Destination visited:

Activities included: Birdwatching, Canoeing, Hiking/Trekking, Mountain Biking, Mountain Climbing, Scuba Diving, Walking, White-Water Rafting

The Philippines are the 2nd largest archipelago in the Pacific, and are composed of two very large islands, plus a number of medium sized ones. Most tourists visit the northern island of Luzon, where the capital and most business centers and the like are centered. We have the ability to find many “hidden” tourist places, as my wife is Filipino and speaks both Pilipino/Tagalog and Ilocano. One can spend days in and around Manila. There are some “must see” places and many interesting sites. We prefer small, inexpensive, but clean, hotels. The people are extremely friendly, especially if you greet them in Pilipino/Tagalog, and show an interest in their country. From the fantastic “rice terraces” of north Banaue to the southernmost city of General Santos, the Philippines offers an astounding variety of sites to visit, foods to sample and items to purchase. The exchange rate is approximately 38 peso per U.S. dollar, and the available collectors item and trickets are extremely low priced. There are some things the first time tourist should know to experience the best of the Philippines. Will we have time to explore a few do’d and don’t? Come along and see!

The most popular arrival place is NAIA International Airport in Manila. If possinle, avoid going during the rainly season, from late June to early October around Manila. The Philippines are tropical, and hot and humid year round. With modern air conditioning almost everywhere, the tropical conditions are really enjoyable. Plan to spend several days in Manila and surroundings. The American Cemetery is a must-see. So are Intramuros (The walled City) and Rizal Park, Malacanang Palace, the Chinese Cemetery, Nayong Oilipino and the Megamalls. A few hours by car (or bus) to the south is Taal Volcano,in Taygaytay, which is a beautiful sight, but also the smallest and most dangerous volcano in the world. Tagaytay has a similar climate to Baguio City (another Must See!). Baguio City, high in the cool mountains, used to be the summer capital of the Philippines until air conditioning made Manila tolerable year around. One small but “must see” attraction is Villa Escudero, in Laguna, which features the famous “restaurant in the river”, and nearby Pagsanjan Falls. To the north is Corregidor Island, a new duty-free shopping site and “the Disneyland of the Philippines”. On the way to Baguio, visit Urdaneta and Dagupan City. The itinerary one plans depends on two major factors: The time one has available and one’s interests. There is so much to see and do in the Philippines! If one has the desire, there’s a hiking trip to the remains of Mt. Pinotubo, who’s eruption was the largest in ths world this century andforced the closing of Clark Air Force Base, our (U.S.) former largest air base in the Pacific. Give me your desires and the time you have, and we’ll give you an itinerary fit for a king or a queen!

The major cities, shopping, the local markets and Megamalls, the native foods and drinks, the people! Almost everyone speaks English. College courses and much of high school is taught in English. Visit the spectacular volcanos, the historical sites,and on and on. Before even planning your trip, spend a week or two (really!) with a good travel book, such as “Philippines”, by The Lonely Planet. It’s available in almost all bookstores. There are other equally good tour books. Decide what you wish to see, how much time you want to allot to each area, and study the travel book! One note: Buses go everywhere! They are generally clean, and come in two versions: air conditioned (air con) and non-air con. The fares are very reasonable. Alteratively, hire a car and driver through the hotel. Even small hotels have good arrangements. Places to stay range from a few dollars a night to luxary hotels.

I could write 100 pages of details and just begin to skin the surface! The Philippines have some of the most gorgeous snorkling and dive locations in the world. The mountains are volcanic. The cities are crowded and inexpensive to live,eat and shop. The small towns are an experience of their own.

It helps if you have someone along who speaks Pilipino/Tagalog and the local dialects. Here, the car driver can fill the void. Try to learn a few simple words, greetings and phrases in the local language. Remember, in the Philippine languages, one pronounces all the vowels, even when there are 2, 3 or 4 vowels together. For example, we non-Filipinos speak of Bataan (Baa-tan) as the infamous World War II area, death march and the like. It’s a dead giveaway! The natives pronounce it: Bah-ta-ahn. And so on. I’d like to continue this later!!

Also, more later! Our young son of 13 months requires attention!

Destination visited:

Activities included: Birdwatching, Canoeing, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Mountain Climbing, Walking

Travel back in time to the land of the “Druids” to have an authentic summer solstice celebration. While you’re there, see the mythical Silbury Hill, stonecircles and burial “burrows” and even the modern mystery/hoax? of crop circles — all in the same area!

Fly into London, usually with a few days to spare to see some of the great museums, tourist sites and maybe see a band play in the park in the early evening. Then board a train to Wiltshire county, where the main leg of the journey begins. Visit the Roman spa at the town of Bath, walk on ancient trails that criss-cross the hills such as the “Ridgeway,” visit the stone circles of Stonehenge, and Avebury, or just walk or bike along the miles of footpaths along the man made boat canals, which have many pubs along the way. Get to the area by June 21st for the excellent Summer Solstice, where neo-pagans and locals celebrate the first day of summer inside the ancient stone circle of Avebury. Return at night for fire dancing, and general merrymaking. Find your way to the town of Glastonbury, site of the Tor, Red and White Springs (with supposed healing properties) and in general a magic place reputed to be the site of King Arthur’s mythic Camelot! If you stay long enough, the Glastonbury Music Festival happens here in July, and is a very popular concert series. Then return to London when you’ve worn a hole in your walking shoes!

Of course, everyone knows that the quaint English towns, old churches and historic site abound, so grab a detailed map of your chosen region — sold at any good bookstore — and see what you can see on the way. Stop into the most happening summer pub of all — the Barge Inn in the village Honeystreet, near the town of Pewsey. That’s where the followers of the phemomenon “crop circles” debate, relate and have a pint together. Always interesting, no matter your view point!

In Wiltshire there are many campsites or B+B’s and I highly reccommend taking a bicycle over as part of your “luggage”, so you may wheel at ease. They usually won’t charge if you pack light otherwise. You can also rent crusing bikes in most large towns, but be warned– they don’t have lots of gears for the hills! You can also rent a long boat, or barge, to cruise the miles of beautiful canals. They can be hired at most larger canal-side towns by the days or weeks. I found that in most towns, there is information about nature hikes, biking trips, tours, buses, events– in short, anything you’d want to know. And people in England are very nice and helpful to visitors.

Often you can have a hotel or B+B book your next place to stay in advance for about a $3.00 fee. Or, if you’re on bike or car, just tool around until you want to go back to your rooms/camp. Food in pubs is relatively tasty- sandwiches, baked potatoes, etc. Lots of vegetarians in England, so it’s easy if you’re one too. Campsites are cheap, and some trailer parks will let you camp as well. Camping in farmer’s fields is considered trespassing, but if you ask, they will usually be fine with it if you pay a couple of pounds.

Destination visited:

Activities included: Birdwatching, Mountain Climbing, Walking

It was Our first time to see mountians. We were so excited. We had a rented car & we were off to Colorado. 

Our first stop was just inside the state line I had to get a picture of us at Our first rest stop. Then on to Denver. We were headed for Rocky Mountian state park to spend 5 days, tthen to Colo. Springs aand lat but not least to the Royal Gorge.

This is the best part. We got to Colo. without no trouble but it was storming when We arrived so we went to a motel instead of trying to set up tents in the rain & picth darkness. The next day or two was great. Around the second or thrird day we thought it would be fun to go hiking up to the top of the mountian we were on. Here we go it was fun. We took one trail up and another back down. We had no idea what to expect We were just beginners at this & no guide. We come to cave and We are really big on caves & Our 4 year old son says running upto it “Lets go on in it’ll be fun! We both looked at each other saying no way. We’re not that experinced in caving and it was gettting toward dark & knowing of the bear warnings the ranger had told Us about We convinced Him that would not be a very good idea. As we were going down the trail We seen something that really set Our minds as what was living in that cave and it sure wasn’t a bowl of porge. It was some dodo. There was nothing around that could have left anytthhing that big except for a bear. Needless to say we daddn’t stay around to see if anybody was home either.

The rest of trip was pretty awsome. We didn’t want to leave but the ranger said that this sight was reserved for that afternoon and We would have to leave after we stayed 5 days there. It was a blast.

We end up with a total of 11 days in the Rockie Mountians. We couldn’t have wished for any nicer trip Our first time to see the mountians. Oh yes the first night on the mountians it snowed on the Contenital Divide. It was so pretty.

Destination visited:

Activities included: Birdwatching, Hiking/Trekking, Mountain Climbing, Walking, White-Water Rafting

Nepal is a very beautiful country. It is extremely diverse with real jungle and very high mountains (the Himalayas). You can go on safari, go river rafting and take beautiful hikes.

The first place on our visit in Nepal was at the border of Chitwan National Park. The next stop on the tour was Pokhara. From there, we hiked to Ghore Pani. Lastly, we made our way to Kathmandu.

In Chitwan, we took a safari on the back of an elephant trough the tropical rainforest. Along the way, we met two adult rhinos with their newborn young.

Pokhara is a beautiful village near the Annapurna mountain.

A visit to Bhaktapur is worthwhile, when you stay in Kathmandu. Also nearby Kathmandu is Bodnath, where Nepal’s largest stupa is situated.

You are free to go to a Tibetan service (but don’t disturb it!). It is a beautiful cacophony of sounds. According to Tibetan religion, prayers will be fulfilled when they are spread into the air (cosmos). Hence Tibetan people write their prayers on prayerflags, or put them in prayerwheels.

During our stay in Pokhara we decided to go hiking in the Himalayas. We made a very heavy climb to Ghore Pani (3300 meters). Ghore Pani was the ultimate goal, for there you can be spectator of a sunrise over the Himalayas (and especially the Annapurna).

Due to the steep slopes of the mountains in this region, the current is very strong and therefore the waterfalls are pretty impressive.

Destination visited:

Activities included: Birdwatching, Hiking/Trekking, Mountain Climbing, Walking

11 day trek in the Annapurna Region of Nepal, through the second highest mountians in the world.

We took a bus from Kathmandu to Pokhara and then an 18 seater flight up to the tiny, dusty town of Jomson. From there we walked up to our highest point at 4000 meters, Muktinath, a holy pilgrimage site for both Buddhist and Hindus. Then we walked back down over the next 8 days toward Pokhara.

Walking through the Lower Mustang Valley and seeing the Mustang “Gate” (the entrance to The Upper Mustang Valley) which is as close as you can get to Tibet without a permit.

Soaking in the Tatopani Hot Spings after 6 grueling days of walking.

Having 11 days to walk and talk with our Nepali guide, Hiran and learning about his family and culture.

The famous Marpha Apple Brandy.

The ever-changing scenery of the trek from high desert to lush green valleys filled with orange groves and the always looming giant mountain ranges as a back drop.

The constant beaming smile of Tikka, our porter.

It is possible to trek alone or with an organized group. We (my husband and I) chose to go just the two of us with a private guide and porter who carried all our stuff in one big bag. This cost the same as the organized tours (when booked in Kathmandu) and much less than if we had booked from the US. It also allowed us a lot of flexability and all of the money we directly to our guide and porter instead of a trekking company.

Even though we were told this is not the most difficult trekking terrain in Nepal, and we are young (30) and in decent shape, we chose to take a porter. As it turns out, this was the best thing we could have done. The trail turned out to be much more difficult than anticipated, and combined with the altitude, would have been impossible if we were carrying heavy backpacks.

Destination visited:

Flying from Bangkok to Chiang Rai, one can easily arrange to cross the border from Thailand to Laos, and begin an enchanting journey through a country that must be one of the world’s untouched masterpieces.

Starting in the north of Laos, book a charter boat ride. You can even bargain with fishermen to get a slower boat (yes, a slower one). Be careful not to get bamboozled by edgy merchants who are looking to snatch dollars from unwary travellers. Make sure to arrange your ride all the way to Luang Prabang, the ancient capital…else you’ll end up in a remote village not equipped with traveller’s quarters. After floating down the river, you’ll wind up in Luang Prabang, home to many marvelous Wats, including one in the center of the town where you can watch the sun dip slowly into the river as dusk sets in. Besides the native cuisine, one can also sample the remains of the French tastes from a half-century before.

From Luang Prabang one can take a shaky journey through the mountains in a converted pick-up truck, stopping amidst the limestone outcroppings of Vang Vieng, ultimately winding up in Vientiane, the nation’s current capital, where one can take a relaxing herbal sauna for a pittiance.

Or, one can venture out to the Plain of Jars, where large stone containers are littered about the earth…but one must be careful…the United States left an arsenal of undetonated explosives from their secret war 25 years ago.

But nevertheless…the natural beauty of Laos, and the Lao people, proves more than a touching excursion into the heart of southeast asia…it is a chance to get in touch with life, a little slower, and very much lovelier.

Floating along the Mekong. An Herbal Sauna in Vientiane. Bananas soaked in Rum in Luang Prabang. Bia Lao. Temples carved into the riverside. Lao weavings and Hmong vests. Dirt roads and cool temperatures. Peaceful vistas.

Need to buy a Lao Visa – fairly pricey. One can also work their way north. This whole trip can be done in 5 days. However, take your time…enjoy the breezes and scenery…it may not be like this for long.

Possibilities to go south into Thailand again, or you can take a cross-country bus into Vietnam. The country is 80% mountainous, so more Lao people actually live in Thailand than Laos, for farming. The Lao government is “communist” but you would never know. Bartering is not the way of these people…hard to bargain down. Oh, and be wary of Hmong guerillas…some are still wandering the countryside.

Destination visited:

Activities included: Birdwatching, Canoeing, Hiking/Trekking, Horseback Riding, Mountain Biking, Scuba Diving, Sea Kayaking, Walking, Whale Watching

Paridise Lost, and that is what we were looking for. And that is what we found! Our trip discovered thick, lush landscapes, and surreal moon scapes that were carved by the volcano. We actually went through 5 different temperate zones! We experienced the true wonderlust of our most important natural resourse Earth! Experience snorkeling in a dormant volcano in the ocean, float in wonderment of the fish that swim through your legs! Be a part of the most memorable sunrise of your life as the sun rises over the dormant Mt. Haleakula!

Flew into Keauhou Airport from Dallas,TX. Picked up rental car, try to arrive before dark as to get your bearings on the island. Checked in at budget hotel in Kona, yes home of the most wonderful coffee in the entire universe, KONA COFFEE (gold of course). Walk around the small main street and get dinner, plenty touristy places but a must is the “The Ocean View Inn”. This restaurant served the most fabulous “mahi mahi” sandwich and washed it down with Kona coffee. A family run establishment and it seems that the locals love it!

We stayed for 10 days, which gave a plenty of time to explore the entire island or just stay in Kona, of course we explored and of course glad that we did.

Drive up to Volcano National Park, a must! But just a tip, bring along a light jacket. It can get pretty chilly. Explore the dormant volcanos and their history. Drive Crater Rim Road and hopefully get a glimse of the real thing, if Kileua is erupting! Enjoy a hot cup of chocolate at the Lodge and exchain travel stories with fellow travelers.

Take a Zodia tour out to Molokini crater. We were lucky and the boat wasn’t full, so we were able to ask more questions about the folklore, which is very important in the island history. As I was about to take an underwater picture (throw away camer-good buy) a shark came into my view finder. I was so scared, but I fired off a couple of pictures anyway. This was a great story, but when I got my pictures, the shark looked like a tad pole. I also swam with a green turtle in the ocean. It was absolutely amazing.

Mt. Haleakula-A bus will pick up at all hotels. The hours are horrible, some pick up times are around 2:00 a.m., but it’s a long ride up the mountain, worth every bit of it. This is an experience that really is hard to put into words, but definately is a must if you go to the Big Island!

And of course, enjoy the beaches! Stop in at any of the local snorkeling stores and they are more than willing to tell you where the best and worst beaches can be found.

Hiking anywhere on the island

Vocano National Park

Molikini Crater-if possible take the Zodiac tour

Sunrise over Mt. Haleakala

Sunset anywhere on the island!

* Excellent resourse “Hawaii Off The Beaten Path, A Guide to Unique Places by Sean Pager!

* Don’t forget to pack sunscreen and film as both are more expensive on the island.

* Drink alot of water, your body dehydrates quickly in this climate.

* Listen in at a timeshare presentation if you have the time, you can usually get a good price on some activities or even free tickets.

* Definately eat the local cuisine!

I think that one of the most interesting and memorable things you do on a vacation is to be with the local people. The people of Hawaii, U.S.A. are wonderful. They are heartwarming and ready to help you in any way!

Destination visited:

Activities included: Birdwatching, Canoeing, Mountain Climbing, Scuba Diving, Sea Kayaking, Walking

My wife and I spent our 40th anniversary at Dona Leta’s Beach Bungalows in Puerto Jimenez. We liked the fact that their internet sight represented them as quaint but modern bungalows on a beach, which they were, indeed.

We flew through Miami to San Jose, Costa Rica. After an overnight stay at the Hotel 1915 (in Alajuela .. where the airport is), we took a Sansa puddle-jumper to Puerto Jimenez. The bunglows are 2 minutes away (they sent a car) and only a 10 minute walk from the airport.

An absolutely beautiful resort of 7 bungalows on a nearly private natural beach on the Golfo Duce (Gulf) on the Osa Peninsula. By a long way the prettiest place I have ever seen. The restaurant is a raised deck with a roof over it and the Chef’s wife is the waitress. Food and service were outstanding, and the entire week cost us perhaps $550.

Bungalows are modern but no air conditioning .. which is ok as fans suffice. Service is very personal .. the maid would see us go to breakfast and make up our room right then. Everyone knows everyone and the whole place is just most personal. Without a doubt, we will go back there.

We took a hike up a river into the mountains .. the scenery is incredible. There is a wide assortment of tour guide-led trips available, including overnight and 2-night trips in to the adjacent Corcovado National Forest.

Destination:

A rugged white-water river, the New River provides year-round Class I through Class V white water.

On Lower New River trips, you float underneath the world’s longest single span arch bridge. The milder upper section of the river is perfect for youth groups, seniors and families.

The New River Gorge National River received federal protection in 1978 to preserve 53 miles (84.8 km) of the New River as a free flowing waterway.

The park and the surrounding area offer plenty of natural history and recreational opportunities, including fishing and hiking and biking trails.

Within the 63,000 acres (25,515 hectares) of New River Gorge National River are more than 1,400 established rock climbs. This is one of the most popular climbing areas in the country.

The cliffs at New River Gorge range from 30 to 120 feet (9 to 36 m) in height. They are a very hard sandstone and an abundance of climbing routes are available.

This trip is suitable for children age 12 and older.

Tour Plan

Sample Itinerary for Paddle and Rappel Package

Day 1: All you can eat continental breakfast. Raft the Lower New River (Class III – V white water). Delicious deli-style riverside lunch. Six to eight hours of rapid fun. Beverages for your ride back to headquarters and popcorn while you watch your exciting day on video.

Day 2: All you can eat continental breakfast. Morning climb/rappel in the beautiful New River Gorge National Forest. Delicious deli style lunch. Three to four hours of rappelling fun.

Destination:

You spend two nights in small mountain cabins at the foot of the Osorno Volcano on Lake Llanquihue, hike part of the volcano and enjoy the great seafood of Puerto Montt.

You spend five days hikingand camping in spectacular Torres del Paine National Park in the Chilean Patagonia. Bring lots of film! You enjoy breathtaking views of the Horns of Paine, the Towers, Grey Glacier and French Valley. You also hike for two days in Fitzroy National Park with its granite pinnacles shooting straight into the sky.

This trip is for anyone interested in scenic beauty and the outdoors. The Patagonia region of Chile is known for its unpredictable weather conditions so you must be prepared for all types of weather. Hiking in Paine and Fitzroy is moderate to difficult. You should be ready for full day hikes, changing weather and incredible scenery.

Tour Plan

Itinerary for Patagonia Dreaming

Day 1: Arrive Buenos Aires. Arrive in Buenos Aires at any time. There are no planned activities so check into our hotel and enjoy the city.

Days 2-3: Bariloche. A short flight takes us to San Carlos de Bariloche the entranceway to northern Patagonia and the Argentinean Lake District. Enjoy optional day hikes, rent a mountain bike, or simply relax in a cafe.

Days 4-5: Puerto Varas/Puerto Montt. A scenic journey takes us across the Andes and into the neighboring Chilean Lake Region. We spend two nights in cabins on the shore of Lake Llanquihue, with perfect views of Osorno Volcano.

Days 6-7: Punta Arenas. The second flight of our journey takes us to Magallanes region. Located just west of the Strait of Magellan, Punta Arenas is our gateway into southern Patagonia. The playful creatures at the Otway penguin colony are sure to provide many photo opportunities and there’s plenty of history to explore in town.

Day 8: Puerto Natales. Many people fall in love with Puerto Natales and enjoy wandering through this relaxed fishing village. Here we store any extra gear that we do not need for the Paine hike ahead.

Days 10-14: Paine National Park. Words cannot describe the majesty and beauty of this national park in Chilean Patagonia. Few people have the chance to see this area, but those who do will never forget its vivid colors and tranquility. We spend five days hiking in this spectacular park and enjoy a hike and ice climbing on Grey Glacier. We reach the end of this portion of the Patagonia dream around midday on day 14 as we return to Puerto Natales via the Serrano River and Last Hope Sound for a completely different perspective of the area. (4B, 4L, 4D)

Day 15: Moreno Glacier / Calafate. A long road takes us through the arid southern pampas and across the border to the turquoise waters of Lake Argentina and the town of Calafate. After a spectacular drive west towards the mountains we reach the dynamic Moreno Glacier, simply stunning. We may spot condors, eagles, flamingos, or rheas en route.

Days 16-19: El Chalten/Glacier National Park. We spend three days (hostel-based) hiking within Glacier National Park. Its granite pinnacles spiral upward into the sky from the third-largest ice field on earth, as its forests and lakes bid discovering. We hike to Laguna de Los Tres for views of Fitzroy/Chalten and Laguna Torre for fantastic views of these magical peaks and glaciers. A late afternoon bus returns us to Calafate on day 19.

Days 20-21 Ushuaia/Tierra Del Fuego. Our local bus drops us off in Rio Gallegos for our flight to Ushuaia. Situated on the island of Tierra del Fuego, and the southernmost town on the planet. An intimate cruise around the Beagle Channel offers the opportunity for hiking and bird watching.

Day 22: Buenos Aires. Flight to Buenos Aires for a final night out on the town.

Day 23: Depart.