycle. Turkey! How perfect for Christmas. With that, Roberto and Godfried jumped out of their vehicles and started negotiating and, even though the cook was planning to prepare something else for Christmas dinner, bought the turkey.

This was a great photo op for Godfield ...View image...and ex-Marine...

ex-Marine and turkey Continue reading "Northern Togo and Ghana's Different Ethnic Groups"

Somba Villages - Ghana, Togo and Benin

The Somba were also once famous for their nudity but most wear clothes now. They still hunt with bows and arrows and I seriously considering buying some as souvenirs...then thought about the problems going through airport security with a bow and arrows slung over my back...

Their architecture was very unique with castle-like adobe dwellings. the Sombas began to build these fortress-like houses to protect themselves from the slave raid of the Dan-Homey warriors. They are small, round huts with the ground floor reserved for animals. The kitchen in on the next level and then the sleeping level and terrace is on the top.

Somba village

Continue reading "Somba Villages - Ghana, Togo and Benin"

The Taneka People and Natitingou

A morning hike to visit a clifftop Taneka community with unusual round-roofed dwellings. The highest part of the village was inhabited by the chief fetish priests who dress in goatskins, and their young initiates who were naked except for a band fo goatskin around their neck holding amulets. There was quite a bit of nudity with a fetish priest still dressed only in a simple loincloth sitting there on display, and the women wore only sarongs.

These Taneka may be descendants of a tribe thought to have disappeared about 400 years ago. Both the Tanekas and Sombas still live in traditional ways and "Somba" means "naked" in their local language, but I've got to tell you, an elderly, thin naked priest is not pretty sight! The head priest just sat there, placidly smoking his pipe.

Continue reading "The Taneka People and Natitingou"

Abomey, Benin and More Voodoo

Abomey is one of Benin's big attractions with painted voodoo fetish temples and remains of former royal palaces. The Dan-Homey empire built magnificcent palaces in Abomey. One is now a museum displaying ritual objects of the court including treasures given by European royalty and merchants. The palace also contained the kings' grand tombs.

There were originally 12 palaces. However, all but two were destroyed by the French army in 1892. The remaining palaces are being restored with the help of UNESCO. Being weak in the history department, I always thought that slavery was initiated by the "White Man" and was surprised to learn that Kingdoms like the Dan-Homey used their powers to be in a constant state of war, thereby allowing a never-ending flow of prisoners for their slave trade! The royal armies also included warrior women. (Go girl!)

Benin map Continue reading "Abomey, Benin and More Voodoo"

Gelede Fon Mask Festival

The Gelede masquerade tradition developed in the Ketu region of Yorubaland (present-day western Nigeria). This large-scale festival celebrates the spiritual powers of elderly women, who protect the community's well-being. The masks are specifically made for the celebration (used masks are patched) with elaborate, superstructures, and consist of both human and animal faces. The Gelede dancers are all men, but represent both men and women in their performance.

This ceremony started with the by now, usual routine...arriving at the village (whatever it was called)...View image...getting the group seated...View image...gathering of the entire village in anticipation...and the drummers in position...

drummers Continue reading "Gelede Fon Mask Festival"

Benin - Ceremonies and Festivals

We entered Benin and visited Ganvie, Africa's largest village on stilts. Ganvie is spread across Lac Nokoue with the wood and thatch houses built above the water. When the Dan-Homey kings armies were capturing people in the countryside to sell in the Portuguese slave trade, the people of Ganvie were saved from slavery by the Dan-Homey religious traditions...they were forbidden to attack communities on the water.

The people in this unique fishing village live exclusively from fishing (along with a little tourism), use pirogues (canoes) and have a system of underwater plantings that form fences to trap and breed fish. You can visit by catching a motorized boat or pirogue across the lagoon. ...View image...

fishing on Lac Nokoue Continue reading "Benin - Ceremonies and Festivals"

A Voodoo Ceremony - Togo

Later, we were invited (and you must be invited) to attend a real voodoo ceremony in a local village with dancing and drumming. The village was very serious about this and it was not just a money-making gimmack for the village. The word "voodoo" is traceable to an African word meaning "spirit" and practictioners were taken as slaves to Haiti, still a major center for voodoo. There are different forms of voodoo: Fetishes (items sold in the Togo Voodoo Market, e.g. the dried bats), spirit possession and sacrifices. Today's ceremony would involve spirit possession. The Ewe-speaking people have a strong attachment to animist beliefs even though many of them are Christians.

First Roberto got us settled in the background in the yard of a small compound surrounded by huts while the entire village assembled. The Ewe consider twins especially auspicious and lucky...many bronzes and wood carving show representations of twins...and one woman was nursing her twins at the same time...

waiting for the "spirit possession" Continue reading "A Voodoo Ceremony - Togo"

Togo, Voodoo and A Traditional Healer

Throughout this trip at various border checks, a "money trader" would come on our vehicles carrying bags of money. He would then convert whatever we needed at black market rates. If there were too many military police standing around that hadn't already received their daily graft, Godfried or Roberto would take our $$ and disappear behind a shack...materializing with wads of money. This trip was over Christmas and New Years and the usual comment from police, military or anyone that you wanted something from was..."do you have a Christmas present for me?" This is part of doing business in Africa and Roberto always knew exactly how many CFA's or other cash to give them.

Togo is a small but interesting, French-speaking country. Lome, the capital, is a city of about 800,000, founded by the Eye tribe in the 18th century. Around 1884, the German colonial invasion started the the region became the capital of German Togoland. Lome is small, easy to get around and the ocean is only a few blocks from the center of town.

Continue reading "Togo, Voodoo and A Traditional Healer"

Accra to Sogakope - Ghana, Togo and Benin

There were only four other persons in our Mountain Travel group beside us. Two others had cancelled for health reasons. (That's why you need travel insurance.)

The trip was officially begun with a morning tour of Accra. The most unusual point of interest was the district of the carpenters in an eastern suburb. They have a thriving business making caskets! Not ordinary caskets, but elaborate colorful caskets in the forms of airplanes, fruits, buildings and animals. The carpenters build to their client's specifications. You decide exactly what kind of personalized coffin to bury your family member in, they can do it in a week. Or decide on one for yourself, hopefully, years before it is needed... If cremation wasn't my choice, something in the shape of a Burger would be right up my alley! What about you?

a nice cow coffin Continue reading "Accra to Sogakope - Ghana, Togo and Benin"

Time Spent in Lome, Togo

An easy border crossing into Togo, arriving at the Hotel Mercure Sarakawa our destination for two nights. Lome is known for its excellent shopping - far more interesting than seeing its few sights.

A big plus on any trip is a chance to meet and visit with people who actually live in the country and join in their celebrations. Roberto was holding huge baptism ceremony in his home that evening and we were invited. We brought along a little outfit from America as a gift for the baby and had a great time meeting friends and relatives of the family. Roberto's gorgeous wife, and equally beautiful sisters, had concocted a huge feast, and it was a privilege to attend and participate.

Togo map Continue reading "Time Spent in Lome, Togo"

Accra to Akossombo - Ghana, Togo and Benin

As usual, a half-dead arrival in Accra, Ghana after marathon hours in the air. Godfried, assistant to Roberto on the main tour, met us at the airport and transfered us to the Novotel. Godfried was also going to be our guide on this extension.

Accra, Ghana's capital (population over two million), was founded around 1500 by the Ga tribe. The Ga began trading with the Portuguese - slaves, gold and palm oil. The Ashanti gained control at the beginning of the 19th century but eventually lost it to the British.

Semi-refreshed the next morning, we drove to Akossombo with its largest man-made lake in the world. The shoreline measures almost 3,100 miles. We visited the hydroelectric dam there which created Lake Volta. The dam provides electricity to Ghana and surrounding West African countries.

Continue reading "Accra to Akossombo - Ghana, Togo and Benin"

Planning Ghana, Togo and Benin

Air? This involved flying to and from Accra, Ghana. We flew Chicago to Frankfurt on United, and used miles for the Frankfurt-Accra portion on Lufthansa. Lufthansa has a superb web of routes all over the world and we've found it to be more cost-effective (especially in the Winter) to buy a ticket to Europe and then use miles for the next leg of the trip. Other airlines: Alitalia, American Airlines, British Airways, Northwest - many choices. (Lowest International airfares Economy Travel
)

Visas? You need for all three countries including multiple entries for Ghana and Togo. None of these countries let you get visas upon arrival. We used Zierer Visa Service rather than Fedexing back and forth to consulates in Washington, DC, eliminating the entire hassle-factor.

Continue reading "Planning Ghana, Togo and Benin"

The "Golden Kingdoms" of Africa - Ghana, Togo and Benin

After experiencing West Africa's "Timbuktu & Beyond" (read previous articles) with the incomparable Roberto, we were eager for more. And Mountain Travel Sobek had another one in their brochure, "African Golden Kingdoms."

This trip also took place in West Africa, visting the three different and fascinating countries of Ghana, Togo and Benin. A 17-day comprehensive immersion into their tribal worlds with nine nights in hotels and five nights camping. Each departure also included a special festival and ours, over Christmas, 2001, was the Gelede Fon Mask festival in Benin. There is a saying that..."you visit East Africa for the animals, and West Africa to see the people"...and based on Mali, we heartily agree.

Shopping for Adventure? Find books, videos, maps, gifts, and more at the National Geographic Store!

area of West Africa Continue reading "The "Golden Kingdoms" of Africa - Ghana, Togo and Benin"

How to Apply for a New U.S. Passport

Applying for a passport is a relatively easy endeavor if you follow the instructions closely. The step-by-step instruction follow but first verify if a new passport is what you need.

You should apply for a new passport if:

* You are applying for a U.S. passport for the first time.
* Your previous U.S. passport was lost, stolen, or damaged.
* Your previous U.S. passport has expired & was issued more than 15 years ago.
* Your previous passport has expired and it was issued when you were under 16.
* Your name has changed since your passport was issued and you do not have a legal document formally changing your name.

To apply for a new passport, you need to provide the following items:

1. Completed Form-DS11, Application for Passport.

Read directions carefully. Check everything twice or, even, three time. You wouldn´t want your application denied for a simple thing like not signing the application.

2. Proof of U.S. Citizenship.

The two most frequently used documents to prove citizenship are a previous U.S. passport or a certified birth certificate. If you do not have one of these, you can provide a Consular Report of Birth Abroad, Naturalization Certificate or a Certificate of Citizenship.

Voter registration cards and army discharge papers are not acceptable proof of citizenship.

3. Proof of identity.

A previous U.S. passport can also serve to prove your identity. If you do not have one, you can provide a Naturalization Certificate, Certificate of Citizenship, a current, valid Driver´s license, government ID or military ID.

4. Two passport photos.

The two photos must be 2 x 2 inches, identical, taken within the last 6 months. The photos must show a full face, front view with a plain white or off-white background.

You should dress in normal street attire. Uniforms other than religious retire that is worn daily, hats, headgear and dark glasses are not acceptable. Prescription glasses with clear lenses may be worn.

5. Applicable fees.

The passport fee is $55. The security surcharge is $12. The execution fee is $30. The total is $97.

When applying at one of the thousands of designated application acceptance facilities in the U.S., you pay the passport fee and the security surcharge to the ''U.S. Department of State'' and the execution fee to the facility where you are applying. Acceptable forms of payment vary.

Fees are non-refundable.

6. Social security number.

If you do not provide your Social Security Number, the Internal Revenue Service may impose a $500 penalty.

If your passport was lost or stolen, you must also provide a completed Form DS-64: Statement Regarding Lost or Stolen Passport.

After gathering the documentation, take it to one of the more than 6,000 passport acceptance facilities where an acceptance agent will witness the signing of the application.

Be aware that regular passport processing is now taking 10 to 12 weeks due to changes in passport requirements and an increase in demand.

Visit Where To Get a Passport for more tips to help you apply for a passport or U.S. Passport Service Guide to find a passport expediter.

You Can Swim Safely At Stingray City

In the Cayman Islands there is one attraction that many tourists flocked to, Stingray City. Since the crocodile hunter, Steve Irwin, died from a poisonous barb while diving at the Great Barrier Reef, tourism to the Stingray City has significantly dropped.

Continue reading "You Can Swim Safely At Stingray City"

Luggage Tips for Safer Travel

Ever had your luggage lost during a trip? Heard horrors stories about lost luggage from others? Well, losing your luggage is not the only thing that can happen to your bags and their contents while traveling. Your luggage could be broken, broken into or, even, stolen. To minimize the risk of these things happening to your bags and ruining your trip, follow the luggage tips below.

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Hand-Outs While Traveling (My Travel Soapbox)

It's difficult to keep our "giving/helping" instincts in tow when traveling through poor countries. Children standing along the roads in West Africa calling, "bickee, one bickee, one bickee" (Bic pens)..."cadeau, cadeau"..."bon-bon, bon-bon" (in French West Africa, cadeau is "present" and bon-bon a "candy")....East Africa, "gimme mawnee, gimme mawnee, gimmee mawnee" - repeated as quickly as possible until both words become a blur...beggers... hard not to give!

Don't do it! We recently came back from Uganda/Rwanda (watch for series on Mountain Gorillas of Rwanda in January, 2007) and witnessed an incident that was frightening and could have been disasterous for the children.

Continue reading "Hand-Outs While Traveling (My Travel Soapbox)"

Back to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah's Gateway, Borneo

In the morning, there was a short jungle walk behind the lodge. For birdwatchers, there are hornbills, kingfishers (we saw one), egrets, darters, owls, kites, eagles, broadbills, doves, storm storks, herons, hawks, ospreys, and many others. My birding consists of ..."what's that green bird...ooh...that one is yellow..."...and so forth. Lots of different primates, snakes and birds...the trip here was a big success with the exception of wild Orangutans - very difficult to see in the wild.

By boat back up the Kinabatangan River to Sandakan to catch a plane back to Kota Kinabalu and a transfer to the Shangri La Tanjung Aru Resort.

view of Mount Kinabalu from the plane Continue reading "Back to Kota Kinabalu, Sabah's Gateway, Borneo"

Inexpensive Worldwide Vacations with Explore

I never recommend any tour operator that we haven't used and been satisfied with. Explore U.K. is one of my best finds for relatively inexpensive vacations (in comparison to American tour operators) around the world. This is what the word, "inexpensive" means to me...

A trip that includes: hotels and/or small pensions; air within countries when needed; all other transport; excellent guides; breakfasts and sometimes dinners; and more. You can read about some of our in-depth experiences on this website. Below are some of the trips that we have taken with Explore along with the 2006 costs:

9 days in Cyprus $730

11 days in Sicily $1,325 (read 7/28/06)

8 days in Mallorca $730 (read 5/16/06)

14 days in Spain $1,020

14 days in Tunisia $1,040 (read 11/6/06)

Continue reading "Inexpensive Worldwide Vacations with Explore"

Gomantang Caves and Sukau, Borneo

Visited Gomantong Caves, famous for edible bird's nest. Have you heard of Bird's Nest Soup? If so, this is one of the areas where the makings originate. Over 1,000 Swifts nest in this cave and only two varieties of swifts make edible birds nests. Twice a year, men climb bamboo ladders to over 150 feet to collect the nests off the cave walls. They harvest between March-April an August-September and were busy collecting the nests while we were there. Good quality birds nests can fetch more than US$ 200 per pound and these collectors make a good income doing this! Highly dangerous and they deserve every $ they can earn from this. Just looking at those flimsy ladders was enough to give us "flop-sweats." The limestone cave had two caverns filled with bats, swifts and cockroaches everywhere ...crunching beneath our feet, climbing up the walls, Ick...ick... ick.

inside the cave

Continue reading "Gomantang Caves and Sukau, Borneo"

Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary,Borneo

We planned to visit Sepilok Orang Utan Sanctuary ( 26 km from Sandakan) after overnighting on Selingan Island. The next morning our boat prepared to leave for the 2-3 hour ride back to Sandakan....View image...

The Sepilok Orangutan sanctuary was about a 15 minute drive. Orang utans ("wild man of Borneo") that have been abandoned by their mothers or formerly in captivity are rehabilatated until fit enough to be returned to the wild. They are fed bananas and milk daily and are encouraged to forage for themselves. But even those in the wild come back for the free bananas. Babies stay with their mothers for up to six years in the wild while they learn survival skills. At Sepilok, a young ape is paired up with an older "buddy" to learn these skills. There are about 60-80 Orangs living in the sanctuary, an open forest reserve where the orangutans are free-roaming. Wild Borneo: The Wildlife and Scenery of Sabah, Sarawak, Brunei, and Kalimantan

Sepilok Orang utan Sanctuary Continue reading "Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary,Borneo"

When Looking For New Orleans Hotels Try The Bienville House

There are many New Orleans Hotels but for a Boutique Hotel in the very heart of New Orleans there is one that holds a higher standard, The Bienville House on the edge of the French Quarter. It is a very distinctive property with style and grace.

Continue reading "When Looking For New Orleans Hotels Try The Bienville House"

Harrah's Buffet and Marriott Time-share, Las Vegas

It was back to Harrah's for their buffet to use our 2-for-1 coupon. Since Las Vegas is two hours behind Chicago time-wise, a 3:30pm buffet was equivalent to our semi-normal 5:30pm dinner time. This is definitely the best deal, going late in the afternoon and eating for a few hours. Again, there is so much to choose from andshort lines at that time. I can guarantee that you'll find on the buffet that you like.

Every buffet we looked at had: Sushi stations; carving stations; Italian; Mexican; Chinese; Japanese; Fruit; Seafood; different salads and huge selections of desserts. I pigged out...again...a little more choosy this time...on my favorite Sushi, Mexican, Beef, Chinese and Seafood. At 4:00pm, most Hotel buffets add crab legs and steak to the line-up. The crab legs aren't Alaskan King Crab Legs by any stretch of the imagination but it you like Crab Legs...go for it.

Harrah's chocolate fountain with strawberries for dipping Continue reading "Harrah's Buffet and Marriott Time-share, Las Vegas"

Kota Kinabalu to Selingan Island, Turtle Island National Park, Borneo

Sandakan, located on the Sulu Sea, at the northeastern tip of Borneo is Malaysia's biggest fishing port. We were going to spend the night on Selingan Island, part of Turtle Island National Park. This is one of the most important Green and Hawksbill turtle breeding spots in Southeast Asia. Green turtles swim hundreds of nautrical miles across the sea, but always return to the beach where they hatched to lay their eggs some 20 or more years later.

Turtle Island was about an hour boat ride from Sandakan but before we left, spent some time walking around Sandakan and learning a few facts about the town. Sandakan served as a major port for early settlers (primarily Chinese) to Sabah and was the former capital of British North Borneo from the years 1884-1946. After WWII the capital was transferred to Jesselton (now Kota Kinabalu). In the early as a major port for early settlers to Sabah, and most Chinese came through this port.

Continue reading "Kota Kinabalu to Selingan Island, Turtle Island National Park, Borneo"

Caesar's Palace, The Venetian and Bellagio

Part of the fun was walking into every deluxe hotel (and some not so deluxe) on the Strip and eyeing the buffets, Christmas decorations and people. I've heard the catchphrase..."what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas"...but we primarily saw families with children, and couples walking around. And it seemed as if most of the people were either speaking Spanish, Chinese or Japanese. Lots and lots of foreign visitors and each one talking photos.

In the late '70's and early '80's, the Riviera Hotel was our home-away-from-home and we even attended a wedding at the Candlelight Chapel across the street from the Riviera. This is what the Candlelight Chapel looks like now with graffiti all over it...and the Riviera had added on so many times that it was unrecognizable...

Candlelight Chapel Continue reading "Caesar's Palace, The Venetian and Bellagio"

Brunei

Out of the jungle for a quick day trip to Brunei, a small very oil-rich sultanate. What a change to leave the rainforest for Islamic Brunei, officially the Sultanate of Brunei, has a higher GP per person than the United States. It is located on the coastline of the South China Sea, and completely surrounded by the State of Sarawak. There are two unconnected parts to Brunei and our car had to ferry from one side to the other.

But before the road trip, Jacob, our wonderful guide took us to a shop that had some older items to satisfy my "hunting-gathering" instinct. My purchases? An older bead necklace with a leopard's tooth on it and one of those beaded baby carriers. The natives each create their own baby carrier while pregnant...spending months weaving the bamboo or rattan, designing and handbeading it. (I almost feel this "possession/compulsion" taking hold of me. What did I need a baby carrier for? Even if it is semi-rare.)

native baby carrier Continue reading "Brunei"

One Of The Top Ten Small Hotels Is The Inn At Little Washington

The Inn at Little Washington in Washington, Virginia has consistently been rated on of the top ten little hotels for years. There are no signs to point you in the right direction, but when you see the white building with flags flying you will know that you have arrived at the Inn. A stately Dalmatian with a string of pearls around its neck will greet you as a member of the staff takes your bags leading you to a little alcove for refreshment of biscuits and Herbal Tea.

Continue reading "One Of The Top Ten Small Hotels Is The Inn At Little Washington"

Las Vegas Time-shares and The Monte Carlo Buffet

A person could subsidize their Las Vegas stay just by visiting Time-shares (and probably, some do). It was impossible to walk through any Hotel, on or off the Strip, without someone offering shows, meals and cash for spending 1-2 hours listening to a pitch on time-shares.

The Las Vegas Strip was filled with Condos being built, time-share buildings, older Casinos and Hotels being imploded (the Stardust is the next to go in January, 2007) and construction cranes everywhere. I would think that construction is "the business" to be in if you don't own a Casino. Vegas residents told us..."if you want to work, there's a job to be had"...

Tip #3: If you decide to visit a timeshare, bring I.D. We committed to a spiel and, silly me, had left I.D. back in the Monte Carlo safe. No I.D., no money...and we had negotiated for $100 for a two-hour pitch.

Las Vegas construction everywhere Continue reading "Las Vegas Time-shares and The Monte Carlo Buffet"

Mulu National Park, Borneo

You have to fly from Miro to Mulu on a small plane with weight allowances. Not only do they weigh your small bag but your must also declare your weight! The flight was less than 30 minutes over rainforest - dense vegetation, rivers and mountains.

The Royal Mulu Resort was a luxurious retreat built entirely on stilts and our home for two days . ...View image... One sentence in their literature stated "...hike through a Dipterocarp rainforest past Belian (ironwood) trees that may be as ancient as 1,000 years old, immense buttressed figs and poison dart trees..." Can't get away from those poison darts! ...View image...

Mulu map

Continue reading "Mulu National Park, Borneo"

Buffets in Las Vegas

Tip #2: Everyone in Las Vegas walks around in blue jeans. It isn't necessary to bring lots of clothes unless you want to get dressed up.

We headed to the Rio Hotel for their Carnival Buffet given raves by all we know, and hyped as Las Vegas' best buffet. In the 29 years of visiting Las Vegas, we've always avoided buffets because:

a. Hate to wait in line.
b. Like to sit at a table and be served.
c. Buffets had a reputation for inferior food.

Perhaps that was true at one time but not now! How wrong could two people be... Every hotel has daily buffets for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner. The Rio Carnival Lunch Buffet is served from 11:00am to 3:30pm, $15.99 and we had a $5 off per person coupon. The Dinner Buffet runs from 3:30-10:00pm and no one is going to think twice if you want to sit and eat from 11:00am to 10:00pm.

Rio Carving Station Continue reading "Buffets in Las Vegas"

Kuching to Miri, Borneo

After one of the sweatiest, most uncomfortable nights of my life, we had breakfast and hightailed it into our dugout to head downstream. The river was very low and our guide and boat owner had to push us off sandbars and rocks many times but we finally got to the Hilton Batang Ai.

A nature walk there was almost as scary as hiking in the jungle with the Ibans. The naturalist kept telling everyone..."watch out for those hook-like thorns...they'll rip your skin off"....or ..."stay away from that hole...there could be a poisonous snake in it"... and the jungle trails were very narrow. Borneo is not a tame environment...and I was already scared *#*#**##! At times like these, I have to rethink the whole adventure scenario...

Hilton Batang Ai

Continue reading "Kuching to Miri, Borneo"

There Are Many Las Vegas Hotels But None Beat the Bellagio Hotel

For real European elegance go to the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada. Of all the Las Vegas hotels the Bellagio Hotel has it all, luxurious rooms' delicious upscale restaurants, great shopping and fine art displayed throughout the gorgeous Bellagio Hotel. One of its striking qualities is the glass ceiling emitting natural light. All of this light illuminates the striking beauty and lovely charisma that is offered to its guests. The conservatory has trees and fresh flowers that change with the seasons. There is in-depth tile work, and lots of interesting sculpture. Even before you get to your room, your senses will be dazzled.

Continue reading "There Are Many Las Vegas Hotels But None Beat the Bellagio Hotel"

Arriving In Las Vegas

I am the first person to shoot off nasty e-mails to United complaining about their service, planes and personnel but TED was a unexpected pleasure. Pleasant flight attendants and a good flight. It was very cold in Las Vegas when we arrived (think upper 20's) but sunny with blue skies and we didn't come to sit by the swimming pool. If basking and 120 degree temperatures don't suit you, visit when it's cooler.) Many others have said this before me...there is no other city in the world even close to Las Vegas in impact. Where else do you arrive at an airport and see rows of slot machines? ...View image...

You won't do this...we did...walked from McCarran Airport to The Monte Carlo Hotel since our only luggage was two little backpacks. There is sidewalk all the way. Remember, our trip was not about fancy dining or shows. It's only about 2+ miles and we are great walkers. This wasn't a money-saving issue...you can take a shuttle to any hotel on the Strip for around $5/person and there is also public transportation. It just felt great to get outside and walk...and so interesting approaching the Strip on foot...past the MGM Grand, New York-New York, and Paris Hotels...each and every one unique. ...View image...

Paris Continue reading "Arriving In Las Vegas"

Batang Ai and Iban Longhouse, Borneo

From Kuching, we drove through the countryside and along a mountain ridge to the Ai River to begin a 3 days/2 night Batang Ali combination. It was over a three hour drive to the Hilton Batang Ai Longhouse Resort and from there, we got into our longboat (a large motor-powered canoe), to travel upstream on the Lemanak River.

Our destination was Nanga Sumpa, a large Iban (formerly known as Sea Dayaks) longhouse for a two-night stay. An Iban longhouse is a single building in which each family has their own apartment and shares a large common space for social activities. Today, the longhouses are fairly modern, with electricity and other modern conveniences. A far cry from their infamous headhunting days.

ex-Marine ready for Longboat travel upriver Continue reading "Batang Ai and Iban Longhouse, Borneo"

Enjoying Las Vegas On Very Little Money

When our adult children visit Las Vegas, they stay at Bellago, The Venetian, Caesars Palace spending up to and over $200 a night. They also eat at Spago, see multiple shows and gamble.

ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and I visit Las Vegas looking for the least expensive (decent) hotel we can find and food bargains. I don't gamble at all (absolutely detest losing even one dollar) and ex-Marine risks very little. In his younger days, ex-Marine was one of those people whose gambling loses helped build Las Vegas into what it is today and no longer wants to contribute to its success! Not that Vegas needs him! They have a 60 BILLION DOLLAR complex going up over the next 10 years between Monte Carlo and Bellagio with, I think, 15 casinos and condos.

It's been over five years since our last visit. Time for an impromptu two-day trip to see the changes, have some fun and spend as little as humanly possible.

Continue reading "Enjoying Las Vegas On Very Little Money"

Bako National Park, Borneo

A ride out of Kuching to Bako National Park. Bako covers the northern tip of the peninsula and has a wide range of vegetation - swamp forest,s mangrove forests, and beaches. It also had a number of well-marked trails covering 19 miles throughout the park - offering strolls and serious full-day hikes.

It only took about 35 minutes to drive to Bako Village from Kuching. From the village, it was another 25 minutes by boat to the Park. Bako has been a National Park since 1957 and is one of the best places in Sarawak to see wildlife in natural surroundings.

Long-tailed macaque and silver monkeys, proboscis monkeys (the male can have up to 10 mates in his harem), wild boars, monitor lizards and numerous species of birds abound in Bako. And then there was the plant life - specifically, carnivorious pitcher plants. (Remember, Little Shop of Horrors with the plant "feed me"?)

I think this was a proboscis monkey Continue reading "Bako National Park, Borneo"

Kuching, Borneo

Kuching is the capital of Sarawak, Malaysia's largest state, and uniquely positioned along the Sarawak River. At the beginning of the 19th century, Sarawak was a Malay principality under the control of the Sultan of Brunei until 1839. James Brooke (an English adventurer) used his ship to put down a rebellion again the Brunei Governor and was given the principality of Sarawak as a reward. The Brooke family ruled Sarawak until the Japanese invasion in 1941.

Kuching Map Continue reading "Kuching, Borneo"

Planning A Trip to Borneo

This trip was handled by Julie, an agent we had used many times before (unfortunately, she is no longer in business...instead, part of her family's winery in Napa). Julie then booked everything with Discovery Overland Holidays in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Lots of e-mails until we came up with an itinerary. Our focus would be fouring Borneo's National Parks with a little R&R at the end in Kota Kinabalu. The parks were:

- Bako;
- Batang Ai;
- Gunung Mulu;
- Selingan, Turtle Island; and
- Sepilok Orang Santuary

With the time needed for travel from the U.S. and between all these places, it worked out to a 17-day trip. Time to work on the rest of the trip...

Continue reading "Planning A Trip to Borneo"

Malayasia's Exotic Borneo

I don't know what you think of when you hear the word "Borneo" but I think of Orangutans. ex-Marine (husband, Steve) was in the Borneo jungles during his Marine Corps days participating in a little altercation. To him, the word "Borneo" means mud, rain, leeches, poisonous snakes, heat and humidity. We were definitely on two different wave lengths.

Borneo is a place with lots of jungles, leeches, poisonous snakes, etc., but also has National Parks, white sand beaches and Orangutans - both in the wild and sanctuaries.

Borneo Map Continue reading "Malayasia's Exotic Borneo"

Last Day in Kathmandu, Nepal

Lucky, lucky us! Another breath-takingly gorgeous day and the planes are coming... (da plane boss, da plane..) No delays ...View image...just a matter of loading everyone and everything on the plane and it was back to Kathmandu.

On the very short flight, the scenery changed from those "completely beyond description Himalayas"....to plateaus...and then the relatively flat rivers and plains as we approached Kathmandu.

Continue reading "Last Day in Kathmandu, Nepal"

Back Down to Lukla, Nepal

Back to Namche Bazaar the next day to camp ....in the same Guesthouse courtyard as before, ...View image...same two-person-two-hole toilet outhouse (encourages friendship or, of course, you could use it by yourself)... View image...

Time for lots of photos, interaction with our Sherpas and people along the way going up and down...stopping for hot lemon tea breaks. Breathing is easy going down but oh so hard on the knees!

our Sherpa who had summited Everest

Continue reading "Back Down to Lukla, Nepal"

Tengboche Monastery, Nepal

If you have ever seen any movie or documentary about Everest, Tengboche features prominently. It is the spiritual center of the Khumbu and a training center for new monks. The Rimpoche of Tengboche lives here and the area is consdered holy. Expeditions traditionally stop here to receive the blessing of the High Lama, and nothing may be hunted or killed in this area.

The original Monastery was destroyed by fire in 1989 and this is the new one. ...View image... Once again, the sky was blue...the sunlight intense...Mount Everest and every other Himalayan Mountain in this area...were displayed in all their majesty.

Tengboche Stupa Continue reading "Tengboche Monastery, Nepal"

From Khumjung To Tengboche, Nepal

Tengboche was going to be the highlight of our trek, located on a saddle in a clearing with a panaroma in front us. Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam, Kantega and Thamserku, all over 6,000 metres (21,000') high. But first we had to get there.

Up...and...up....and....up...and it started snowing...and getting colder. It was time to put down the packs, get out the Goretex pants and layer up. While we were doing all this, porters and people were still passing us on the trail carrying those incredible loads.

how much more could a person possibly carry Continue reading "From Khumjung To Tengboche, Nepal"

Thame Monastery and Khumjung, Nepal

A visit to Thame Monastery. ex-Marine and I didn't go into the Monastery with the group. (A big case of been-there-done-it.) It was a cold but dry, crip morning and the thought of taking boots off and walking into the Monastery with bare feet didn't excite us. Instead, spent the time outside with Sherpa Lo Pa, spinning prayer wheels (always clockwise) and taking in the views.

After our Thame Monastery visit, we headed to Khumjung at 12,475'. There is also a Monastery/Gompa there which had ("so they say") the skull of a yeti or abominable snowman. It was analyzed by scientists and the scalp is from a member of the antelope family. It's still a good story though.

outside Thame Monastery with Lo Pa prayer wheels

Continue reading "Thame Monastery and Khumjung, Nepal"

Denver's Three Top Rated Hotels, The Monaco, The Brown Palace and Loews

No matter where you want to stay in this great city, Denver hotels are there. Downtown Denver hotels are being built at a furious pace to host visitors to the lovely Convention Center. The majority of Denver hotels are clustered in the Downtown, Cherry Creek, and Tech Center areas.

Continue reading "Denver's Three Top Rated Hotels, The Monaco, The Brown Palace and Loews"

London Hotels: London Luxury Hotels Online

The K West hotel in London is a very chic well designed luxury hotel. The K stands for a Kerry Hotel. It is very contemporary with clean lines and full service. It is located outside the congestion zone of London but minutes from the West End. Notting Hill and High Street Kensington are just minutes away and if you take the Central Tube you are 10 minutes from Bond Street.

Continue reading "London Hotels: London Luxury Hotels Online"

Marriott Hotels Varied History And An Overview Of Properties

Marriott International was established in 1993 when the Marriot Corporation split into two different companies, with the other company being named Host Marriott Corporation. In 1995 Marriott International purchased a 49 percent interest in the Ritz Carlton Corporation. Then in 1998 they purchased an additional 50 percent, which gave Marriot International 99 percent ownership.

Continue reading "Marriott Hotels Varied History And An Overview Of Properties"

The Walt Disney World Swan And Dolphin Resort

The award winning Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort Orlando hotel is the gateway to the best known theme parks and attractions in the world. It is very conveniently located between Epcot, Disney World, MGM Studios and very near to Disney's Animal Kingdom. Their service is impeccable with luxurious facilities and a new feature, the Heavenly Bed. At the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel you will find a spa, white sand beach, five pools, tennis and two health clubs. There are seventeen restaurants to choose from and complimentary transportation to the Disney Parks.

Continue reading "The Walt Disney World Swan And Dolphin Resort"

The History of Hilton Hotels

Hilton Hotels are upscale, full service properties catering to business travel and leisure guests. They are a chain of over 500 hotels all over the world from Rome to Omaha. Hilton Hotels are enjoying a phenomenal growth in online sales. Hilton hotels are the place for you if you want a distinctive hotel. The original company was founded in 1919 by Conrad Hilton.

Continue reading "The History of Hilton Hotels"

The Walt Disney World Swan And Dolphin Resort

The award winning Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Resort Orlando hotel is the gateway to the best known theme parks and attractions in the world. It is very conveniently located between Epcot, Disney World, MGM Studios and very near to Disney's Animal Kingdom. Their service is impeccable with luxurious facilities and a new feature, the Heavenly Bed. At the Walt Disney World Swan and Dolphin Hotel you will find a spa, white sand beach, five pools, tennis and two health clubs. There are seventeen restaurants to choose from and complimentary transportation to the Disney Parks.

Continue reading "The Walt Disney World Swan And Dolphin Resort"

Philadelphia's Four Seasons Hotel For Business, Vacations Or Weddings

One of the finest hotels in downtown Philadelphia is the Four Seasons Hotel. And it caters to all travelers and special occasions, business, vacations or weddings. Located in the heart of downtown Philadelphia just at the foot of the famous Fairmount Park and the steps to the art museum made famous in the Rocky movies. The location is ideal for anyone that has business in downtown Philly or wishes to enjoy the city in high style. It is beautifully appointed with an impeccable staff.

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The Shangri La Hotel, Formally The ANA Hotel, in Sydney, Australia

One of the finest hotels in downtown Sydney, Australia is the Shangri La. The hotel is positioned between the Gorgeous Sydney Opera House and the Harbor Bridge. Guests can enjoy the Sydney experience in the Shangri La's sumptuous comfort and style in this five star property.

Continue reading "The Shangri La Hotel, Formally The ANA Hotel, in Sydney, Australia"

Trekking to Thame, Nepal

The next morning we started out for Thame still uphill, to Shyangboche and the Hotel Everest View. The Everest View is the highest located hotel in the world and commands a spectacular view of Mt. Everest. Every room in the hotel has oxygen (which is needed if you fly directly here) along with panoramic views of Everest and other peaks including Ama Dablam (this was the mountain that knocked my socks off earlier).

Many Japanese tourists fly in and out of Shyangboche where the Hotel has a private landing strip. They arrive either by small plane or helicopter, and then walk 45-minutes to the Everest View. We were fortunate that this day was sunny and bright with no clouds around Everest or any of the Himalayas. Great opportunities for photos and absorbing the fact that here we were...really standing here...looking at Everest. (Truthfully, Everest isn't half as dramatic or beautiful as Ama Damblam and the other Himalayas surrounding us. Visit and decide for yourself.)

Mt. Everest way behind us with the clouds trailing off the top Continue reading "Trekking to Thame, Nepal"

Kruger National Park

If you are a foreigner looking for a good location in South Africa to spend your holiday, or even if you are a South African who just needs a weekend break, the Kruger National Park is ideal. You can find cheap accommodation and there is something to suit any budget.

The Kruger National Park is a nature reserve along the border of Mozambique. This border is clearly seen by the natural barrier, the Lebombo Mountains. The park, which is about 350km long and 60km wide on average, exists of plat grass and bush covered plains better known in South Africa as the savanna or bosveld. There are several entrances or gates to the park, each with its own name.

The Kruger National Park can be divided into three sections: the south, central and the north. The South, which is also known as the hill country of the Kruger National Park has easy access and a large number of camps and game drives. Central consists of open grassy plains, roamed by the large predators and herds. The North is a more remote part of the Kruger National Park, and thus offers more rest. It consists of mopane plains.

There is more than enough accommodation at the Kruger National Park. You will find many restcamps, as well as bushcamps, the smaller version of a restcamp. All these camps have different names.

You can book a safari tour with an operator at the Kruger National Park. They will take you out in a 4x4, or minibus. This depends on budget. Some people however argue that a better way to experience the Kruger National Park is to hike. This means a guided walk where you get into close contact with the life on the park. Of course your guide will take all steps necessary to ensure your safety, such as staying out of scent ranges of the more dangerous animals. Many South Africans also prefer to drive the Kruger National Park by themselves. The Park has many facilities which make this possible, such as petrol stations etc.

Accommodation at the Kruger National Park is easy to find and not as costly as one might think. There is a selection of accommodation to suit everyone’s preferences. Booking is as easy as clicking a button. There are so many websites which allow you to “design” your own holiday and then offer very affordable rates. You can also see maps of the Kruger National Park and decide which location you would like to rest at. You can find a bargain deal for your holiday break at the Kruger National Park.

Find out more about the Kruger National Park in South Africa!

Explore South Africa at your own leisure!

Car Hire in South Africa
There is a wide selection of car hire companies in South Africa, which are easy to find and offer cheap rates to accommodate your budget.

SouthAfriCar is an agent for EuropCar South Africa, offering car rental throughout South Africa and neighbouring countries. They offer customers with affordable rental rates and excellent service and expert local car hire knowledge.
Explore the diverse beauty of South Africa with the freedom of your own car. Hire a car, take a road map and tour South Africa at your own leisure. You can travel in and around the Cape, taking in the winelands, exploring the garden route or viewing the big 5 in one of the many game parks in South Africa.

Some of the car hire companies you will find are:

AVIS: well known for their services and offer an online booking facility
SIXT/Tempest: car rental for South Africa, also provide and online booking facitlity
RAV: claim to be the cheapest in Cape Town and South Africa, offer low or no excess
EUROPCAR: branches all over South Africa, offer excellent services
MAUI/BRITZ: 4x4s, camper and motorhomes
KENINGS: low rates nationwide, cooperate with big brands
BUDGET: also offers an online booking facility
HERTZ: country wide car hire at affordable rates

Car rental in Cape Town, Johannesburg and Durban is easy to find. You can hire anything from a traditional family car, to a 4x4 or even a luxury or sports car!

Some rental companies even offer to set up your entire itinerary, including flights, tours, trains, cruises, etc. You can hire a car for a day, or if your stay is to be longer, then you can buy a car from the rental agencies and they will guarantee a buy back.

By car in Cape Town you can see, Table Mountain, Camps Bay, Kirstenbosch botanical garden, Chapman’s Peak Drive, Cape Point and the vineyards around Stellenbosch and Franschoek.
In Johannesburg the attractions are not as distinct, but you can drive through Soweto or to Gold Reef City Theme Park and Casino.
You could also drive down the dramatic beachfront parade of towering hotels in Durban.

Car hire in South Africa definitely has its many benefits and you can find cheap car hire in South Africa to suit your budget. So next time you book a trip to South Africa why not hire a car and drive you and your loved around the country to enjoy its beauty at your own leisure!

Find out more about hiring a car during your South African vacation!

A Day Around Namche Bazaar, Nepal

The next day was a rest day to acclimitize. After breakfast, Sanjeev had a short hike planned for our group, up above Namche to the Sagarmatha National Park Visitor's Center and Museum. The Museum had displays on the culture, geography, geology, etc., within the park and Khumbu region. Our head sherpa had summited Everest several times and his photo (along with his summit group) was on the wall in the Center. There was also quite an Nepal Army presence there...alert against any Maoists...and no photographs were allowed.

We moved in slow motion....difficulty breathing...still on our way up, when suddenly the most incredible vista of snow-capped giants suddenly appeared before us. Awe-struck, I started to cry. It was just so beyond words and literally "heavenly" that it was easy to understand why these mountains are considered sacred and home of the Gods. How, I wondered, could it ever get more beautiful than this....View image There is absolutely no way that a photo can possibly convey our emotion upon seeing them.

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On The Way to Namche Bazaar, Nepal

Trekking to Everest is not exactly a stroll in a secluded park, (remote, yes...secluded, no) quietly enjoying the forests and birds. It resembled the Chicago Kennedy Expressway at Rush Hour! There is only one trail used by one and all, including the Yaks and Zuikos, a cross between a Yak and Cow. They are big animals and you had just better keep out of their way.

And forget about watching your steps to avoid all the "Yak/Zuiko poop"...impossible...it just wore off our boots as we huffed-and-puffed along.

Yaks/Zukios crossing the bridge Continue reading "On The Way to Namche Bazaar, Nepal"

For a real cultural experience visit Argentina

Argentina is a country that boasts a wide variety of cultural attractions but for many visitors it’s the country's natural wonders that keep bringing them back.

From the northern deserts to the southern Andean Cordillera, from Iguazú Falls to the magnificent desolation of Patagonia, Argentina's geography is breathtaking.

The elegant capital, Buenos Aires is a fabulous city renowned for its sophistication, although visitors expecting a more 'South American' experience are sometimes disappointed with its European feel.

Continue reading "For a real cultural experience visit Argentina"

A Flight Into Lukla and The Trek Began! - Nepal

The group transferred to the airport for our Lukla flight. Good news...the weather was slightly cloudy but considered "good" and all flights were a go. Only STOL's fly to Lukla at 9,200'...because the landing strip is exactly 1,729' long with a 65' runway...perched on top of a mountain...surrounded by more mountains. This had to be one of the most visually spectacular, not to mention thrilling landings we've ever experienced! (Watching our approach as that very little runway came closer, and closer...thinking..."are we going to land on that?"...was amazing.)

After getting off the plane safely - we watched plane after plane come in...unload passengers...reload the outgoings and take off again ...View image...- the sherpa guides, porters and pack animals were waiting for us...ready to start the trek after a fast breakfast. Organized commotion in a tiny area.

Himalaya views flying in

Continue reading "A Flight Into Lukla and The Trek Began! - Nepal"

Arriving in Kathmandu, Nepal

An easy visa-on-arrival, met and greeted by our trip leader, Sanjeev, a graduate of Delhi University who has been leading treks in Nepal since 1990. Malla Treks is a joint venture with Mountain Travel Sobek and Malla was the Kathmandu agency who would take care of the entire Nepal trip.

Our full group of 16 were bused to the Malla Hotel, only a short distance from Durbar Square, Thamel and the many bazaars...and a stone's throw from the Presidential Palace. A beautiful hotel, ideally located.

A short briefing about the trek, maps handed out and Kathmandu orientation. Sanjeev had the group introduce themselves to each other along with a little bit of background. It was a surprise to ex-Marine and myself to find that more than half of our group had never trekked before. This was a once-in-a-lifetime trip for them and they made a concerted effort to get in shape by exercising rigorously. One person even stopped smoking to prepare. There were four married couples, including MTS's Senior Accountant Pam and her husband, John, and a few other women traveling on their own.

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Sea World's Discovery Cove

Did you know that Discovery Cove in Orlando Florida, USA is the result of SeaWorld’s 35 years of experience with marine animals?

Discovery Cove was created out of a growing affection between SeaWorld guests and dolphins. Today Discovery Cove gives a whole new generation of guests the opportunity to interact closely with their beloved marine mammals.

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Everest Details and Planning, Nepal

The "Everest Escapade" started and ended in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Air? We flew United, Chicago to Bangkok, and then Thai Air from Bangkok to Kathmandu. Tip: If you fly Thai Air from Bangkok, ask for a seat on the right side of the plane for the best views (if it's a clear day). There are many other ways you can go including the India to Kathmandu route. And an infinite number of airlines flying internationally, but only a few making the internal flight into Kathmandu. These flights are always booked and overbooked. Also, you have to connect somewhere in Asia to get to Nepal....

Visas? Must have a Nepalese visa. Don't need a Thai visa. How to obtain one? Could use a visa service like Zierer, contact the Nepal Consulate and handle via mail or do it the easy way (for us)...get the visa upon arrival at the airport in Kathmandu. Always doublecheck -- Visa requirements are constantly changing.

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Travel Discoveries - Atlantic Canada

If you are interested in experiencing the world's highest tides then you'll want to take a trip to New Brunswick, Canada where you can explore the ocean floor at the Hopewell Rocks and then watch the world's highest tides come in.

Here you descend to the ocean floor and walk amongst the famous flowerpot rocks, unusual sandstone formations sculpted by the endless churning of the tides. Twice daily 100-billion tonnes of seawater roll in and you kayak above the area you just explored on foot or jump aboard a boat that will take you whale watching!

The Bay of Fundy itself is one of the marine wonders of the world.

Whether you explore the Fundy Coastal Drive by foot, by car, by pedal or paddle, the Bay of Fundy delivers an ocean of wonder-filled adventures.

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Our Everest Escapade, Nepal

Way back when, in our younger days, "ex-Marine" (husband, Steve) and I did a one-week easy trek out of Pokara, Nepal into the Annapurnas. It was our first time trekking and the stupifying Himalayas left an indelible impression.

Years later, countless Everest articles, documentaries and specials (can you believe it has been 10 years since that well-documented disaster), it was finally decided that we had to see Mt. Everest for ourselves. Not the complete trek to Everest Base Camp...that might have been beyond our capabilities because of the altitude...but Mountain Travel Sobek's "Everest Escapade" fit the bill. Mountain Travel has been arranging trips to Nepal since the 1960's and organized the first commercial treks there.

Nepal Map Continue reading "Our Everest Escapade, Nepal"

Isle of Djerba/Jerba, Tunisia

We flew on Tunis Air (a one hour flight) to Djerba, a flat Mediterranean island off the southern coast of Tunisia. It is joined to the mainland by a 6 km causeway built on a Roman foundation. Djerba has more than 145,000 inhabitants (primarily of Berber origin).

The island is covered with palm trees and flowers - actually, it is a huge oasis with more than 1,000,000 date palms and 700,000 olives trees. Some of the olive trees are over 3,000 years old!

In Homer's Odyssey, Djerba was the home of the "Lotus Eaters." Ulysses almost lost his men when the beautiful maidens of the island fed them lotus flowers. I had never read the Odyssey but had heard of Djerba. The islanders like to claim that Ulysses was their first tourist.

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Bulla Regia and Dougga, Tunisia

It was now time for the ultimate in Tunisia's Roman sites (other than the El Djem Amphitheatre) - Bulla Regia and Dougga. Dougga, in particular, is an extremely famous Roman site.

Bulla Regia was first mentioned by Latin sources in 81 BC. More than three quarters of the site is still underground and the houses with an underground level is what most visitors come to see. The Bulla houses are the site's distinctive feature - the only city to have two-story dwellings with one floor underground. This feature protected against the heat in the summer and cold in the winter. We climbed down crumbly steps to see the beautiful mosaics still remaining in the underground portions of the houses - one house named "House of the Fisherman." Some of the mosaics have been removed to the Bardo Museum in Tunis. ...View image...

Bulla Regia mosaic Continue reading "Bulla Regia and Dougga, Tunisia"

Roman Ruins of Sbeitla (Sufetia) and Le Kef, Tunisia

On the drive to and from Le Kef, you could see nomad's tents scattered in the desert. Occasionally, we stopped at scenic view points and walked through little villages - up to some old ruins, into little shops, and other breaks to stretch our legs.

My favorite sight was the morning "goat" round-up. A little girl or boy would walk through the village, stopping at each home to pick up their goats. She (or he) added them to the increasing flock - chasing after wayward goats, walked to the next home and when all goats were accounted for, herded them out to graze for the day. ...View image... A really sensible system of goat-herding since every family we saw had its own flock. In this way, everyone else was free to work in the fields.

Sheila and her flock Continue reading "Roman Ruins of Sbeitla (Sufetia) and Le Kef, Tunisia"

Hiking By The Algerian Border

Other than shopping, there was an option to go visit another Star Wars village (we didn't go) and a day walk scheduled around Tamerza, almost on the Algerian border. Tamerza was another village situated in a huge valley oasis with lots of palm trees. ... View image...

We hiked up to Mides, a little oasis which owes its fertility to many little mountain streams. The water is tapped by wells and carried through a system of underground channels. Mides is an abandoned village on a cliff face and after exploring it, we walked through a valley - looking for fossils along the stream, enjoying the extremely stark beauty of the canyon, eating a picnic lunch, taking our time and exploring with "Explore."

Mides

views from the mountains

Continue reading "Hiking By The Algerian Border"

Tozeur

Busing to Tozeur, we came across some young men selling pieces of amethyst at a stand along the road - certainly not gem quality - and I traded my old Timex watch for seven chunks of amethyst as presents for grandchildren. You can always offer to trade something when shopping...one never knows...and watches (this one was $5 from a flea market) are highly desirable. There was another stall selling "sand roses" - a name given to rosette formations of gypsum and barite because they look like roses.

The "sand rose" crystals form in arid sandy conditions, are dug up by the locals and sold all over desert areas of Africa. ...View image... Bought some of those also. I like to bring home souvenirs that are semi-educational and different...not the "...my grandma brought me back a t-shirt..." Fossils, country flags, toys made out of tin cans from Africa, Tibetan prayer flags, coins, etc.

Crossed the Chott El Jerid - the largest salt flats in the Sahara. They told us we could see mirages - and - we could! Very strangely colored salt flats, some with big crystals. ... View image... White, purple and pinks, all reflecting different colors depending on the direction you were looking.

salt flats of Chott El Jerid Continue reading "Tozeur"

Douz, Tunisia

Forget the camel trek, we stayed at the comfortable Hotel Saharien-Paradise, in Douz and enjoyed ourselves tremendously. What did we do for two days? Other than sitting by the swimming pool and enjoying the "aloneness" of being by ourselves...

- Shopped for rugs...yes, we bought more...for our adult children. When you can buy a one-of-a-kind, handmade 3 x 5 rug for under $40 dollars, it's hard to resist. A comparable, factory-made bath mat at home costs about the same. Every shop arorund the square had rugs and carpets laid out on the sand, flapping in the wind with the very hospitable dealers and people to converse with.

- Walked out into the desert every day to watch the camels and tourists, having some great laughs at their expense. View image

Mr. Personality

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Zaafrane, Tunisia

On the way to Zaafrane, we stopped to visit the tiny village of Tamezret. View image This little walled village had very few inhabitants, but we visited the home of one family. The family had a few goats, one mule and several children. (I loved the pink Barbie purse..... View image

....The husband and wife were very hospitable and enjoyed demonstrating grinding and other aspects of their daily life. View image

grinding meal

One of our people (brave man) even tried on this "flea-infested" robe...exactly like Obi's and posed with the family mule/donkey (whatever it is). After seeing this robe, it was obvious where the Star War's designer got his ideas. I later noticed them for sale in the Souks, surprisingly expensive, unfortunately! A fleeting thought ran through my mind about it being a great souvenir for grandchildren until I saw the cost....too bad.

fake Obi-Wan Continue reading "Zaafrane, Tunisia"

Matmata and its Troglodyte Caves

Matmata is a small village in southern Tunisia -- famous for underground structures still used by some of the local Berbers. The homes were created by digging a large pit and enlarging into artifical caves used as rooms. (Troglodyte means "cave dweller" in Latin...I hadn't even heard of the word until Matmata.) These "invisible villages" were first mentioned in the 4th century and are quite sensible...cool in the summer and warm in the winter. A huge "Matmata" sign is visible on a mountain as you draw nearer. Probably, thanks to the Matmata Tourist Bureau...bring those $$$... View image

If you've seen the famous Star Wars movie (is there anybody who hasn't?), Matmata is instantly recognizable once you are actually there. Most of the pits and craters are camouflaged in the desert surroundings. View image The Hotel Sidi Driss served as Luke's home when he lived with his Aunt and Uncle. Parts of the set are still incorporated in the walls of the Hotel, and our group had drinks there. "...may the force be with you." Sorry, couldn't resist ..and

Star Wars set

everyone had to pose for photos both in and outside of the Hotel Sidi Driss. View image

outside Hotel Sidi Driss

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El Djem and Sfax

Next stop was El Djem with its unbelievable Amphitheatre second only to Rome's (Colosseum) amphitheatre. It is huge, capable of seating 35,000 spectators (Rome's Colosseum could seat about 45,000), and was probably used for gladiator shows and chariot races. Very. very impressive....sitting on a stone seat...ready to give the "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" signal...envisioning Ben Hur or Spartacus entering the arena. View image

The El Djem Amphitheatre (built around 238 AD), remained fairly intact until the 17th century and was declared a World Heritage Site in 1979.

El Djem Amphitheatre

When built by the Romans, stone was brought from quarries over 30 kms away. The distance doesn't sound like much now but it was a huge feat at that time.

El Djem Amphitheatre

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Kairouan

Our Explore group was entirely British with the exception of us "Yanks", and two "Aussies" traveling for three months. Phil and Elizabeth had just come from Libya with Explore, and were going on to Morocco after Tunisia. We inundated them with questions about Libya, and most of their answers (primarily regarding accommodation and food) left us without a desire to see it....yet. In the future, yes.

The on-the-road portion of our tour started in Kairouan, considered the fourth holiest city of Islam - after Mecca, Medina and Jerusalem. There are two famous mosques in the city, the Mosque of the Barber, and the Great Mosque. View image

courtyard of Mosque

Judaism, also had a long history during the early Middle Ages in Kairouan with many famous and important Rabbis who studied there.

We walked from our Hotel Tunisia through the walled ramparts into Kairouan's famous Souk/Medina with all its traditional crafts. The Souk is surrounded by walls but it was easy to find your way around (one way in, one way out). Kairouan merchants rely on tourism for much of their income and I certainly didn't mind going in and out of every single shop that looked promising. Kairouan will always be remembered as the place I bought rugs #1 and 2.

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Tunis

Landed in Tunis and met the Explore group of 14 at Hotel Omrane, walking distance from the Souk/Medina (old market). The Hotel was actually a very nice Hostel located in the heart of the city and in the middle of the business center, a 5-minute walk from the big station of the Tunisian National Railways (S.N.C.F.T.).

Our guide took us on an afternoon walking tour into the Souk. Tunis is a very modern but walking into the Souk immediately transports you into a colorful Arab atmosphere of custom-made perfumes, dim narrow streets that look more like alleys, and lots of shops selling rugs.

Tunis Medina Map

This was my first encounter with Tunisian, Moroccan, Algerian-style rugs - primarily flat weave "Kilims" and I fell in love with the vibrant colors and story each one told. Within days, I was a woman possessed and had embarked on a major carpet buying spree that lasted throughout the trip. (The suitcases just got heavier and heavier.) I rarely saw a carpet that didn't whisper, "Sheila, buy me."

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Making Plans for Tunisia

We picked an Explore departure for March, 2004 thinking the weather would be a little warmer at that time. Tunisia has a Mediterranean climate and winters can be very cold.

Air? It was easiest for us to fly United from Chicago-Frankfurt, and then Frankfurt-Tunis on Lufthansa. Other airlines that fly there with only one stop are: Delta, Air France, American, Alitalia. Plenty of choices but no one flies to Tunis direct from the U.S., you'll have to change planes.

Visa? Not required. Passport only.

Health? Nothing compulsory, but we always keep our Hep A, Polio and Tetanus up-to-date. This would be a "bottled water" trip along with the usual "don't eat off the street."

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Fascinating Tunisia

Unique travel destinations always raise the question, "Why do you want to go there?" and Tunisia was no exception. Because....Tunisia has Ancient Carthage, fantastic Dougga, sand dunes, Isle of Jerba, and....

Star Wars was filmed here!

Next question? "Is it safe?" Fellow travelers, we have to get a grip on reality and stop thinking that every Arab or Muslim country is loaded with extremists just waiting to rip our eyeballs out. "ex-Marine" (husband, Steve) and I (of course, he doesn't go around wearing his old fatigues...not that they would fit) have found without exception, the Arabs to be extremely courteous, hospitable people. Perhaps, it is our working vocabulary of four words in Arabic - "hello" - "peace" - "thank you" - and "maybe tomorrow." ("Maybe tomorrow" is the clincher!)

map of Tunisia Continue reading "Fascinating Tunisia"

Back to New Delhi, and Our Indian Trip is Over...

In the late afternoon, another flight to Delhi and a room at the Radisson Hotel near the Airport. Delhi's airports are separated into two buildings, domestic and international, about a mile or so apart.

International flights commonly depart at the oh-so-lovely hours of 2:25 am, etc., which is why we paid for a room. Your other alternative is to sit at the airport for hours since hotels kick you out by noon, and even if they give you a late checkout, they certainly won't let you stay until midnight!

It was such a shame to waste a first-class seat utilizing only the reclining seat to sleep in. (The last thing either of us wanted was dinner or wine at 3:00 AM!)

Continue reading "Back to New Delhi, and Our Indian Trip is Over..."

Khajuraho Temple Complex, India

Some of the other game spotted at Bandhavgarh National Park were different deer, and jackals in the brush ...View image...and alongside the road. Jackals are supposed to be difficult to spot but we saw them almost every day.

Our naturalist spotted tiger tracks right next to the road and we circled (and swept) the entire park many times looking for this big male with no luck. Up and down hills, around the worker's homes, looking into every bush...still no tiger in sight. The naturalist could tell the tiger had been lying there for a long time by the depth of the paw indentations. This was one big guy!

Tiger prints

Jackal

After our morning game drive was over (no tigers spotted today), it was another 6+ hour drive to Khajuraho.

Continue reading "Khajuraho Temple Complex, India"

Bandhavgarh National Park, India

In the two days at Kanha, we saw three tigers. A very good start and time to drive to Bandhavgarh National Park on one of the worst roads ever. Six hours of agonizing, jolting and swerving over pot holes to go maybe 70 miles from Kanha to Bandhavgarh...less than 10 mph. This also happened to be the only filthy, dirty car with a "guide" (who barely spoke English) riding "shotgun"! The driver was good though.

Once at Banhavgarh, we spent two nights at Tiger Den. The food was good, lots of people staying there, and a beautiful bonfire at night. I have no way of knowing if Tiger Den was "best available" there...it was certainly a nice resort, but there were many, many other places to stay that we passed going to and from the park. FYI, the sign for "Royal Den" touted it as a luxury resort...don't know if it really was.

Bandhavgarh National Park was more mountainous than Kanha. There are also caves in the park with inscriptions dating back to 1BC. This park was created in 1968 and has a wide variety of habitats: sal forests, bamboo grazing land, ridges and streams. It is most famous for its tigers and had the same routine as Kanha.

Bandhavgarh map

We saw EIGHT TIGERS in the two days there. Some people never see one!!

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Places to visit in the Cape Town, South Africa

Cape Town Tourist Attractions There are so many different attractions in Cape Town it is difficult to know where to start! Here are some of the most beautiful features of a beautiful country, South Africa, where there is something for everyone. Cape Point: The Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve at Cape Point is one of Cape Town’s main attractions, noted for its floral diversity and especially the wild flowers which bloom in spring. The first person to sail around the Cape was Bartholemeu Dias, a Portuguese seafarer, in 1488. He stopped at the South-Western tip of Africa and called it Cabo Tormentoso, or Cape of Storms. It was later given the name Cabo de Boa Esperanca, or Cape of Good Hope, by King John of Portugal. Another Portuguese sailor to pass this point was Vasco da Gama, 1497 on his way to India. The journeys of these sailors and explorers led to the establishment of the Cape sea route. When at Cape Point be sure to see the lighthouses, shipwrecks, funicular, global atmosphere watch station, two oceans restaurant and buffelsfontein visitors centre. Constantia Wine Route: The Constantia Wine Route comprises of Groot Constantia, Buitenverwachting and Klein Constantia. This was one of the first wine-producing areas of the Western Cape. District six/District six museum: This community was torn to shred when the apartheid government declared it a “whites-only” zone and forces its occupants out in 1965. Over 60 000 people were removed from their homes and only community they knew and relocated to the bleak plains of the Cape Flats, kilometres away. The District Six Museum Foundation was established in 1989 and in 1994 the District Six Museum came into being. This was in an effort to preserve the memories of District Six. Robben Island: Robben Island lies about 12 kilometres from Cape Town, and for about 400 years was known as a place of banishment, exile and imprisonment. Some of its prisoners include former South African president, Nelson Mandela and the founding member of the Pan Africanist Congress, Robert Sobukwe. This was during the brutal years of apartheid, and now Robben Island serves as a museum to tell the tale of how South Africans overcame this period. Table Mountain: This must be the biggest attraction in South Africa. This majestic mountain draws tourists from all around the world and can be access by a cable car. The trip up is enjoyed with an awesome view of Cape Town. Those who are more daring do the hike up the mountain and claim it to be something magical. Victoria and Alfred Waterfront: Situated between Robben Island and Table Mountain, this has become South Africa’s most visited destination, with its array of shopping and entertainment venues, all set against a backdrop of magnificent sea and mountain views. For more information on Cape Town, South Africa

Searching for Tigers in Kanha, India

Again, the daily routine went something like this. Get up very early, go for a game drives through the park trying to spot a tiger on your own... .have some hot coffee while waiting for the rangers to call in with any tiger spotting..View image....if a tiger was spotted, the usual routine of getting a number and waiting your turn....back to Kipling for a late breakfast...

The rest of the day was spent watching all the monkeys around Kipling Camp ...View image...reading...talking with the other guests and staff...and at dusk, head back into the park. The parks are not fenced in and there was always a chance that a tiger would wander through Kipling Camp, but it never happened.

coffee in Kanha Continue reading "Searching for Tigers in Kanha, India"

Kanha National Park, A Tiger Reserve - India

Kanha National Park is the area that Kipling wrote about in his Jungle Books. The park covers dense forest, open meadows, plateaus - the habitat tigers prefer. It also supports a wide variety of deer and other animals, perfect for the tiger's diet of only meat... but never mind the other animals...we were fixated on seeing tigers.

Other information? Kanha is closed from July 1 to October 31, the rainy season. The best time to visit is between November and June and there are many facilities to choose from. "Luxury" down to rest houses, all outside the Park at Mukki or Kisli. (There is more Kanha information on the Indianwildlife Internet site.)

Tigers are the largest living members of the cat family and weigh up to 500-600 pounds, with a length of 9-10 feet, not counting the tail. Their distinctive coloring camouflages them perfectly in the brush. (Only rarely are tigers born with pure white fur and black stripes like Siegfied and Roy's famous white tigers.) They prefer to live and hunt alone, with the exception of a mother tiger.

our first tiger...almost impossible to see in the grass Continue reading "Kanha National Park, A Tiger Reserve - India"

Gond and Baiga People - Chattisgarh, India

The Gond are the major tribal group of Central India. At one time forest-dwellers, they are presently settled farmers. Their clan structure and language is different from other tribes...they marry both within and outside of their tribes...practice monogomy, polygamy, cross-cousin marriages, parallel-cousin marriages, remarriage, widow marriage, divorces...they do it all! Clans are usually named after some animals or plants. Within the Gond family are different tribal labels: Muria, Maria, Hill Maria, etc. But the Gond generally describe themselves as Koitor. Are you confused? We were!

But, there was one clear fact...the Gonds love a good excuse to party! Dancing, singing, and some good home-made fermented Mahua liquor (from the flowers of the mahua dassia latifolia tree) or Salfi (juice of the wild date-palm). Most of the time, our presence was just the excuse they needed if a festival wasn't planned. Some typical scheduled festivals? "...worship before collecting Mahua flowers...festival of eating the first mangoes...worship before sowing of paddy seeds...festival to drive out crop disease...worship to start eating new vegetable crops...giving thanks for all new crops..." a festival for every occasion.

Kawardha map

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The Palace Kawardha - Chattisgarh, India

It was a four-hour drive to Palace Kawardha and we met John Ash, of Green Gondwana Adventures, in Raipur for a wonderful lunch of Chinese food. We were very impressed that John took the time to see how the trip was going and find out if we had any comments or suggestions. An excellent tour operator.

The Palace Kawardha was much bigger than Kanker Palace and had an entirely different history along with its surroundings. This was Maharaja Vishwara Singh's 1930's Palace and had six spacious suites, magnificent rooms, grounds, lots of servants, etc., and this was to be our home for the next two nights. Such a home...

Palace Kawardha

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Terdul Village - Chattisgarh, India

Each Muria village had a different attire - feathers, flowers...an amazing amount of creativity seemed to go into their wearing apparel. The women had facial tattoos, displayed with pride. The tattoos serve a decorative value but also act as protective charms. ...View image... I lost track of what tribe was which (with the exception of the Bison-Horn Maria) and started referring to them as: the "stilt" tribe; "pom-pom" tribe, "cow-bell" tribe, etc..

Driving to and from these areas were other sights to see...people cramming themselves into this little mini-taxi....View image... symetrical mounds of cow dung made into patties for fuel in the fields...View image...and a stop in a pottery village where the local potter whipped up a little pot for me on the spot which I graciously accepted and then had to hand-carry for the rest of the trip...View image

local pottery village Continue reading "Terdul Village - Chattisgarh, India"

More Murias and Markets - Chattisgarh, India

In the village of Garh Bengal, Santu, his brother, Kande and their families hosted us to give an interesting glimpse of developments in the region. Santu has led a traditional Muria life with a Gotul upbringing, while his younger brother, Kande attended a conventional local school.

Kande's substantial and self-built house contained a TV set and he showed us a rare film - A Jungle Saga - made over 46 years ago in Garh Bengal by a noted Swedish filmmaker, Arne Sucksdorff.

The commentary was in Swedish, but the film portrayed life in Bastar as it was then, including the adventures of a young man, Chendru, who is now quite old and still living at the other end of the village.

outside Garh Bengal Village

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Bison-Horn Maria Tribe - Chattisgarh, India

Drove out of Jagdalpur to visit the Bison-Horn Maria tribe.

Each tribe put on a performance of their spectacular local dances and we got a good look at village life, costumes, ornaments and customs. ...View image... The Bison-Horn Maria quite obviously derive their name from unusual headdresses worn while dancing during ceremonial occasions. Since the bison is becoming scarce, cattle horns are often used, placed on a bamboo frame, with peacock feathers (or chicken feathers) and strings of cowrie shells hanging down from it. This ornate headdress is passed from father to son.

Bison-Horn Maria Headdress Continue reading "Bison-Horn Maria Tribe - Chattisgarh, India"

Bastar and Its Tribes - Chattisgarh, India

Bastar was once a substantial State and the majority of its people are still tribal with unique though rapidly disappearing lifestyles. North Bastar is home to the Muria Gond tribe, famous for their Gotul system.

What is a Gotul? It is a co-ed dormitory system where the unmarried young people (from the age of 9 or 12 until they marry in their late teens) live and make their own rules away from adults whose presence in the Gotul is taboo. They are allowed to have sexual relations with anyone they chose, but must change partners after several days. Wouldn't our teenagers just love that?

At the first Muria tribe near Bahigaon, a villager greeted us dressed in this spectacular headdress. A small indication of what was in store for us.

a Muria "pom-pom" turban Continue reading "Bastar and Its Tribes - Chattisgarh, India"

Princely State of Kanker - Chattisgarh, India

Another plane ride to Raipur by Indian Airlines, ranked one of the unsafest airlines in the world. Not my choice, but the only one that flew to Raipur...and we're still alive. John Ash, Green Gondwana Adventures was the person who arranged the entire Central India portion and did an outstanding job. I invite you to visit his website and use him if you decide to see this area for yourselves. John met us at the airport with a beautiful table book on Bastar, lots of information, and notes on the Central area we would be visiting.

From Raipur, a two-hour ride to the small town of Kanker, once the capital of the princely state. Our "hotel" was the Kanker Palace, a private residence belonging to the late Maharajadhiraj Udai Pratap Deo and run by his family. Our guides in this area were Rajkumar Surya (called "Jolly") and his younger brother, Ashwini ("Jai"). Eldest brother, Aditya, current Maharajadhiraj of Kanker, teaches history in Delhi. There was also a sister who had her own little school on the ground of Kanker Palace.

Kanker District Map Continue reading "Princely State of Kanker - Chattisgarh, India"

Ajanta and Ellora Caves - India

Flew Jet Air to Aurangabad and checked into the Taj Residency. The caves at Ajanta are only a one-hour drive from Aurangabad.

These caves, dedicated solely to Buddhism, date from 200BC to 650AD and are cut from volcanic lava on a hillside. The Ajanta Caves are thought to have housed over 200 monks as well as numerous craftsmen and laborers. The caves are remarkable for the quality of their murals relating the life of Buddha. Some showing Buddha's previous births, and others, ordinary family life, the royal court and street scenes. ...View image... There are 30 caves in all but caves 1, 2, 16 and 17 are considered the most important. We visited those and others just as beautiful.

Ajanta Cave 4 Continue reading "Ajanta and Ellora Caves - India"

Lufthansa First Class to Mumbai (Bombay)

Save up your air miles and use them on Lufthansa to go First Class! There is nothing comparable to a long-haul flight, sitting in a seat that completely reclines into a bed, and having flight attendants hovering - eager to serve you (changes your entire perspective on flying). Not only was it as close to heaven as a person could be on an airplane, but their First Class Frankfurt lounge was to die for.

Lufthansa took a former Frankfurt Airport parking lot and turned it into a $35 million First-Class only terminal. If you have quite a bit of time between flights, Lufthansa picks up and transfers you via a chauffeured Mercedes S-Class or Porsche Cayenne to this site. Once there, you are met by a personal assistant, ushered through their own security and escorted into this magnificent lounge. You can relax on a daybed in your own room, soak in a marble bath or under a rainshower. There are several bartenders and even a drink menu (Mai Tai's, etc.) to order off of. Not to forget, individual tables set with tablecloths and silverware to enjoy something off the constantly changing buffet or from the menu!

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Planning A Trip to Tribal India

Lots of e-mails and Interneting...looking over maps of the area, reading about tiger reserves, even my old Lonely Planet's India had only a few pages about this area (have to buy a new one), and deciding what were the most important sites to visit. The Chattisgarh and Project Tiger websites were particularly informative in helping to make some decisions.

Spend US$40 at the Lonely Planet Shop and receive free delivery and a free gift

Finally, an itinerary incorporating everything "ex-Marine" (husband, Steve) and I had spoken of. Now for the nitty-gritty planning:

Air? We blew mega-miles to fly First Class on Lufthansa, Chicago-Frankfurt-Mumbai going out, and New Delhi-Frankfurt-Chicago on the return. And miracle of miracles, space was available on the days we wanted! An extremely auspicious sign!

Visa? You must have an Indian visa. Available at your nearest Indian Embassy or Consulate. There is one in Chicago and you can get a visa issued in the same day. You can apply for a 10-year visa which saves a LOT of money.!

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Where is Chattisgarh/Chhatisgarh...

With Winter not too far away, it's time for people to start thinking about travel possibilities. One destination, that I keep mentioning, is India. Over the years, I have developed some terrific contacts and unusual tour operators around the world. I also have a wonderful travel agent with her own connections. So, last year I posed the question to Vivian, "Is there another unique area in India that we haven't visited yet? What about the tiger reserves and Khajuraho" ...it only took a few weeks for her to come up with a tentative itinerary.

This itinerary incorporated the State of Chattisgarh, two different tiger reserves in the State of Madhya Pradesh (because there is never a guarantee of seeing a tiger and odds are better if you visit two reserves), the caves of Ajanta and Ellora and Kujaraho.

This sounded ambitious and difficult to fit into 20-days but the Indian tour operator, assured us it was extremely doable.

Location of Chattisgarh in India Continue reading "Where is Chattisgarh/Chhatisgarh..."

Shanghai Visiting and Touring

Our first visit to Shanghai in 1989 was light-years removed from this visit. At that time, you were only allowed to tour with a State Guide shepherding you around. Shopping was reserved for the "Friendship Store," and it was strictly forbidden to wander off on your own.

Cosmopolitan Shanghai 2005 was a revelation. Magnificent skyscraper after skyscraper, each architecturally different, unique making a brilliant light show in the evening....expressways....wonderful hotels and delicious restaurants....shopping malls...homes that ranged upwards to millions of US$ that could have been found in America....a surreal experience. If you have been watching Discovery Atlas on cable television, you may have seen the recent two-hour segment on China which showcased Shanghai beautifully as well as Xintiandi, recommended below.

Shanghai Map of Center Continue reading "Shanghai Visiting and Touring"

Zhaoxing (Zhao Xing), Guizhou

Zhaoxing was one of the most interesting villages in Guizhou. They only get about 700 visiters per year but that will be changing quickly with the addition of an airport nearby. It is a killer ride on the roads to get there but definitely worth it.

Zhaoxing still has its traditional wooden structures including a number of "Wind and Rain Bridges" along with a total of five drum towers. What is a "Wind and Rain" Bridge? It is a wooden, covered corridor bridge, with pavilions and benches for people to rest on. Since the bridge shields people from wind, rain and sunshine, it is called a "Wind and Rain" Bridge...simple...when it was explained to us.

We arrived in the early evening and most people were seated in and around the Drum Tower, drinking and celebrating the Lusheng Festival. Others were spreading their rice and corn alongside the roads to dry, and hanging rice on the drying racks in the fields. No one leaves the cut rice in the fields at night. They are worried about someone stealing their crop. The Dong in this village continue to wear traditional clothing and speak only their native Dong language.

Expats we met, compared it to Lijiang about 10 years ago. Unlike us, they were staying for a few days and day-hiking to different villages around Zhaoxing. That's the way to do it and another day there would have been perfect.

Zhaoxing Continue reading "Zhaoxing (Zhao Xing), Guizhou"

Family Fun in Brazil: Beach Park Resort

Family-friendly resorts in Brazil have really grown in number over the past few years. It is no wonder given Brazil’s tropical climate and more than 4650 miles of coastline.

With the stability of Brazil’s economy, families can enjoy exuberant natural beauty, high-class accommodations and a wide variety of fun and exciting activities at a very reasonable cost.

Beach Park Suites Resort is one of the most popular spots for family fun. The resort is a complete tourist complex with a total area of 170,000 m2. Every year approximately 700,000 people visit Beach Park. That should give you an idea of how popular it is.

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Splash Lagoon Provides Hours of Indoor Fun

Living in a warm climate for so long, the concept of an indoor waterpark had previously not been a part of my world. To my way of thinking, you lathered on the sunscreen, climbed dozens of flights of stairs and toughed it out in the sweltering heat. But these Northern folks have the right idea — Indoor Waterparks! Wow, what a concept — although certainly not new, it was my first experience and what a delightful one it was.

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More Dong Villages and Bia Sha Black Miao

Yin Tan Dong Village was entirely different because of its Drum Towers. The Dong trace their origins back to about the 3rd century BC and speak a Thai language as part of the Sino-Tibetan Thai ethnic-linguistic group. This village was encircled by 100-year old trees and typical Dong houses on stilts.

Dong Drum Towers are an important part and symbol of each village with at least one drum tower in every Dong village and some with many towers. Meetings and celebrations are held in front of these towers and the people gather there to dance and make "merry" (drink). Some are extremely elaborate, many stories high, decorated with dragons, phoenixes, flowers and birds. In the past, cowhide-covered drums were hung in the tower and a villager would climb to the top and beat the drum to alert the villagers. It acted as a SOS (or distress signal) and the drumbeats would travel from one village to another.

Drum Tower Continue reading "More Dong Villages and Bia Sha Black Miao"

Rong Jiang and Che Jiang Dong Village

Rong Jiang had a very old Banyan Tree (been there...seen that) and a Dong village in Che Jiang. This was one of the most interesting villages because of all the different activities taking place. Groups of people were playing maj jong in the central courtyard (I was invited to join in but didn't remember how to play), two older women were taking turns giving each other a back massage, .... View image...

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Pai Ka Miao and Datang Villages

There were several houses in Pai Ka Miao Village where we watched the local master craftsmen making the Lusheng. This took more work than one would expect - choosing the proper bamboo, cutting, tempering, tuning. The end result - a Lusheng with different tonal qualities.

Everywhere we drove or visited, the local people were harvesting the corn and rice crops. Unfortunately for them, the crops hadn't been good that year. This would mean food shortages over the coming winter. Two varieties of rice are grown: big grains and small grains (that's how it was described to us), and almost the entire work of picking, threshing and grinding is done by hard, manual labor.

The rice was drying on photogenic drying racks, dotting the landscape, ...View image...along the roads...with villagers carrying their crops up and down the mountains on their heads and backs. When I posed a question to Andy about their very slight and short stature, he replied: "If you put a large rock on a blade of grass, the grass will not grow upright when you take it off."

rice drying on racks Continue reading "Pai Ka Miao and Datang Villages"

Brazil Midair Collisioni

Two brand new aircraft traversing the Amazon jungle on September 29th, 2006 apparently met at the same time, place and altitude, resulting in an apparent midair collision. The brand new Boeing 737-800 with 154 passengers and crew spiraled into the ground while the brand new Embraer Legacy 600 business jet with 7 passengers and crew on board quickly landed at a nearby Brazilian military airfield.

Apparently the tail of the Boeing jet was damaged when it collided with the tail and left winglet on the business jet. The crew and passengers of the business jet said they felt a “jolt”, saw a shadow and thought their aircraft had been hit by falling debris. Considering that they were flying at 37,000 or 36,000 feet I wonder where this debris might have come from?

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Flag Stone and Wu Dong Villages

Some of the villages we visited greeted us with potent, homemade rice wine. Looked to me like an excuse for a PARTY! I wouldn't have minded trying a slug or two but they kept passing these huge jugs from person to person to drink out of. I have a real problem sharing with many strangers, and had Andy tell them that we were strict "teetotalers" then he drank our share. A perfect solution.

A visit to Flag Stone Village to see "Xi Family Miao's Customs, and a short trek to Gee Family Village to see their batiks. ...passing people carrying the daily, heavy loads...View image... ...View image... The Ge Family is a special ethnic group that is not included in the 55 minorities of China as they number only around 10,000 people. They have their own customs and language with unique garments and adornments.

Back to Kaili for a fast lunch, and then a transfer up to the Lei Gong Mountain, center of Miao culture in southeast Guizhou. Kaili is a 2,500 year old city with a population of 450,000. More than 65% of that amount consists of the Miao.

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Cruise Tips To Maximize Your Cruise Vacation

You are getting ready for your much anticipated cruise vacation. The best way to maximize your cruise travel is to have some of these cruise tips about the little things you should know. Many cruisers have questions about phoning home, seasickness, laundry facilities, and photography while on their cruise vacation. These are not big items that should concern you during your cruise travel but helpful hints nonetheless.

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Lusheng Festival in Kaili

We spent the entire day watching and participating in the annual Lusheng Festival. ...View image...All the local villages came to march in the parade, socialize, meet friends and be entertained. The Miao groups wore local dress for the parade and the Lusheng contest inside Kaili Stadium was held at noon. Group after group of Miao people representing their tribe and village, each and everyone in a different ethnic outfit, ...View image...marched down the street. ...View image... loaded with real "silver" and artificial "silver" headdresses and jewelry.

"Vibrant" or "colorful" doesn't accurately describe what was passing before our eyes. In the meantime, the local Chinese people were almost more interested in us than the festival and we were constantly being photographed, and asked to pose with families and children for more photographs. Our more than 15-seconds of fame!

Kaili group

playing the Lusheng

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Cruise Tips For Cruise Travel At Your Ports Of Call

Cruise travel is one of the best vacations you can take. During your cruise vacation you will visit several different ports of call. Your cruise ship will dock at exotic islands or new countries almost on a daily basis. Check out the cruise reviews on line for cruise tips before you visit your destinations to find out what fantastic experience each port has to offer.

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Flying Around The World

The comments I hear most often from friends and neighbors is "how can you spend so many hours on planes?" "Why don't you just travel around the U.S.?" "Drive?"

My theory - sooner or later - age and my body won't be able to take those distances. I haven't received any sign from above (or below), that I will live a very long time with intact knees and any kind of memory. I'm hopeful, when the time comes, the ex-Marine will push my wheelchair, carry the supplemental oxygen and bags of medications. Until then, go for it!

Another reason is the cost of flying domestic. My son lives in Oklahoma, and it is rare find a fare for under $350 round trip from Chicago! Right now, you can fly to London, Ireland, Paris and other places for the same Fares!!! No offense, Oklahoma City, but I'd rather fly to Ireland.

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"Four Seals Miao" in Xin Yao

Andy, our guide, took us to visit the "Four Seals Miao" in Xin Yao. There was a lot of activity among the people who were busy harvesting rice and heading their pigs and other livestock towards the Lusheng Festival to sell.

This was another very poor village where we met with one family to see their traditional clothing. The mother, had a family of at least four or five little girls (I lost count) and had handmade each and every dress herself. She carefully dressed them up in their outfits for some photos (one protesting vigorously). ... View image... The dress of this Miao subgroup is quite special. There are four colorful square patterns just like four exquisite square seals on their gloves and shirts, hence the name.

Most Chinese minorities are exempt from the "one child" rule (very obvious as we visited these villages). It seemed as if the little girls were quite close in age and extremely destitute (not to mention the usual runny noses and need for a bath). It's difficult to tell the ages of the children in this area because they are much smaller in height by our American overfed standards. By the way, Andy - on our behalf - always dispensed money to the people for their trouble. Perhaps, visits by us and other tourists will help raise their living standards somewhat.

Xin Yao little girls

Xin Yao Village

Continue reading ""Four Seals Miao" in Xin Yao"

Long Horn Miao People - The "Hair" Village

Lunch in Anshun and then a 2-1/2 hour ride toward Liuzhi to visit a subgroup of the Miao Minority, Soga Village of Chang Jiao Miao (Long Horn Miao people).

This was an heartbreakingly basic village. Most of the province still lives below the national poverty level even though the government is trying to change this. Soga was dirty with lots of chickens running around (visions of "bird flu" ran through my mind) ...View image...but the "Hair" was what made Soga so interesting and worth visiting along with the exquisite batik and embroidery that they make. We watched three women show us how they made their amazing big hairdos (and I thought my hair was expandable!). They started with pieces of wood dowels, stuck them through their own hair ...View image....then start wrapping lots of artificial looking "hair" (really long black pieces of yarn) around the wood to make the hair stand out, finishing with long strips of fabric which decorated this intricate, ornate wig. This must eliminate ever having a "bad hair day." Interestingly enough, I just read an article about Marie Antoinette's "big hair" in Vogue. Perhaps, her stylist got his ideas from the Miao women.

Soga Village

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Tunbao Village and Tian Long Old Town

The trip started (and almost ended) in Shanghai where we overnighted before flying into Guiyang. Our driver blew his exit driving from the aiport and screeched across four lanes of traffic to make it. A truck and another taxi missed us by inches! You should have heard the Chinese swearing and shouting going on including a few choice words from us! Did we tip him? NOT!

The next morning, we flew into Guiyang. It's a cardinal rule of travel that you are always going to misconnect...and we always do. It usually takes several days to arrive at our destination after leaving Chicago, and that's with non-stop flights.

Guiyang has a population of over 3 million people and a mild climate. "Andy" was our guide. (Most Chinese guides adopt an English name since we usually butcher their Chinese name.) An extremely knowledgable person who couldn't do enough for us. Guiyang itself was just a starting point and there wasn't very much to do. The Trade Point Hotel was the top-end hotel to stay at and that is where we parked outselves. Surprisingly, even the staff at the Trade Point didn't speak English! You can find more information at: ...Hotel in ASIA

First on our agenda was to visit Tunbao Village and Tian Long Old Town. The ancestors of these villagers migrated from Jiangxi Province to Guizhou Province in the Ming dynasty. The women there wore blue aprons, were dressed in wide-sleeved loose robes with silk belts in traditional Ming Dynasty costumes, and the houses remained faithful to Ming architectural styles. The Tunbao people are the descendants of armed men and dress accordingly.

Tunbao Village Continue reading "Tunbao Village and Tian Long Old Town"

Planning A Trip to Guizhou

The final itinerary consisted of nine actual days in Guizhou Province, with several extra days in Shanghai to celebrate our anniversary. And then, you always have to add the 2-3 days spent actually getting to China and at least two days returning home! The tour itself would focus on two areas: Southeast and West of Guiyang; visiting the various minority tribes and learning a little about their culture; using a local guide and driver; and staying at "best available" hotels.

Air? Flew United non-stop to Shanghai and then China Air to Guiyang the following day. Inside China, you can (or could) also fly via Chengdu, Beijing, Hong Kong or Bangkok.

Health? Just the usual precautions. No malaria pills, and all other innoculations are always kept up-to-date. I always check the Centers for Disease Control updates to see what they suggest.

Visa? You need a Chinese Visa which is easy to get at your local Chinese Embassy/Consulate. In Chicago, you can pay extra and arrange for one in the same day.

Western Guizhou Continue reading "Planning A Trip to Guizhou"

Where is Guizhou?

It isn't until you actually start exploring China that its immensity hits you. Most travellers visit Beijing, Shanghai, Guilin, Xian and Hong Kong on their first trip into China. We (ex-Marine, husband Steve and I) did right after the Tiananmen Square uprising in 1989 when tour operators were offering "moment-of-madness sales" (another article altogether) and fell in love with the incredible sights and diversity China offers. Lonely Planet Shop

Many trips later, there are still so many areas to explore that rarely see a Western visitor. With all this in mind, and knowing my love for off-the-beaten-track destinations, Shi Ming (Cindy) at Shanghai Far East Expeditions recommended Guizhou Province.

Guizhou is a mountainous province of China with karst (limestone terrain), steep gorges, warm summers and mild winters. It is located in the Southeast of China, not terribly far from Vietnam. The reason to visit? About 35% of Guizhou's population is made up of over 80 different ethnic minorities in remote villages: Miao, Bouyi, Dong, Yi and Hui to name a few. The majority of China's population is Han.

The minority villages of interest were both West and Southeast of Guiyang, the capital of Guizhou Province.

Guizhou Map Continue reading "Where is Guizhou?"

Finally, Timbuktu

A long drive back through the desert to Timbuktu.... View image....another 4WD carrying goats on the roof heading to market.... View image....our guide making his directional hand motions....one of our drivers veering off to chase a Gazelle (which earned him a screaming, reaming out from a livid Roberto - he could have blown an engine in that heat)....and finally, Timbuktu.

Timbuktu was founded by Tuareg nomads at the end of the 12th century and was the capital of their empire. Before the Niger River shifted and landlocked Timbuktu, it was the meeting point for caravans that crossed the Sahara from North to South. The caravans considered Timbuktu to be both the beginning, and the end of the world.

this, is Timbuktu! Continue reading "Finally, Timbuktu"

Fruits and Flowers Everywhere, Sri Lanka

If you have thought about a trip to Asia, put Sri Lanka at the top of your list. It's rare to find a destination that combines wonderful food, gorgeous hotels and some of the sweetest, most helpful people it has ever been our pleasure to meet. "Madam, where do you come from? Madam, what can we do for you? Madam, thank you for coming to our country!" Some of the many comments we heard over and over again.

Sri Lanka has mountains , historical sights, beautiful beaches and national forests. And, it is reasonable to visit!

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A "Marma" Massage, Sri Lanka

The description in my Lighthouse Hotel, Galle, Sri Lanka, described a "Marma Body, Mind and Spirit Massge" as - an exotic and therapeutic Ayurveda inspired massage using aromatic herbal oils that stimulate the Marmas, the body's vital pressure points. This full body massage begins with the balancing of the head's Marmas. The body's Marmas are then massaged with the therapist's feet and then by hand with long sweepint strokes. The treatment concludes with a herbal body mask followed by a warm shower. 6,600 rupees for 90 minutes.

That came out to $66 US for 90 minutes. Even cheapskate me couldn't pass that up!

Continue reading "A "Marma" Massage, Sri Lanka"

Leeches in the Rainforest

We headed in to the Sinharaja Rainforest which is a world heritage site. This forest is the respository of Sri Lanka's endemic species of flora and fauna and a wonderland for birders (which we are not). (I am a "look...there's a yellow bird" type birder.) It is also a major respository for leeches since it rains almost every day.

That was all I had to hear -- leeches! Like most people, I picture "The African Queen" with Katherine Hepburn and Humphrey Bogart pulling giant leeches off themselves. No, contrary to that movie -- leeches are itsby, bitsy little things - some the size of a thread.

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Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage, Sri Lanka

Today we drove to Pinnawala, the elephant Orphanage. This orphanage is the home to about 60 elephants including babies found abandoned in the wild. We weren't in time for the bottle feeding - would have had to leave the hotel about 5:30am - just a little too early! But, we did arrive in time for the elephants parading from the Orphanage down to the river. They are taken to the river twice a day for a bath.

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Sigiriya (Lions Rock), Sri Lanka

We climbed up Lions Rock which was a fortress, built from 477-485. It's a steep climb of 600 stairs and ladders and there are masses of Sri Lankans visiting along with us since it is a weekend. This creates a "ladder and gapers block" which moves very slowly. The highlights are the frescos which are still so colorful and a highly polished rock with original graffiti - verses written between the 7th and 11th century.

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Great Wall at Badaling, China

It's a cold, crisp day in November and we're at the Badaling section of the Great Wall. The 3 of us hired a taxi in Beijing to drive here and wait while we hiked up the Wall. There are options: a gondola to the top or walking it. We chose to walk up. After all, the experience means more when you've suffered a little (my own personal theory...the ex-Marine I am married to would have prefered the gondola.)

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Camel Trek to Araouane

It was extremely early in the morning when the nomads appeared with our camels. Groaning, the camels folded their bodies to the ground, protesting violently, and the herders sorted out which camel was the right one for each of us. I was very nervous about doing a camel trek and could have ridden in a 4WD but showed some guts and got up on it. Camels are high off the ground and also like to bite! Roberto assured me that I was on a "gentle" camel (yeah, right...if he could have gotten to my leg, a chunk would have been missing). "Ex-Marine" was equally concerned ...View image... and we made our camel herders promise NOT to gallop our camels. Not to worry...they tied each camel to the one in front of it and off we set for our three hour ride to Araouane. Early Bird Sale, Europe from $438* round-trip!

Susan galloped by on her camel... View image... but we just plodded along, up and over dunes, surrounded by sand and the quiet Sahara. Way in the distance, the little town of Araouane appeared.

Araouane Continue reading "Camel Trek to Araouane"

Into the Sahara Desert of Mali

Our convoy of several 4WD vehicles, set off into the desert to see the salt caravans. Since the Middle Ages, camel caravans have traveled through the Sahara to Taudenni, 500 miles north of Timbuktu. Salt has been in high demand in West Africa since the 12th century. Each salt block weighs about 66 lbs., and the camel carries 4 salt blocks for an approximate total of 264 lbs. It takes nearly two weeks through the sand dunes, led by an experienced guide. The caravans only move from sunset through the early morning, walking about 50 km. every day.

The Taudenni salt mine was cut out of an ancient seabed and hundreds of men work the mines as indentured slaves. Early Bird Sale, Europe from $438* round-trip!

salt caravan Continue reading "Into the Sahara Desert of Mali"

Mopti and Up The Niger River by Pinasse

Mopti is considered the "Venice of Africa" and was such an interesting town that an extra day here would have been perfect. It consists of three small islands linked by levees. Holidays off the Beaten Track

We had lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Niger, watching the small boats pull up, cargo being unloaded and carried on people's heads, huge salt blocks on the embankment that had been brought by boat from Timbuktu , ...View image... sellers shouting up to us and showing their goods. Some of our group bought huge "Fulani Wedding Blankets" and long pieces of dyed blue material (worn by the Berbers/Tuaregs - the "Blue Men of the Desert") to wrap around their heads for the desert journey. Susan warned that the indigo dye was going to bleed all over our bodies until it was washed in some sort of mixture to set the dye...and it did. Blue foreheads for the next few days.

Mopti waterfront

Fishing, and trading in dried fish are important elements of the Mali economy. "Capitaine" fish was served quite often..a delicate, mild tasting fish similar to orange roughy. (I could never get a determination on what "Capitaine" fish really was.)

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Djenne on the Niger

Djenne was built in the 14th century, on high ground near the Niger, and becomes an island when the Niger floods. It is the oldest known city in sub-Saharan Africa, 220 miles south of Timbuktu (we still had a way to go). The old Town of Djenne and the Great Mosque (the most famous mosque in Mali) were named UNESCO World Heritage sites in 1988. Oh, the Places You Can Go: Round-Trip Flights for $199+ or Less

The Great Mosque is the largest clay building in the world and has three massive towers, with each spire capped by an ostrich egg (ostrich eggs symbolize fertility and purity). We arrived here on a Friday, when the main prayer ceremony of the week is held. ...View image... As soon as the service ended, the plaza filled up with people in their very colorful costumes moving through a permanent cloud of sand.

after prayers in Djenne

Imam leaving Mosque

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Washington, DC...Finishing Up...

We had two time-consuming "must sees" left:

The National Archives, displaying the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, Bill of Rights, 1297 Magna Carta; and

The Supreme Court. The Court is only in session for approximately two weeks each month. Visitors can only view the Courtroom when it is not in session and listen to a brief lecture. You can also see historical exhibits and watch a movie describing the court. The Supreme Court is charged with ensuring American people the words written above the main entrance, "Equal Justice Under Law."

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More Washington, DC "Must-Sees"

The United States Holocaust Museum had just opened. It is a place that everyone, regardless of faith, should visit. You can write for the free, timed passes in advance (there is a small charge for processing) or get your free passes at the Museum on the day of your visit. As part of your free pass, each visitor is given a small card, with a photo and story about one of the millions of people who perished during the Holocaust.

J. Edgar Hoover FBI Building is one of the most popular sights in Washington. The free tour has exhibits depicting famous past cases and illustrates the Bureau's fight against crime. There is a live-ammo firearms demonstration at the end of the tour but, unfortunately, the building is closed for renovation at this moment. Check to see if it has reopened before you go.

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Revisit Washington, DC As An Adult

Some of us had a chance to visit Washington on an organized spring break school trip. I did, but husband, Steve (known as the "ex-Marine") never had. With this in mind, we decided that a trip exploring DC would probably be much more informative and fun as adults...but nothing really prepared us for how wonderful and emotional it would be.

You can drive, train, bus or fly, and it's easy to fly into either Washington, DC or Baltimore, MD from almost anywhere. Check out fares into both places, sometimes it is cheaper to fly into Baltimore, only 30 miles out of DC. From Baltimore, you can take a train, taxi, SuperShuttle (shared ride van service) or BWI Express bus into the city. If you fly into Reagan National Airport (as we did), again you can take a taxi, Metrorail or SuperShuttle.

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Hiking Over The Dogon Escarpment

A hike up and over a Dogon escarpment was a major adventure and undertaking. First, we assembled early in the morning at the base of the mountain for our hike, surrounded by villagers screaming and shouting to Roberto... "Me...me...pick me..." as our guides and porters. It seemed to be massive, but organized, confusion! Roberto assigned one guide for each person in our group. The guide would carry our daypack and make sure that we didn't fall into a gorge or off the mountain. My assigned guide was harangued by Roberto..."take good care of Mama! Do you hear me? Hold her hand...and watch Mama!" (This little man never left my side.)

The "water porter" did the entire route with the case of water bottles on his head. ... View image...

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Dogon Masked Dance

We roamed through several Dogon villages, learning about their culture. The Dogons are animists and I had to learn what an "animist" is. According to the dictionary - the belief in the existence of individual spirits that inhabit natural objects and phenomena. With this belief of Gods in everything around them, they have elaborate masked dances and male initiation rites in caves painted with different representations. ...View image...

The Dogons grow maize, millet and onions and stock goats and sheep. Each village is dominated by a togu'na, a intricately decorated platform where the men elders talk over village business. It looked cool inside but women are not allowed inside the togu'na...we could just admire the detailed and exquisite carvings from the outside...

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Into The Dogon Lowlands

We crossed the Mali border and entered the sandy Dogon lowlands, filled with enormous baobab trees View image and spiny shrubs. This area has few visitors and the oldest Dogon settlements.

Roberto always made sure that our lunch was eaten in whatever shade he could find. And when the only available shade was in between spiny shrubs, one of his driver would take a machete, start hacking away at the trees and create enough space for everyone to eat lunch out of the brutal sun.

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The Mossi People

Before heading out of town, one last visit to Ouagadougou's "Grande Marches" (market) with its baskets, tie-dyed cloth - the Centre Artisanal with batiks, bronze castings and carvings. Then the street vendors selling Dogon carvings, masks and chairs. Shopping is exhausting when there is almost too much to choose from.

City tour over, we drove to the north, visiting the Mossi people and their giant clay granaries. The Mossi are one of 60 ethnic groups in the country and have the longest royal dynasty, dating back 900 years.

At every stop to stretch our legs, Roberto would run from 4WD to 4WD urging everyone to..."drinka...drinka" (Roberto has a strong Italian accent) and practically forced water down our throats to keep us well-hydrated. The 4WD's carried boxes of bottled water at all times.

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Cocoa Beach Florida

Knowns as the perfect beach town, Cocoa Beach is an hour drive east of Orlando on Florida's amazing Space Coast. The drive here is almost as beautiful as the beach - offering you endless ways to enjoy your leisure and recreation.

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Ouagadougou

Many air and land hours later, we landed in Ouagadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, and were met by Roberto Cerea. Roberto and Alberto are the local tour operators for Mountain Travel and operate their own agency (Transafrica) based in Togo. Cheap Flights from Airfares Basement

A brief paragraph on Roberto...then I'll continue raving about him and his organization through the rest of the articles. You would have to search long and hard to find a more personable, warm, caring, organized individual. It was primarily based on our experience with him that we scheduled another trip to West Africa a year later - Ghana, Benin and Togo. The man was tireless in his concern for our group...sometimes I wonder if he ever slept! There was nothing you could ask of him that he wouldn't try to get done.

Roberto, far right

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Planning "Timbuktu & Beyond"

There was a lot of planning involved and we used our travel agent to help sort out the myriad details.

Air? This involved flying into Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso and flying out of Bamako, Mali. There was only one suitable airline (for us), Air France who flew into both cities via Paris. Royal Air Maroc is the only other airline we found that flew to both cities, via Casablanca. Not much of a choice on air. Priceline.com Air

Visas? You need for both countries. We used Zierer Visa Service rather than Fedexing back and forth to consulates in Washington, DC.

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Exotic West Africa

We have taken two trips to West Africa, both with Mountain Travel Sobek. The first trip was called "Timbuktu & Beyond" into one of the most fascinating countries in the entire world, Mali.

Who hasn't heard of Timbuktu one of the most isolated places in the world, synonymous with being "out in nowhere" but this ancient, famous city was just a small part of this extremely unique trip. The group would start in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso (pronounced "wah gah doo goo" - isn't that a great name?), heading into Mali (Dogon land), Djenne, Mopti, travel up the Niger River, Timbuktu, ending up in Bamako, Mali.

The "History Channel" just aired a two-hour special, "Sahara" the other evening. Try and watch it. Very interesting and informative including details about Tunisia - another destination we have visited. (Keep reading daily and soon you will see the articles on Tunisia - another captivating destination.)

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Training from Mandalay to Rangoon: Are We There Yet?

More sights to see through the open windows - a man plowing the fields with his oxen...View image, more people selling food and water in big jugs always balanced perfectly on their heads...View image....it seemed as if the train stopped hundreds of times.

By now, those wooden seats (with perhaps their half-inch of padding) were creating major pain and agony. There was NO comfortable way to sit so we amused ourselves the best we could. Kent dug out his hat purchase and posed...

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"Daylight Express" Train from Mandalay to Rangoon

Up, ready, packed, and "ex-Marine" wore a new pair of beige trousers in honor of this "Upper Class" journey.

It was pitch black, inside and outside, at the train station with people sleeping on the platform floor. The train pulled into Mandalay station on time, but there were no light in the cars. Since it was the "Daylight Express," why would anyone need lights? Burmese reasoning. Rose used candles and flashlights to light our way on to the dark train and help find our seats. Our "Upper Class" seats had a cushion on the hard wood seats and backs...other than that, there was no difference between "Upper Class" and steerage. Save up to $200 on Vacation Packages!

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Cloister At Sea Island

The Cloister At Sea Island is a private five mile long coastal vacation spot in Georgia. Sea Islandis well known for its championship golf course, which after recent improvements, is now better than ever before.

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Mandalay Hill and Sagaing

The City of Mandalay lies almost at the foot of the hill that gave the City its name. It is approximately 800' high with several temples, the famous temple lions ...View image... and an impressive standing Buddha are located. ...View image... Unfortunately, we didn't have the time to climb the 1,000 steps to the top.

The Kuthodaw has 729 monoliths of white marble on which Buddhist texts have been inscribed (Tripitaka Texts) and are unique in the Buddhist world. You have probably seen photographs of them in every article about Mandalay without knowing what they are...we certainly didn't.

Buddhist textbooks

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On The Road to Mandalay

Another early morning, this time at the Pagan Airport and, would you believe it, the shattered toilet pieces were still scattered all over the floor? Just amazing!

A half-hour flight, group hummed a few bars of "On The Road to Mandalay," (the "road" is actually the Irrawadddy River) and were met by "Rose," our new local guide. Mandalay was considered the center of Burmese culture and known as the Golden City, built in the 19th century. Ultimate anniversary ideas from Orient-Express Hotels, Trains & Cruises. Book online.

Heading to the Zegyo Market in the center, we were struck by the contrasts in transportation. Vintage Chevys, Olds, Buicks - jeeps and buses left by the Allies, and the most common form of transport - bicycles.

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The Temples of Pagan

Pagan is usually everyone's number one reason for visiting Burma. It certainly lived up to our expectations and was an immensely visual delight. ...View image... Each temple had distinct features that surrounding ones did not have. ...View image... They were built as tributes to the Buddha by kings and merchants to gain merit and resembled castles, fortresses and were easily reached and climbed.

I understand that it is different now. Some have been reconstructed and put "off limits" but all these ruins, on this dusty plain next to the Irrawaddy River was an unforgetable experience.

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Pagan's Buddhist Initiates, Day Two

It was back to the airport for our flight to Pagan. Landing in Pagan, there was the Prime Minister's brightly colored plane...not a good sign for us.

Waiting in the arrival hall for our Tourist Burma Pagan guide, we ladies decided to use the bathroom. All of a sudden, there was this huge, awful explosion. When Diana (in our group) flushed the toilet which had an old-fashioned overhead porcelain tank, the entire tank came crashing down, missing her head by inches, and smashing into a 1,000 pieces! Guards ran from all over the airport and Diana didn't know whether or not to cry, or laugh hysterically. Fortunately, this incident that could have been tragic ended up extremely funny.

Win, our Pagan guide, showed up about then and we started touring in another dilapidated bus. ...View image... Pagan was the first capital of a united Burma, and its peak was during the 11th through 13th centuries. It was the center of Buddhism in this part of the world and may have had any as many as 50,000 temples. Due to time, neglect and natural disasters, less than 2,000 remain.

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Shwedagon Pagoda

Shwedagon Pagoda is most definitely the star of Rangoon. It is built on one the the few hills and has many steps up to the Pagoda that you must climb barefoot (even have to take socks off). The interior passages are crowded with merchants selling handicrafts, incense, kalagas (intricate cloth, beaded, sequined depictions of Burmese lore), flowers, offerings to Buddha, a riot of color. ...View image... I couldn't wait for the return down and a chance to look at some of the wares.

But that was just for starters. We came into the temple complex and were stunned into silence..."Toto, I don't think we're in Kansas anymore...." A big golden stupa (spire) in the center rising 324 feet above the base (more than 2,500 years old), surrounded by smaller temples and statuary, ...View image...each one different. Color.. and gold..and people, oh my! ...View image

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Touring Rangoon

We were ready to power-tour Rangoon, but first, Mary led us to a small bus with 18 seats, most without padding or springs and drove us to the Thamada Hotel. ...View image... The Thamada had an elevator, inoperative, so we schlepped our bags up to the third floor. Dingy, dirty and dark, with a single air-conditioning unit hanging by a wire directly over our bed. Most of the wires and coils just hung down from it...probably in preparation for decapitation once we actually got into the bed!

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Day One, Arrival in Burma

Our 15-person group of 8 Americans, 5 Brits and 2 French met up in front of a hotel in Bangkok and were transferred to the airport. Our Thai Tour Leader, from Diethelm Travel, had an unpronounceable Thai name, and asked us to call him "Charlie." Charlie suggested buying a carton of 7-7 Cigarettes and a bottle of Scotch for our personal trading, and then collected a kitty to buy ample supplies for "greasing" our way in and out of Burma. Our stash of cigarettes and scotch would give us enough money when traded on the black/grey market for the entire 5-day stay.

Burma Airways was a twin-engine jet (a dilapidated, old piece of junk) missing most of the seat-back tables (those that remained were cracked or broken), who knows when the cabin was last cleaned, cockroaches crawled on the seats while flies and mosquitoes buzzed around! Burma Airways wasn't a member of IATA which meant they weren't required to maintain "normal" standards. All I cared about was taking off and landing safely...and hoped the cockroaches wouldn't crawl on me.

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Caneel Bay Beach Vacation

Caneel Bay of the Caribbean offers what every beach vacation should - beautiful surroundings, luxury service, and gourmet dining. This exclusive beach resort is nestled within the 5,000 acre Virgin Islands National Park on the island of St. John inthe Virgin Islands.

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Winter Beach Vacations

During the winter months, finding a beach vacation spot can be a little difficult. It doesn't have to be, which is where this article will really come in handy. Below, you'll find some resorts that offer a unique twist to your winter beach vacation.

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Highlights of Burma in 5 Short Days

Burma, in 1988, was strictly regimented by the Government who controlled the itineraries. There was either a 5-day or 7-day itinerary to choose from, you had to travel as a group, and you could only enter through the airport at Rangoon on Burmese Airways, and leave the same way. There were no road, sea or rail entries permitted. Only air.

Kipling, the words from "On The Road to Mandalay," photos of Shwedagon Pagoda and the ancient city of Pagan, and even a brochure from Banana Republic convinced me that this was a place we had to go...never mind the potential inconveniences. How did Banana Republic (yes, the clothing chain) get into this equation? In 1988, Banana Republic only dealt in adventure travel clothing and the owners published booklets with illustrations of clothing along with information about different countries. The booklet I read went into detail on Burma and suggested bringing old jeans, t-shirts, makeup and other items for bartering! The Burmese then took these items to the black market for some much needed cash.

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Cruise Travel For Physical Fitness Or A Spa Vacation

You really want to take a cruise but you also really want to go to a spa for physical fitness and maybe a little pampering. In the world today you can do both. Years ago you were lucky to find a spa on a cruise ship. If there was one, it was in a really remote area of the ship. As for physical fitness there was very little equipment and most of it was tired. When people started to become more conscious of their looks and health the cruise lines revised their way of thinking. Cruise travel now can double as a spa vacation as well as learning a new physical fitness program.

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Visiting the Penguins and Trip is Over

The last part of the Patagonia trip ended on a fun note - visiting the penguin colony. The colony is located 65 kms north of Punta Arenas, on Seno Otway (Otway Inlet), along the Brunswick Peninsula. They are Magellanic Penguins and return annually to this spot between October and March to lay eggs and raise their young. At the site, you can walk to the middle of a natural reserve filled with penguin burrows.

Since this was the beginning of January, there were scores of little "pinguinos" (penguins) already hatched and being fed.

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Punta Arenas

Punta Arenas, the southernmost city on Earth, overlooks the Straits of Magellan named after Ferdinand de Magellan (the Portuguese explorer) who led the first successful attempt to sail around the world. Magellan passed through the Straits not far from the present site of Punta Arenas in 1520.

This is one of the world's historic trade routes. The harbor, although exposed to storms, was considered one of the most important in Chile before the construction of the Panama Canal, used by ships to prepare for the difficult passage around Cape Horn.

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Driving to Puerto Natales

Our three vehicles were waiting to drive us to our hotel in Puerto Natales, on Last Hope Sound for a Farewell Dinner

"ex-Marine" and I were riding in the third vehicle with an extremely macho driver. We got to an over-flowing stream crossing. There had been a lot of rain the previous night...what a surprise! (Note the sarcasm.) The first two cars took the high ground around it, but our driver tried to barrel through the river.

The engine died...water started gushing in...and there we were...trying to climb out of the windows on top of the vehicle.... View image....

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Los Glaciares National Park

We had a some great camps in the Parque Nacional Los Glaciares, Argentina. Camping Lago Roca (located at the base of Cerro Crystal) had a general store, cafeteria, fishing equipment for hire, hot showers and very nice toilets! Hey...toilet facilities rank very high in importantance when you camp. And, it was relatively WARM here. Camp El Ricon was equally nice.

Our cook conjured up some great meals and I seem to remember that the campsite was relatively sheltered.

on the road to El Ricon Continue reading "Los Glaciares National Park"

Fitzroy Section of Los Glaciares National Park

We spent the next three days camping in this Park which is located in the area known as Austral Andes, Argentina, on the border with Chile. Los Glaciares National Park is a mecca for mountaineers and hikers.

The main peaks of the massif are: Fitzroy (11,703'); Cerro Torre (10,280'); and Poincenot. Fitzroy is in the northern extreme of the park with peaks, lakes, woods and glaciers. The name, Los Glaciares, refers to the glaciers born on the Ice Caps or the Patagonic Continental Ice. There are 47 big glaciers and more than 200 smaller glaciers.

Around a 37 km drive away, is the small village of El Chalten.

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Into Argentina - The Moreno Glacier

It was a relatively short drive from Calafate to Lago Roca, our campsite for the next few nights.

From there, we headed to the Moreno Glacier. It is the last advancing glacier in South America (or was advancing...with Global Warming...who knows if that's still true). It really was magnificent!

Just made our way to the various look-out points...View image and, it was even sunny that day.

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Valle Ascensio to The Paine Towers

An exploration hiking day in the Valle towards the classic lookout beneath the three batholithic pinnacles, Paine Towers, for which the peak is namd. "Batholithic" is igneous rock that has melted and intruded into the surrounding layers.

We set off to one of the most famous vista points in Torres del Paine. Along the Rio Ascencio into Valle Ascencio, through Beech forests and boulders, up to the viewpoint with the three towers and the glacial lake at their feet. The towers are nearly vertical (expert climbers attempt to climb those walls), with glaciers surrounding the turquoise lake.

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Hiking Up The Valle Frances

Today's hike in the Valle Frances was between Cerro Paine Grande and Cuernos del Paine.

The views were wonderful whenever the sun came out. This was just the beginning of typical "Patagonian" weather. You start out (always in long pants with a long sleeved top) in the sunshine; three minutes later the temperature drops, it starts to snow, sleet or rain on you; drop the pack, put on the Goretex, hat and gloves; five minutes later, the sun comes out and it's now 70 degrees with sweat pouring off; drop the pack, take off the Goretex, stow it; next it starts to rain with the wind gusts blowing the rain sideways..... Sometimes it seemed as if we spent more time dressing and undressing than actually hiking.

ex-Marine is not happy

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Torres del Paine National Park

Our group had three mini-vans for transport into the Park. On the way, there were many "potty break" stops, and most restrooms were attached to a souvenir stand. People were always hoppi