Lin Travels

El Salvador, A Hidden Gem!

2013-11-24T19:21:00.000-08:00

by
Lin Low

Though perhaps not as well-known as its neighboring countries of Honduras and Guatemala, El Salvador is the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America. Surrounded by ocean (with world class surfing beaches), mountain forests, active volcanoes, and dotted with quaint cobble stoned streets in colonial towns, it is truly a hidden gem.

Having recently had the opportunity visit El Salvador, I discovered it not only has lots to offer in the form of tourism, but the Salvadorians are friendly, personal, and caring. They certainly welcomed me with open arms.

Despite all the bad publicity in the past because of its relatively recent civil war, El Salvador is now growing in economically as well as becoming a tourist destination. With twice daily 5.5 hour-long nonstop flights from San Francisco, El Salvador is an easy travel destination. Here are some of the highlights of my trip to the El Salvador Travel Market 2013, sponsored by Corsatur and El Salvador Tourism.

World-Class Surfing

First I visited La Libertad Port on the Pacific Coast. Here you can enjoy quietly strolling around fisherman’s pier, or you can choose to get a major adrenaline rush by taking an exciting surf lesson at one of El Salvador’s world-class surf beaches. Professional and celebrity surfers from around the world come to El Salvador to enjoy the warm and challenging waters. Many of the top-10 break points in the world are located here, with top breaks including Punta Roca, El Sunzal and El Tunco. Some of the world’s most important surf competitions have been held in La Libertad, including Copa Quicksilver, and just this past July the 6-star Reef Pro El Salvador competition.

I had a surfing lesson here at the Playa San Blas located in El Sunzal. The waves were a bit too rough for me, but I managed to get half way up on the board and to do several flips before it was time to get back to the beach. I recommend everyone should try it since it is so much fun!

I also enjoyed the lunch by the beach at the Restaurante Acajutla. Here I found all types of seafood dishes on the menu, like seafood, cerviche, fish and chips, and langoustes (crawfish). I could sit there all day enjoying the music, watching the surfers catching the wave and relaxing.

Want to learn about turtles?

Well, you can when you visit the turtle sanctuary located at San Diego Beach. Here you could learn about the native turtles that swim along the Salvador's coast, including the Green Sea Turtle (Verde Marina), the Leatherback Turtle (La Baula), and the most common, the Olive Ridley Turtle (La Golfina). I learned that the Salvadoreans are becoming more aware of the plight of sea turtles, and they are learning to protect them. With the help of a new conversation programs and in conjunction with other countries in North, Central and South American (including the USA ) the people of El Salvador are learning how to protect the turtles for the future and for all to enjoy.

One of the conservation strategies implemented by FUNZEL (Fundacion Zoologic de El Salvador), a non-profit, non-governmental organization, is to buy back the sea turtle eggs that have been harvested and are being sold in the market. They take these sea turtle eggs to a sanctuary or "farm," and then put them back in sea turtle nests. When the sea turtle eggs hatch, the baby turtles are returned back to the ocean.

I learned that only a small handful of baby turtles survive after they hatch, and that sea turtles return to their place of birth to lay their eggs. So it was with mixed emotions that I had the privilege of participating in the release of a baby turtle back to sea. As it crawled toward the open ocean: I worried if it would survive or not. I wished it a good safe journey and long life, and rejoiced that it had survived the crawl to the sea.

Walter Deininger National Park

Next I went to Walter Deininger National Park, located south of La Libertad. It is an 1800 acre forest with a wide variety of endangered trees, and a large assortment of wildlife, and medicinal plants. This park is home to 70+ species of birds, over 20 species of amphibians and small mammals such as raccoons, deer and armadillos. I enjoyed strolling along the park’s pathways, breathing fresh air, before repelling down a 180 foot cliff. Yes, it was a bit scary at first. First I caught a deep breath, and then I stepped off the cliff. I must admit I was scared in the middle of my repelling. My hands and feet were shaking so badly that I needed to take a break. I took a deep breath then continued repelling down. It didn't take long though, before I was safely on firm ground. What an achievement for me!

El Boqueron Park

The National Park of El Boqueron is located only 20- 30 minutes from San Salvador. For someone who has never seen a volcano up close and personal this is a must see attraction. After a light trek up the volcano, through fresh air and beautiful natural landscape, I was delighted with the view of the impressive 1 mile wide crater. Upon my return to San Salvador, I recommend stopping by either the Las Brumas or the Pampa Argentina restaurants to try typical Salvadorian dishes. Believe me, you will enjoy the beautiful view of the valley, and by the way, this volcano is dormant!

Concepcion de Ataco

Concepción de Ataco, is a lovely cobblestoned town surrounded by coffee plantations. It has many colorful handicraft shops and several beautiful boutiques which sell native indigo outfits which I found very hard to resist from buying. If shopping is not for you, how about mingling with the locals? Food vendors love showing all the types of foods they sell, and even show you how they prepare it. Many even love to take photos with you! This truly is a delightful and lovely town to tour, and it even has a very nice and refreshing climate!

The El Carmen Estates Coffee Plantation

I visited a coffee plantation, the El Carmen Estates, where I took a tour of their working coffee mill and learn about the process of how a simple coffee bean becomes an excellent cup of coffee. A guide led us through the different areas of the coffee mill and described each stage of coffee production. He explained how the "cherry" coffee bean is transformed into a "green" coffee bean for export to companies like Starbucks, American Airlines and the Holiday Inn, among many others. And best of all, a delicious cup of coffee was waiting for me after the tour.

El Tunco

After attending the tourist agent conference, and more sightseeing, it was time for me to wind down and relax for two days/three nights before heading home. Rodrigo from Salvadorian Tours organized my stay at a beautiful boutique hotel, on one of the most developed surfing beaches in El Salvador, the Hotel Tekuani Kal, in El Playa Tunco, La Libertad. This hotel is run by a local family and each room has its own unique architect and design.

I joined my good friends Emilia (a Salvadorian) and Cori to explore this small charming town. Together with Javier Melendez who was our local tour guide during the conference, who happened to live in town, gave us a special tour of El Tunco. I must say it was the perfect relaxing stay for us after the hectic conference and sightseeing. We enjoyed breakfast overlooking the surfers in the morning.

Lunch at the local restaurants, and eating local seafood prepared in sinfully rich cream sauces. One afternoon we walked to town and enjoyed smoothie. Then later we sat by the beach and enjoyed the sunset while having a glass of wine and mingling with the locals. That was totally a treat! But that wasn’t all! Then for a late night dinner, we enjoyed just caught local seafood! That was my first time trying Conchas (raw clams). The best clams on a half shell that I ever ate, well........until I saw it moving. I practically freak out but my friends reassured me that the clam meat’s movement meant freshness. Thoughts of that freaked me out but I must say my stomach was just fine afterwards!

That night time, we attended the local open mike and watched the talented musicians play and sing. We were never alone as the friendly local people always joined us either in conversation or in activities during our stay. If we had stayed longer, I am sure we would have gotten to know everyone in town.

Visiting El Salvador was a very memorable experience. I can hardly wait to go back! Maybe I'll even sign up for more surfing lessons!

Worthy Notes:
Spanish is the primary language- English is widely spoken
El Salvador uses only US DOLLARS
Sept- March- best time to surf,
No Visas required
Taca Airline is the National airline
Lin Low

Surprising Fun Time in Aruba

2013-03-27T07:53:00.000-07:00

By Ken Low

(Note: Click on the pictures for larger view)

When I was going to visit Aruba in August, I thought that it would be like any of the other tropical Caribbean Islands that I had been to before that was hot & humid, dirty beaches, high crime, pesky mosquitoes, and a lot beggars/solicitors everywhere. Besides this, I would have to keep one eye out for Hurricanes as well.

To my surprise, what I found instead was a Tourist-Friendly Island that was warm with cool breezes (NOT hot & humid), CLEAN beautiful white beaches, NO crime, NO mosquitoes, and NO beggars/solicitors. I can close my eyes to Hurricanes as Aruba is NOT in the Hurricanes Belt. As the people on the other islands has to duck and run for cover, Aruba is below and out of the path of the summer Hurricanes in the Caribbean Ocean. American and European tourists that I had met there all say that they pick Aruba for the Not-So-Hot-Humid weather and the safe haven from the Hurricanes.

Beside these reasons for loving Aruba, I enjoy being a tourist and sightseeing around the island. I enjoyed visiting the historic California Lighthouse, Alta Vista Chapel, and the Ruins of the Bushiribana Gold Mill.

I like to think that the lighthouse is named after my home state of California but it is not. It was named after the steamship California that was sunk after hitting the treacherous reefs in the waters nearby. The 1914 lighthouse is now a guardian beacon that warns all the ships about the reefs there. The 1750 Alta Vista Chapel was the first Roman Catholic Church built on the island and it was nicknamed the Pilgrims Chapel. I loved climbing around the stone ruins of the Bushiribana Gold Mill. I pretend that it is still 1872 and I look out through the old stone windows for the steamships arriving to pickup the smelted gold.

The tour through the Aruba Aloe Museum & Factory was very enlightening. I did not realize that there is so many uses for aloe. Also, the aloe juice from a freshly cut leaf when ingested will act as a laxative! So you don't want to drink that juice if you are not close to a toilet. The tour thru the factory allows you to see how they process the aloe and put it into lotions, cream, and juices.

The fun activities that I enjoyed participation in were balloon fishing at Manchebo Beach, Baby Turtle Project, snorkeling the wrecks, Sunset Catamaran Ride, and gambling at the Casino. The local Fishermen at Manchebo Beach were very friendly and talked about their big catches. I asked them how they caught their fish as the big fish are very far away from shore. They said that they used balloon fishing as a way to get their fishing rig to deep water past the reefs. They showed me how they did balloon fishing.

They connect a small lead weight on their line then attached the leader with the hook. On the hook, they put cut fish or a whole fish about 5-6 inches long. They inflate a large balloon about 12 inches in diameter then tie the fishing line to the balloon such that jerking the fishing line would untie the fishing line from the balloon. Next they toss the weight with the bait and balloon into the water.
This next part is obvious. You must fish where the wind blows out to sea and not toward the inland and Manchebo Beach is perfect for this. As the wind blows the balloon out to sea, the fishing rig and bait follows. Once the balloon is at least 100 yards out, the fisherman yanks on the fishing line with the fishing pole and the balloon is released. The fisherman now waits for the big fish to get hooked. I was excited as that night he caught several large Groupers and Snappers about 20+ inches long.

The hatching of the baby sea turtles was a very special experience for me on Aruba. Many months earlier, the mother sea turtle came to shore, dug a big hole, laid her eggs in it, covered it back up, and headed back out to sea. The Aruba authorities fence off where the nest is located to protect the eggs.
In late August, the eggs hatch and the baby sea turtles crawl out of the sand and into the sea. This all happens in the dark of the early morning. Afterwards, the naturists would carefully uncover the sand from the nest and count the total eggs (the hatched and unhatched eggs). I was very lucky to be there to see that during this time, a late hatching turtle broke its shell and started to sea. It was very exciting. I would come back again just to sit in the early morning darkness to see the baby turtles go to sea!

For snorkeling, we went with Red Sail Sport on the Catamaran Balia with dives at Boca Catalina reef & at the sunken German Shipwreck Antilla. I was still able to see the Barracuda swim in front of the ship's bow and the towering smoke stack rising from the deep. Seeing the quiet sunken ship in the deep cold waters put chills down my back and made it kind of scary for me. I kept on thinking that Leonardo Dicaprio was going to arise from the deep asking for my help.
At Boca Catalina reef, the snorkeling in the warm waters was great as there were a lot of fish and squid and reef life to see in its shallow clear waters. Afterwards they turned on the music and served wine & food so we ate and danced.

The De Palm's Sunset Catamaran Cruise was very leisurely and relaxing. We drank cocktails and ate food while we watched the wind Surfers surf over the water. The view of the Sunset from the Catamaran was very romantic. Later we went down stairs and danced to the music. It was a lot of fun. At the end of the cruise, I could not believe that I was so exhausted when the cruise started out so relaxing! I wonder if it was the dancing.

For lodging, Aruba has low rise and high rise hotels. We wanted to stay at the boutique low rise Bucuti Beach Resort where it is adults only, non-smoking, and listed as one of the "top ten dream beaches of the world". It is Trip Adviser Traveler's Choice for Top 10 Most Romantic Resorts in the World and Conde Naste Traveler's Choice as a Top Resort in the Caribbean but it was not available for us at that time. We are going to come back next time and stay there!

We decided to stay at a high rise in the sophisticated Palm Beach area. There we stayed at the 5-star Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino. I picked this place for the view of the ocean & beach from our room, easy access to the beach & Palm Beach shopping plaza, and of course, their casino. I loved the view from our room and it just took a couple of minutes to walk to the beach. I loved their beach bar where I could easily order a Mai Tai for myself and a Pina Colada for my wife while sunbathing on their beach.

I am not a big gambler but I was enticed to try their casino. My wife and I were given a free $10 coupon bet each for any of the table games.

I am not a risky gambler but I noticed that on one of the Roulette Wheel tables that black was always on a roll.

So after two blacks came up, I put my $10 on black with the extra $10 coupon. Black came up again so I collected my $10 bet with my $20 winnings and left.

I went to the craps table since the Black Jack tables were filled. There I placed my $10 bet on the line with my wife's $10 coupon. We waited several rolls and won a couple of times when the number hit. When I had the opportunity to cash out at the crap table, I took the money and headed to the beach from the casino with $60 profit in my pocket. So for me, the casino experience was special.

I had another special experience happen while we were out dining at Ike's Bistro Restaurant in the Manchebo Beach Resort & Spa. We met the Sous-Chef there. His name is Ever De Pena and he is the 26years old Celebrity Chef there. He is Venezuelan-born and grew up in Aruba. He has been cooking for 11 years. It was our pleasure that he came out and greeted us at our pool side table.

He prepared for us various dishes with beautiful presentation and delicious taste each time! We had the Grilled Tuna with tomatoes & avocado salad, a Shrimp Pasta Primavera dish, Calamari Pasta dish, Portobello Mushroom Ravioli dish, and a delicious Sea Bass dish. For dessert, we had the yummy Chocolate Temptation which had various chocolates including chocolate ice cream on the dish. I look forward to eating there again.

Overall, I really enjoyed my time in Aruba. The comfortable weather, the beautiful sand beaches, the various activities, the food, the people, the turtles, low crime, and of course no Hurricanes make me want to come back to Aruba. I can see why Aruba is the most repeat-visited island of the Caribbean!

The Amazing Amazon Jungle Experience

2012-03-20T13:43:00.000-07:00

Native Village Along The Amazon River

When I booked a trip to Peru for a travel conference, I decided to go to the Amazon Jungle prior to my conference in Lima. I have been waiting a long time to go to the Amazon River to experience nature and the true jungle life. So I took an evening flight from Lima, Peru, to Iquitos. Here I stayed at the Victoria Lodge.

Using Solar Energy to Dry The Laundry

The next morning I met my tour guide-- Llagner (meaning Black Jaguar) Manihuari Pacaya (Big Rat). His nickname is Llyacko, which is pronounced Jacko. He has 27 years of experience working as a tour guide, but believe me, he does not look a day older than 27. He speaks fluent English, Spanish, his local village dialects, and surprisingly, some Portuguese! He is a local resident of the Amazon Jungle, and he has tremendous knowledge of the jungle!

Yummy Grub Worms! Am I Brave or What?

On the way to the Iquitos Port to catch our speed boat, my group had the chance to experience some exotic fruit in the open street market like passion fruit, guava, mango, and papaya. I noticed that there was cooked food everywhere. Llyacko mentioned that one booth was grilling a 2 inch grub worm. Well....you guessed it...I had to try it....but only after a few other people tried it first! As the saying goes, it tasted just like chicken, but it had a bit of a sausage flavor with some gluey oil mixed in. I was told it was good for the digestion. I don't know about that, but at least it did not make me sick, so that's good! But, I don't think I'll be flying back just to eat more of that!

Typical Village Transportation

After the exciting food experience, we took a 1.5 hour speed boat ride to Heliconia Lodge, a sister property to the Victoria Lodge where I stayed my two nights in the jungle. We passed many impressive jungle landscapes of bushes and tree, as well as rustic hut homes along the river's edge. You can also can easily see the brown turbid waters of the Amazon River mixed in with the dark waters of the Nanay River. At the first native village our boat made a stop-over. Here I had a chance to learn about their culture and even dance with the natives. There was a lot of hand crafted jewelry available to purchase. What a great way to help support the village!

Learning the Native Dance...Fun!

Upon our arrival at the Heliconia Lodge, the entire staff greeted us with fresh fruit juices. Even Pedro the parrot was there to greet us!

So what is there to do in the jungle? There is a lot! First, Llaycko took us on a hike, and he identified many of the botanical species, including the Heliconia flower and medicinal plants. He also told us the names of the birds, small monkeys, iguanas and other animals we saw. There was another excursion where we went to see the pink dolphins. I was lucky enough to get to see them jump from the water, but I wasn't quick enough to capture them in a photo. Oh well.

Llaycko caught a Piranha for dinner!

How about fishing for Piranhas? We got to do that! I had many bites on my line but was not able to catch anything. After much perseverance, I finally caught one, but when one of the staff members grabbed the big fish for me, the piranha bit a piece out his finger! Ouch!!! That marked the end of our fishing trip. We had to hurry back to shore to get his finger bandaged!

How about going early morning birdwatching? Yes, we did that too!! We left early one morning by boat to go to one of the smaller streams to go bird watching. I was rewarded by much more! I got to see the glorious Vitoria Regiaplant flower (Giant Water Lily) on Yanamono Island. These flowers reminded me of Lotus Flowers in a water pond. Ironically my name, Lin, in Chinese is "Lotus Flower!" I was told that the locals use this flower for relaxation during child birth. There is a purpose for everything in God's creation!

Giant Water Lily on Yanamono Island

At night I hiked around the perimeter of the lodge to look for tarantulas, fire flies, and other nocturnal jungle animals like snakes. I enjoyed seeing the tarantulas and holding fire flies in my hands, but I am not sure I liked the evening hike because it was dark and slippery with mosquitoes flying all around me, though I did learn a lot! Most importantly I leaned that it is important to stay put if you ever get lost in the jungle, as the staff will look for you. However if you do get lost and keep moving you will most likely get lost further, making it that much harder for the staff to find you. It may even take days! This actually happened once at this lodge! Luckily the person survived, but it was a hard leaned lesson for him!

Isn't he cute?

How about a restful night on the river? We had the opportunity to take an evening boat ride down the Amazon. As the boat floated slowly downstream, Llyacko told us to close our eyes and listen to the surroundings. I enjoyed listening tho the magical sounds of the jungle so much, that when I opened my eyes (about 20 minutes later) we had already arrived at the next lodge! I was able to take several beautiful sunset pictures. What an evening. So calm and relaxing!

The Beautiful Amazon River Sunset!

My three day trip to the Amazon River far exceeded my expectations! I loved all that I learned about the jungle, the plants and wildlife, the local native culture and their lifestyle. Most of all, Llyacko made me feel like I was the queen of the jungle. I have a lot to be thankful for, for having had such and unforgettable Amazon jungle experience! There is no doubt, a trip to the Amazon can definitely broaden ones horizon, and give one an opportunity to explore, learn and enjoy! I guarantee a trip to the Amazon will be very rewarding!

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net

Pebble Beach Lexus Food & Wine Festival

2011-05-02T01:50:00.000-07:00

Foodies, wines, friends, and lots of sunshine, what a great way to spend a Saturday afternoon indulging ourselves.


Jan Allen ATA West Coast Sales Manager

Ken, Charlotte, George, & I attended the Lexus Grand Tasting Event at the 2011 Lexus Food & Wine Festival held at Pebble Beach Saturday.
The venue was held as a fund raiser for the Boy&Girls Club of America and CASA (a child advocates organization).

Interacting with the Wineries

I had a great time tasting wines from various vineyards like Acacia, Bridlewood, Chalone to Signorello, Trinchero, and Wente vineyards to name a few out of the 192 wineries that was represented there.

Jacques & Claudine Pepin

Don't ask me anything about the wines because after the 1st couple of glasses of wine and drinking some exotic mixed drinks in between, I don't remember anything about the wines.
If I did then the Stella beer washed it all away.

Michael Ginor

I did noticed that when the chefs had a break, I could find them in line getting a Stella!

I am not a foodie but I enjoyed talking to some of the 84 Culinary Masters in attendance there and tasting their food.
I can easily become a foodie after tasting some of the food at the event.

Andre Bienvenu

Some of the Chefs represented there were Jacque & Claudine Pepin, Tyler Florence, Masahara Morimoto, Rick Tramonto, Gale Gand, Roy Yamaguchi, Michael Schwartz, Michael Ginor, Daniel Joly, Andre Bienvenu, Michael Chiarello, Akira Back, and Miguel Garcia to just name a few. Celebrity Chef Guy Fieri was also there.

Rick Tramonto & Gale Gand

Daniel Joly

Michael Chiarello

Akira Back

Michael Schwartz

Miguel Garcia

Besides Lexus, the event had at least 54 major sponsors attending including Aruba Tourism Board. Aruba's booth had Master Chef Miguel Garcia and he had his college intern, Ever De Pena, created a very delicious meat dish which Ken thought was very yummy!
I enjoyed mine with some red wine from J. Lohr. The dish was a Crispy Fried Chicken with Aruban Creole Sauce and Macadamia Nut Crusted Grouper with Tropical Relish.

Ever De Pena

For the On-Line Auction fund raiser, Aruba had donated a trip for two to Aruba.

Lin, Charlotte, & George enjoying wine

The trip is a 5 Days and 4 Nights at the Hyatt Regency Aruba Resort & Casino. It includes Round Trip Coach Airfare for 2 and an online Activity Package for 2.
As an extra bonus, this includes an Island Tour with Sail & Transfers courtesy of Red Sail Sports and dePalm Tours. This has an estimated worth of $4000!
I would love to go to Aruba too!

Overall, we had a great time!

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net

The Spectacular Iguassu Falls!

2011-04-07T23:57:00.000-07:00

Imagine yourself awakening to the warmth of sunshine slanting through your balcony window and hearing the sound of gently crashing waves from the best waterfalls on the American Continent. Further imagine yourself drinking freshly brewed (almost locally grown) Brazilian coffee while out on your balcony terrace. You are in Argentina, overlooking Iguassu Falls!

Fortunately for me, putting myself in this idyllic scene didn't have to break my piggy bank. I had previously saved up 18,000 Starwood points so we had a free night stay at the famous Iguassu Falls Sheraton Resort and Spa in Argentina. This hotel is the only hotel in the Argentinean National Park, and was the perfect place to celebrate my husband Ken's 58th year young birthday. It was a day to remember for a long time!

Iguassu Falls is one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in my life. Not only because of the powerful waterfalls, which are impressive in themselves being almost three times the width of Niagra Falls ( 0.7miles or 1km wide and 173ft high or 53m ) , but also because of it's location in the tropical rain forest and great bird watching. Iguassu Falls drop an average 75 meters (269 feet) and a spread nearly 3 km (1.7 miles) along the border of Brazil and Argentina. During the rainy season (November – March) it flows at rates of as much as 12,750 cubic meters (450,000 cubic feet) per second!

Most of the waterfalls are found on the Argentinean side where I had the chance to see them close up from the various walkways that I hiked. Many people asked which side is the best to view the falls from, but since I got to see both sides, Brazil and in Argentina , I would say you have to see both, as each has something different to offer. In Argentina , you can view the falls from the front, the top, and from the bottom; however, the best panoramic views of the waterfalls are from the Brazilian side.

How did we get there? My husband and I took a taxi from the downtown city of Iguassu on the Brazilian side to Puerto Iguazu on the Argentina side (province of Misiones). Make sure you have your passport. The cost was 50 BRL (or about $30 US) each way for a 30 minute ride. The park entrance fee cost 60 Pesos ARS (or $15 US) per person and must be paid in Pesos.

Once we arrived at Iguazu National Park (around 8:30am), we immediately took the train to the top of the falls. As the train runs every 30 minutes, and the cost of the train is included in the entrance fee. The train was really convenient.

We then walked the 2 km (1.2 miles) about 30 minutes to get to “the most important stop”, which is technically the second stop. Here you get to a catwalk that leads you to see the Devil's Throat. This is the famous U-shaped fall of Iguassu Falls, were the water falls 82 meters (269 feet) in a U-shaped waterfall that measures 150 meters (490 feet) wide at the mouth by 700 meters (2300 feet) wide if measured along the “U” of the fall. The view here at the end of the trail is the most impressive that I've ever experienced in my life. There is so much water dropping over the cliff and with such strength and power. As you stand there in the rising mist you get completely soaked!

We then took the train back and got out at the “first stop” where you can do the “Upper Trail.” Here you see the various Argentine and Brazilian waterfalls viewed from the top of the Argentine falls. The Lower trail is where you see the waterfalls from a low river view of the bottom of the falls.

After all this walking, my husband and I decided to take the Macuco Safari Boat Tour(120 pesos pp about U.S.$30.00). This tour takes you around both the Argentina and Brazilian sides of the falls. The boat also goes underneath the waterfalls! It is an exciting once-in-a-lifetime ride.

Click on this link to see the video of the Macuco Safari Boat Tour.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P3L0m6YNJNk

Doing it all, the hikes, the boat, and train rides, takes an entire day. By the time we walked back to the Sheraton at about 5 PM, it was time to relax on our balcony viewing the picturesque falls with a delicious complimentary fruit plate from the hotel.

But all too soon it was time to “work,” to do a property inspection, but what enjoyable work! We met Francisco Mendieta, the Division Manager, for the hotel. He has worked there for over 20 years and practically grew up on this property. He showed us around the Sheraton and we were very impressed with all the rooms facing the waterfalls.

The garden rooms were also unique as there were wild monkeys sitting on the balconies. Hmmm............if you stay there you better make sure to keep the sliding doors closed or else the monkeys might go into your room and play with all your belongings. When you walk along the grounds of the hotel, you will see animals that remind me of raccoons. These animals are called Caparivas, and like raccoons, they scrounge around for food. Don't feed them as they are wild with very sharp claws.

Sheraton Iguassu Falls also has a unique water spa, with 6 different stations with different types of water massages. As you enjoy the first station, it will eventually stop automatically, which signals you continue to the next station for your next water massage. Ken and I had the privilege to take a 60 minute water massage. What a great way to relax after a full day of touring and walking!

Later that night we celebrated my husbands birthday dinner at the Sheraton Hotel restaurant, Garganta Del Diablo, with a great big very tender Argentina Steak. He even got a complimentary desert for his birthday! Totally yummy! Life can't get any better than this!! We were totally spoiled.

If you are planning to see the Iguassu Falls, you must stay in Sheraton Iguassu Falls to experience this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Actually, it is the only hotel on the Argentina side of the park, so it is an absolute must. What an awesome experience located at a spectacular water fall!

->See more Brazil - Salvador Bahia

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net

Mud Bath Therapy in Iguassu Falls, Brazil

2011-03-06T21:30:00.000-08:00

Mud Bath Therapy? I had never heard of that before! Yes, I once had a mud bath in Calistoga, CA , where I sat in a bathtub filled with 80+ degree mud, but that is nothing like Mud Bath Therapy in Iguassu , Brazil . So, when my cousin Lisa asked me to join her and her sister Luisa, I couldn’t resist going!

It was about a 20 minute ride from the center of Iguassu to Recanto Da Paz, which is well off the beaten track, in a farming region. As we drove we saw huge fields of soybean plants. Sheep and chickens were running all over, and little birds were flocking everywhere, singing with their beautiful songs. My heart was filled with joy to see such lovely and beautiful animals surrounded by all the plants and trees in this serene natural land. When we finally arrived at the Mud Baths, I was surprised to learn that it is actually a privately owned farm, complete with an old fashion farmhouse!! As we walked through their fenced orchards to the waterfall the staff picked, explained and gave us samples of straight from their trees: guava, and super sweet pinha (see link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sugar-apple) . Hmmm…what a treat!

It was not too far before we heard the cascading of the waterfall. The sounds of the waterfall made me feel so relaxed that I had to close my eyes and take a few deep breaths. We then settled down in a nice shaded area and the staff came by with a small tub of mud and started to put it on my cousin Luisa. This was not at all how I imagined a mud bath, but that was how they do it here! After we were covered in mud, we laid down for about 45 minutes to let the mud dry. The mud on my skin was so dry that I couldn’t wait to wash it off. Unfortunately, though, there were mosquitoes there, so the staff stayed with us, and fanned us like royalty to keep them away. What service! We all felt like queens!

Once the mud was dry, we jumped into the waterfall and played like little girls, splashing cold water at each other. There were moments we were smashing and tossing mud at each other. I can’t remember how long it’s been since I had so much fun laughing and playing like a little girl!! The cold waterfall water was so refreshing and cool us down in the hot and humid day. We didn’t want to leave the waterfall, but after a couple of hours, it was time to leave; but we left with super smooth skin, and wonderful memories!

After we cleaned up from mud and waterfall baths, we had fish and chips; no not the ones like back at home, but Brazilian style fish and chips. Fried local fish served with their special drink, which tasted like lime juice but with a special perfume. It was totally refreshing and “hit the spot.”

I can’t say enough how much I enjoyed going to the Mud Bath Therapy at Recanto Da Pax. It was a totally girls-get-away, and we all had such a blast! Between the mud bath leaving our skin so super smooth, our bodies so relaxed, and the fun of playing and laughing with my cousins in the waterfall, we were so tired and relaxed that we all slept wonderfully that night!

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net

Exploring Curitiba and Having Fun

2011-02-26T20:09:00.000-08:00

After spending a week here in Iguassu Falls I was ready to search for some adventure within Brazil. I decided to take a one hour flight to Curitiba . Why Curitiba ? Curitiba is the capital city of state of Parana . It is known for its rich and rather unique different cultures of South American, Asian, and European. As one of the largest cities in Brazil , it attracts visitors from all over the globe. In fact, it is becoming a model-city in terms of urban planning and award winning mass transit. Curitiba was even given the Globe Award for a Sustainable City in 2010 and was named the cleanest city in Brazil by Rede Globo Journalism

With the help of Ezio Pasouinelli of the Tulip Inn (where I stayed), I decided to take a double-decker bus tour of Curitiba for $20.00 Reais (about $15 US). As I sat on the top deck, with the wind blowing through my hair and on my face, I enjoyed the all the beautiful views and sights of the city. The bus circles the city in two and half hours if you just stay on the bus. But, the ticket allows you to get off at any or all of four tourist attractions. This works our very nicely as the bus comes around every 30 minutes so you can enjoy the attractions at your own pace. To see all four attractions you should really allot all day to this tour, but because I needed to return to my hotel and catch my flight to Salvador, Bahia, I only had time to visit the Jardim Botanico Botanical Garden and the Oscar Niermeyer Museum .

The Jardim Botanico Botanic Garden is a must see sight if you're in Curitiba! Inaugurated in 1991, the unique metal and glass architecture houses a greenhouse with nationally referenced botanical specimens and French-based gardens, all surrounded by absolutely beautiful gardens. It also offers spaces for exhibitions and has a library and an auditorium. I spent over two hours wandering around and taking beautiful pictures, not to mention exploring the boutiques and enjoying local artists’ handicrafts and paintings. This is a must see sight if you're in Curitiba. Museu Oscar Niemeyer ( Oscar Niemeyer Museum ) is also known as the Eyes Museum. It is the biggest and most modern museum in Brazil. It covers 40,000 square meters, and emphasizes science, history and culture.In addition there are 16,000 square meters of available space for special art, design and urban planning exhibitions. Part of the museum itself is unique with an anti-gravity appearing constructional design which was created by Oscar Niermeye and many local artists. I would have loved to here stay all day.Unfortunately, I did not have time to see the famous Portal de Santa Felicidade (Santa Felicidade Gateway) or Teatro Paiol (Paiol Theather). Portal de Santa Felicidade is an area of the city known for it’s many fine restaurants and wineries, with roots dating back to the ancient Italian immigrants and colonists from Veneto and Trentino. Teatro Paiol (Paiol Theater)- Originally built in 1906 as a gun powder barn, it was revitalized in 1970 to become an arena theater, and became a symbol for Curitiba 's cultural change in the last few decades. Poet Vinicus de Moraes composed the song "Paiol de Polvora" for the inauguration of this building.

Another reason I came to the City of Curitiba was to take the Serra Verde train tour to Paranagua. This train with its 125 year history is considered one of the most beautiful train rides in the world. Indeed it was! It travels 110 km through the largest preserved area of Brazil ’s Atlantic forest. The Mountain Range Train of Paraná departs from the city of Curitiba to Morretes everyday and on Sundays it also goes at Paranaguá. The trip takes approximately 3 hours with a mini bus return to the city. The train stopped at two small towns: Merretes (where I had seafood lunch) and Antonina. This train tour had a bi-lingual staff, I was able to get a personal view of the history in English from my own personal guide, Vivian! Here is the link if you would like to learn more: http://serraverdeexpress.com.br/en/serra/destinos.

With the many friendly and helpful local Brazilians, I never had any difficulty finding my way back to the Tulip Inn from the bus station. Their friendliness and the beautiful and unique sights truly made my visit to Curitiba an awesome experience. Yes, I am honored that I have such privilege of visiting Curitiba .

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net

Exploring Brazil Day 4

2011-01-24T23:54:00.001-08:00

Yesterday was fun. Raymond, my cousin’s husband, came home a bit early from work, took a nap to re-energize, then we were ready for action.

At 5:00 PM, my cousin Luisa, her American husband Raymond, and I drove to Puerto Iguacu , Argentina a 30 minute drive across the border. As it was Saturday many Brazilians flock to Puerto Iquacu for shopping, eating, dancing etc. Yes, everything costs lot less for Brazilians in Argentina . At the border, it took non-Brazilians like Raymond and I a while to go through the immigration process. But patience paid off!

The town reminded me like Puerto Vallarta , Mexico , but without the beach. It was rather rural or like the forest with old little casitas, shops and streets covered with cobble stones. It has a unique old town experience and feel to it.

In town, I went to almost all the leather shops but I only found one store, called Skin, which had my size (average US $300.00 per jacket). Well, I didn't buy any jackets so I headed to a specialty food store to buy parmesan cheese (totally yummy). I bought some wonderful good quality wines made in Argentina (Chardonnay), then headed off to a local restaurant and bought some take out Pintanema. I then bought a local grapefruit drink which was very refreshing for $1.50, which was a total bargain for Brazilians. Oh.....by the way, I had some of the best coconut ice cream I've ever tasted!

It was a fun and interested evening and I enjoyed it to the fullest!

Well, that's it for now. It's almost 8:00 AM and I am getting ready for my trip this morning to meet my uncle in Paraguay . Ate logo meus amigos or maybe I should say, Adios mis amigos in Spanish!

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net

Exploring Brazil day 3

2011-01-24T00:15:00.000-08:00

It's my 3rd day here. For some reason I didn't sleep well. I woke up around 6, so by 7 I was already up for coffee. I sat in living room and enjoyed the view with sunrise. This is a gorgeous view.

I left later to look for health clubs. First I went to Bio. I had problems conversing with them in Portuguese but someone helped me to interpret. The receptionist then called the boss who spoke
English. He wanted to negotiate with me to join the club for 70R (which is about $55 US) for 3 weeks. Yes, it's expensive compare to what I pay for in S.J. area. Since I have so much time here I think I should join anyway. After negotiating with Bio Gym, I left and went to Median Gym. They wanted the same rate but this gym is not as nice as Bio Gym so I scratch this one off my list. I also checked a few other private health clubs that only do pilates and body toning, but it's too pricey for me. These places are for wealthy and I am not
willing to pay that much ($20.00US PER HOUR).

Shopping- Hmm...........I walked all over downtown Iguassu Falls but found the prices to be quite high. I can get better quality and better prices in the US so I didn't buy anything, but I had fun.

I walked all over downtown and struggled to speak Portuguese in the shops. Luckily most of sales people are very nice and polite. They told me they understood what I wanted so it was nice. I enjoyed talking with the locals. The locals are very nice and friendly. After practicing speaking Portuguese, I believe I am getting better! So there's hope that I can definitely improve. By the way, it's funny the locals asked me if I can speak Spanish, because Iguassu Falls is on the border of Paraguay and Argentina . Hmm..........I can barely speak Portuguese.

I came back around 11:30am and took a shower. I've been taking 2-3 showers everyday to stay clean. It's hot and humid here. Well..........I need to take my siesta soon, so that's it for now.

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net

Lin's Surfing Dream Came True!

2010-10-26T19:51:00.000-07:00

I just came back from a business trip to Hawaii. I stayed on the island of Oahu , at the Westin Moana Surfrider Waikiki Beach for the first half of the week, and the Sheratin Waikiki for the remainder. I spent a lot of time checking out hotels, so there was not much free time. On my last day, however I managed to squeeze in a few hours of fun. For the first time in my life I took a surfing lesson! It was a struggle at first, but when I was finally able to stand up on the board and surf it was such thrill it go with the waves!

Surfing did not come easily to me. It is a lot harder than it looks. First, I did not have enough shoulder and arm strength to paddle. Then when I finally succeeded in paddling to where the waves were, I got stuck there because I did not know how to turn the surf board to face the beach. Then once I was turned around, I would either be pushed too close to the beach or I would get knocked down by the waves! So, then I would have to get to the surface and climb up on the board again. Once I even drifted away from my class and I couldn't get back to my group where my instructor was! I felt so alone, struggling and not knowing what to do. I almost wanted to give up.

Thankfully, the owner of Hans Hedemann Surf, Hans Hedemann came by to help the beginners that were stuck. I was lucky to have Hans as my instructor. The first thing he did was give me a softer surf board which my feet could grip. This was great. I followed his instructions and did all that he taught me. There I was...........feeling and hearing the sound of the wave as I was gliding through the water. I could enjoy feeling of the wind blowing on my face while surfing. I was totally elated and on a total high after that! A couple things to be aware of……not only do you have to be in relatively good shape, but having good balance surely helps! AND, it takes a lot of perseverance!!!

As this was a business trip, my husband, Ken, stayed home with the kids. I think he had more time for fun and relaxation!! Each day I, along with 43 other travel agents from California , went to inspect and learn the unique features of many hotels. Needless to say, the surfing lesson was by far the highlight of my trip!

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net

Located:
Waikiki Beach at the Park Shore Hotel

2586 Kalakaua Ave Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone: (808)924-7778

Fax: (808)926-7779

Email: info@hhsurf.com
http://www.hhsurf.com/hh/index.php

Lin's Fiji Adventure Travel

2010-02-14T14:45:00.000-08:00

It's been over two years since I was in the beautiful islands of Fiji. Unfortunately, I went back for a family emergency. Nevertheless, I was able to site inspect the following hotels: Marina Denarau, Radisson, Sheraton Denarau, Hilton and The Uprising Resort. I also squeezed in a 2-night Captain Cook Cruise - 'The Adventure Sailing Safari' as well as trying out Zip Fiji which is located at the Coral Coast near Pacific Harbor. This zip line, the first zip line the South Pacific, zips you over the tropical rain forest!

For more pictures for the trip, click the link -
Click Here to play Lin's Fiji Adventure Video

*Radisson Resort – This property is more like a family resort with kitchenettes. I loved the sand surrounded swimming pools. Fiji Radisson Info

*Sheraton Denarau - This is one of the largest hotel resorts in the Denarau area. Many of the rooms were recently renovated to feel more contemporary. Fiji Sheraton Info

*Hilton Denarau - This high-end apartment style family property was being built when I last visited Fiji two years ago. I was rather impressed with the site inspection. First of all, the staff was the friendliest, even greeting me with a cold drink, something I really appreciated as it was VERY hot in Fiji ! Secondly, the rooms were beautiful with a black and white color theme. Each room has kitchenettes and the bathrooms even have old antique bathtubs. Additionally, barbecues were set-up on the balcony for quick outdoor dining. I definitely recommend this property. Fiji Hilton Beach Resort Info

*Uprising Resort- After the Fiji Zip, I stopped over since it was on its way. Amazingly, it was much nicer than I anticipated. This moderate budget resort has a beautiful ground. The front beach bures looks beautiful and has a beautiful view. The resort also has backpacking style staying in a dorm style bure which cost only $17.00 dollars including breakfast. Great for low budget travelers to families. Fiji Uprising Beach Resort Info

*Captain Cook Cruises’ Adventure Sailing Safari - I've wanted to try this adventure sailing safari for long time, and I was indeed lucky to get a 2-night cruise on such short notice! I must say this was quite an adventure, rustic but yet fun. Fiji Captain Cook Cruise Info

Our adventure began with a full day cruise through the Mamanuca and Southern Yasawa Islands to the tropical base camp- the Barefoot Lodge on beautiful Drawaga Island. We each were assigned a beachfront bungalow, known as a “bure.” Each bure was rather rustic without air conditioning, but instead equipped with only a ceiling fan. Unfortunately it was rather noisy making it hard to sleep.

There was evening entertainment every night. One night was international night where each group of travelers demonstrated their talents to represent their home country. I did not represent the USA very well. I guess I’ll have to practice before my next sailing safari! We also learned/practiced Fijian and Kava Ceremony dances. Thankfully the Captain Cook crew did not follow strict procedures! In the old days, one could be killed for not following the proper procedures doing the Kava Ceremony!

The following day, we visited a local Fijian village to experience the Fijian culture. The tour consisted of visiting the town’s church and participating in a real Kava ceremony (These are traditionally practiced when visiting a village). Though I have been to Fiji 7 times and have visited many different villages and participated in several Kava Ceremonies, I truly enjoy them each time I go. I also truly love how the little children all gather around and always eager to have their pictures taken. They are so cute!

Each evening we return to the Barefoot Lodge where we could swim, play valleyball with the staffs and glazing at sunset with glass of wine. Fijian lovo feast was also part of the fun.

My 2-day adventure on Captain Cook Cruises’ Adventure Sailing Safari cost only about $275 US dollars, including all meals, snorkeling, hiking and kayaking trips! The only thing not included in the price was bottled water. I thought this was rather odd, but considering it is a low budget ship, that was OK with me! After all, my water bill was only $12.5 US. All in all, it was quite an adventure, rustic, and definitely fun for me! Oh yes.......don't forget to bring your own towel!

*Fiji Zip Line - In addition to the Sailing Safari, I also did a Zip line on the Coral Coast . I met Dan (the owner) two years ago at the Blue Water Lodge which is owned by my cousin Fiona Fong. He invited me to come experience it for myself (comp!). So, after enjoying the sun, sand and water in Fiji , I thought “why not do one last adventure before going home?” After all, as I always say, when it comes to adventure, count me in! Fiji ZIP Line Info

The car trip from Nadi Town to the Pacific Harbor was very scenic and took only a bit over 2 hours. The Zip staff greeted us upon our arrival and I was ready to Zip! Although I have ridden zip lines before, I was still a bit scared, but there were plenty of guides to calm me and keep me safe.

As soon as they strapped me into a harness and connected me to the wire, I was ready to zip/slide over the beauty of the rain forest. The ride was 45m (148 feet) above the ground, and one of the rides was 200m (219 yards) across the river. Believe it or not, I actually rode the zip line twice, each with 8 runs--all in less than an hour! With each zip trip I felt more confident and could better enjoy the spectacular views of the rain forest below me! The guides were friendly and fun, and they even helped me with the Flick camera and took many pictures of me zipping along until I was finally satisfied with a photo of me.

The Zip Fiji is a must for all adventure lovers. A truly unforgettable ride!
See the video of my Zipline ride below.

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net

Big Five Tours with White Glove Service

2010-01-16T23:48:00.000-08:00

When I received a box yesterday from the post office, I was surprised to receive a box of chocolate & greetings from Big Five Tours. It brings back all the good memories that I have experienced with Big Five.

Now that I have worked with Big Five, I have nothing but good things to say. From day one, reservation agent Tatiana did a great job in putting the itinerary together. She was knowledgeable, experienced, and patient. She was so nice to work with. When my clients missed their flights, everyone panicked. Luckly Tatiana was able to change and to renew the itinerary. That was very impressive!
Another impressive thing about working with Big Five was their 24-hour White Glove Service™ guest assistance. I was surprised to get my clients updated traveling information while the clients were already on their journey. No other tour operator gives such services. This gaves me a sense of relief knowing they were enjoying their trip. My clients gave an excellent review upon return of their trip. Moreover, I received a thank you email from their President for the booking. Big Five did surpassed my expectations and I am ready to work with them again. They definitely inspired me. We should all follow their business model to serve our clients.

Try to work with Big Five. You'll be rewarded with exceptional service. www.bigfive.com

2009-11-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

i am adding pictures from mendocino

New Zealand Boasts Natural Beauty, Thrilling Excursions

2009-08-23T16:56:00.000-07:00

After a long flight from San Francisco on Air New Zealand, we arrived in Queenstown, the south island’s largest city. No sooner than when we landed, we immediately whisked off to Aarowtown, an authentic gold mining town, rich in history and heritage. What I found particularly interesting is the fact that the early Chinese had stayed there to work in the goldmines during the early 1800s. New Zealand has preserved this village to recognize the history of the Chinese who came here. Shopper’s note: The shopping in this small town was just great! I later found that their prices in the stores were better compared to some of the shops in the bigger cities.

LODGING

After this excursion, we were on our way to Millbrook Resort . (See http://www.millbrook.co.nz/) It is surrounded by some of the world’s most spectacular scenery. Designed to embody the relaxed New Zealand country lifestyle, Millbrook is a year-round recreational paradise. Each season here yields its own character, color, and leisure pursuits. Millbrook Resort is an elite property which includes three restaurants, a bar, and an 18-hole golf course. Dinner was fabulous at the Clubhouse Restaurant at Millbrook. The menu features everything from lamb to seafood to pasta. However, by the time the dessert arrived, I was so tired I almost fell asleep on top of it! That same night, we traveled to Novotel Gardens Hotel in Queenstown. Novtel is more of a 3 to 4 star resort, but very nice and clean. I had a good night’s sleep there. Rates on Expedia.com start at over $200 per night.

TOURING
On the second day, the Nomad Safari excursion outfit picked us up for a four-wheel drive tour to Skipper’s Canyon. The Skipper’s Canyon Tour is a scenic charter activity that gives folks a spectcular look a the diversity of scenery in the area. It was quite fun riding along on the bumpy road. Our day didn’t end there. Later that afternon, we headed for the TSS Earnslaw Cruise (see www . http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/Main/earnslawcruises. This vintage steamship voyaged across beautiful Lake Wakatipu to Walter Peak Station,a working sheepfarm where visitors get a closeup look at country living in New Zealand. After that, our entourage toured a farmyard of live sheep. We had the chance to see the farmer shear sheep. Some members of our group even go to see a baby lamb being born. How cool is that? That afternon we headed to the Kawaru Jets (see http://www.kjet.co.nz/) The high-speed boats that skim the water are also called "Shotover jets." This boat ride spins you around for about an hour. It was cold and wet, and I just couldn’t wait for it to stop. The ride is great during warmer days, but in the late fall and winter you will have more fun if you are dressed for warmth. FAMOUS SKYLINE RESTAURANT How many times do you get to ride in a gondola to your restaurant? Here at the country’s famous Skyline Restaurant , observation decks offer indoor as well as outside viewing. Visitors can dine in or outside. This wonderful restaurant features a buffet style with many New Zealand delicacies such as mussels, clams, and, of course,lamb chops. The view was breathtaking from our tables. This is a definite must-do if you are in the area.

BUNGY, BUNGY
On our third day at the Kawarau Bungy Centre, people from our group went, you guessed it… bungy cord jumping. This is the world’ first commercial bungy site here at the Kawaru Bridge in Queenstown. It includes a multi-media bungy dome attraction (description), improved spectator areas. Did I jump off? Well, maybe next time. There were just too many people fighting for the spots. Following this, we headed down the Haas River via jetboat. The ride was quite calm, nice, and enjoyable. In the afternoon, we steered to the west coast region of New Zealand and had a site inspection of the Haas World Heritage Hotel . With 54 standard rooms, a bar, buffet and restaurant, it has the feel of a clean, modest motel. Rates go from $89 to $159. Soon after that, we departed for the Franz Josef Glacier and stayed at the hotel of the same name. It is small, but the staff is very accommodating. I loved the hotel’s warming shower towel racks. (See http://www.franzjosefglacier.com/) Of course, the next morning on Day Four, we caught a breathtaking helicoper ride to see the beauty of the Franz Josef and Fox Glaciers. Though it lasted only 20 minutes, it was spectacular excursion. Next, we hit the town of Hokitika , which houses a conclave of artists. To get a taste of local color, we visited the Hokitika Glass Studio to watch glass blowing and visit the showroom. (See http://www.hokittika.org/). The same day, we visited the South Bank Art Studio. CAFES & TRAINS For lunch, we went to Café de Paris , and believe it or not, the French restaurant served us teriyaki chicken! I must admit, it was quite good. And the French onion soup was SUPERB! Later that day, we boarded the Greymouth Railway Station on the TranzAlpine journey to Christchurch. Let me fill you in- this train ride is rated among the top seven among train journeys in the world, according to popular travel magazines. It took us through the rainforest across Canterbury Plains into the Southern Alpine Alps before descending down into the rainforest of the West Coast. Being able to view this scenic landscape was well worth the six-hour ride. THE GEORGE HOTEL Once in the city of Christchurch , we lodged at The George Hotel . A few blocks from the center of town, the hotel with access to a spa, gym, and tennis court, is an upscale boutique property with rates beginning at $224.25 nightly. The staff is friendly; the food is excellent at both the Pescatore high-end restaurant, and the 50 on Park casual eatery. (See http://www.thegeorge.com/). I loved the cute teddy bear placed on my pillow when housekeeping turned our beds down at night. A charming touch!

RAPELLING

On the afternoon of the fifth day, our group went abseiling, or in American terms- rapelling. We had to hike up to one of New Zealand’s highest mountains, and rapel down to about 60 feet, and then hike down the rest of the way. This was one of the most challenging things I have ever done in my life. When I was ready to rapel, I was so petrified with fear that I wanted to cry, but I was determined to fight it. After the first few yards going sideways, I concentred hard on how to get down. By then I forgot my fears. It took me less than 5 minutes to descend, and, surprisingly, I rapelled down very smoothly. Let me tell you guys… If I can do it, anybody can do it, too! FAREWELL Our last dinner was at the Palazzo Del Marinaio . The Palazzo is centrally located in Christchurch, close to many hotels. We had the opportunity to share the best experiences of the week with other co-adventurers. The food, by the way, was so good! We had our choice of fish or lamb chops. While I don’t care for lamb usually, I ate all the lamb chops on my plate. It was excellent. At least, I should say, it was not gamey. Before leaving, we had a few more free hours, so our group went to the International Antarctic Centre in Christchurch. This was twice voted the best indoor attraction in New Zealand, a fun and interactive experience which focuses on the present as well as the past. The site focuses on Antartic wildlife, the environment, and day activites on the ice. There was a spell-binding 14-minute sound and light show in the audio-visual theatre making visitors feel as if they have actually been there. The unique "snow and ice" experience means the public can experience snow 365 days a year. The center features a "Polar Room" with real snow and ice made on site. Experiencing a chilling minus five degrees Celsius is huge fun for all. A fun photo opp is standing on the imitation ice slope along side a Ski-Doo vehicle. Currently priced at $50 per family or $20 for adults and $10 for kids 5-15, this place is definitely a "must-do" before heading home. Kids will love the unforgettable Hagglund ride, a unique all-terrain, tanklike snowmobile which carries multiple passengers over hills, crevasses, through water around the adventure course. I loved my trip to New Zealand and feel so fortunate to visit this spectacular place of many sights and wonders.

****NOTEWORTHY FACTS: * Air New Zealand flies out of 3 hubs: San Francisco and Honolulu to the city of Auckland, North Island and from LAX to South Island.* Wellington is the capital of New Zealand. * One U.S. dollar is approximately $1.3 dollars in N.Z. currency. *Director Peter Jackson, a New Zealander, hired 2,000 of his fellow countrymen for the movie Lord of the Rings , and some 15,000 appeared n the movie, many as Orcs. *Warmest months in New Zealand run from November through April.

NOTEWORTHY WEBSITES:
http://www.airnewzealand.com/- Info on Air New Zealand for rates and bookingshttp://www.thegeorge.com/- The George Hotel information http://www.millbrook.co.nz/- More on the lovely Millbrook Resort http://www.franzjosefglacier.com/- Travel and tour information on Franz Josef Glacier http://www.hotikita.org/– All you need to know about this small artists’ colony on the South Island http://www.realjourneys.co.nz/- Cruising and other excursions in New Zealand http://www.kjet.co.nz/- Jetboat tours and more http://www.transscenic.co.na/- Pricing and scheduling for the TransAlpine train journey

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net

Romantic Fiji, Island Fever Never had it So Good!

2009-08-22T21:13:00.001-07:00

A few years ago my husband asked me where I would like to go to celebrate our twentieth wedding anniversary. My answer came as no surprise as I smiled at him and said, “The FIJI ISLANDS!” Why Fiji? We have been there six times, so why would we still long to go back? The answer is easy. Fiji is only ten hours away from Los Angeles (via a non-stop Air Pacific flight), so with two movies, two in-flight meals and a short nap, I’m in paradise. Fiji is made up of over 300 islands, with the two largest islands being Viti Levu and Vanua Levu. The Fijian islands offer everything you would expect in a tropical paradise. You can easily wander through local marketplaces, take leisurely nature walks through undisturbed lush vegetation, or even try one of the many adrenaline-filled adventure activities. You can dive, snorkel, or swim in the legendary crystal clear waters or simply do nothing at all, and just relax on glorious sun-drenched, white, sandy beaches. Unlike many typical island destinations, Fiji offers numerous private islands. Some of these private islands cater to couples craving privacy and romance, while others cater to families seeking a high adventure activity holiday. The Fijians (more accurately, the Melanesian people) are often described as the friendliest people in the South Pacific or even the world. And, best of all, with the current exchange rate, the U.S. dollar can go a lot further in Fiji than in other typical island destinations. Since I had already visited most of the popular resorts in Fiji on previous trips and since this was our twentieth wedding anniversary, we decided to stay at more unique, romantic and secluded private resorts, including: Hideaway Resort, Vomo Island Resort, and Koro Sun Resort & Rainforest Spa. There was one exception: we decided to revisit one of our favorite properties, Namale Resort and Spa. In short, after a warm “bula” greeting when we stepped off our plane, we journeyed from Nadi International Airport on Viti Levu Island, to Hideaway Resort on the Coral Coast, to Koro Sun Resort & Namali Resort in Savusavu on the island of Vanua Levu, to Vomo Island then finally back to Nadi.

HIDEAWAY RESORT
This imperial gem has been voted the best resort in the South Pacific for several years. Though it is only a one hour drive by car from the airport in Nadi, you feel as if you are in the middle of paradise. Hideaway Resort is located on the spectacular Coral Coast. This paradise resort, once a coconut plantation, is home to 120 bures (Fijian for bungalows) which are dotted throughout 15 acres of manicured tropical gardens that extend along the water’s edge. This resort offers four different types of bures: Honeymoon Villas, Deluxe Ocean View bures, Frangipani bures, and 2 bedroom bures. All rooms are air-conditioned and all guests receive a complimentary fruit basket.We stayed at the Beach Front Honeymoon Villa. This large room (approximately 855 square feet) has a king size bed and a large indoor bathroom. In addition there is an outdoor shower and bathtub! How did we hide-away in this resort? Well, we woke up to the sound of sea breezes, and then had a cup of Fijian coffee while seated on our private veranda watching the surfers glide through the ocean water. Next was lunch at the poolside “Cannibal Café” enjoying views of the lagoon. Then in the early afternoon with the high tide we went snorkeling in this same lagoon. The beach however, was not so beautiful at low tide, but we took advantage of the low tide by walking along the reef to mingle with local fishermen. We enjoyed watching the fishermen fish with handmade lines, and searching for blue starfish and octopi. During high tides we swam to off-shore rocks to look at the fish. One note of caution however, you must keep track of the tides and the time when swimming off-shore. Once we got caught as the tides were getting lower. I ended up getting scratched by the razor sharp coral, and had to have my deep cuts treated by the caring hotel staff. The resort offers great entertainment and floor shows in the evenings. One night we were entertained by cultural dances, and the next night by a Fijian history presentation. A cooking class was offered during the day. The day I attended they just happened to make my favorite Fijian dish, Kokonda, which is similar to cerviche, made of raw fish in a coconut cream sauce.
The Hideaway Resort is considered a moderate to budget property, but it has four-star amenities. The staff was exceedingly friendly and many of the guests were repeat guests from all over the world. The Hideaway Resort is a great family resort, sort of like a Fijian Club Med. My husband wished that there was a television in our room so he could catch the news, but he enjoyed the privacy and uniqueness of the outside shower! We both wished that there was Internet access in the rooms so we would not need to lug our computer to the hot-spot in the dining room to Instant Message our children (internet facilities are available for $6 for 60 minutes), but I guess with a name like Hideaway, who wants television or the Internet?

KORO SUN RESORT AND RAINFOREST SPA

This resort is located on the island of Vanua Levu, a short one hour flight from Nadi airport in Viti Levu, and is dedicated to adventure, rejuvenation and romance! It is a dream haven for lovers and nature lovers! It is situated on 150 acres, 90 acres of which is lush, virgin, tropical rainforest, complete with waterfalls and streams. It is also home to many rare tropical birds and plants. The Koro Sun Resort and Rainforest Spa features 17 bures each with 4-poster bamboo beds, a stone shower, and ocean views. It is an all- inclusive property! Here our morning started with breakfast at the resort’s restaurant. The awesome homemade muffins were almost as good as Millie’s beautiful cheerful smile that greeted us each day. My favorite place though was the Rainforest Spa, which is tucked next to cascading waterfalls. Most massage centers use music to create a relaxing environment, but here we heard the natural sounds of the real rainforest, with the sounds of the stream and the birds chirping. This made our massage a truly delightful, relaxing and memorable experience. My husband however, recommends requesting a lift in the resort car, as it is a very long walk through the rainforest to get back to the hotel.LOCAL ACTIVITIES About five minutes by taxi from the resort, on the way to the town of Savusavu, you must remember to stop to view the spectacular blowhole. Here the sea water shoots vertically nearly twenty feet from a natural rock formation, much like a gigantic ocean geyser. In Savusavu we visited J. Hunter Pearls Shop, the only place in Fiji that boasts an international pearl farm. From there we walked to the farmer’s market and bought a common Asian vegetable, the bok choy. Once back at the resort, Chef Anna surprised us with a fabulous bok choy salad featuring her signature special dressing. It was very creative and totally delicious. I never knew you could make such an amazing dish with this common vegetable. Needless to say, the staff at Koro Sun Resort and Rainforest Spa was incredibly friendly and outgoing.

NAMALE RESORT & SPA

Envisioned and created by Tony Robbins a well known author and speaker, this all-inclusive resort has won the 2005 Fiji Excellence in Tourism Award for Best Deluxe Accommodations; and first prize from Modern Bride in 2005 for best Ultimate Honeymoon Suite. This property is situated on 325 acres yet has only 16 private and spacious bures and villas (though currently two additional villas are being constructed on the property). We did not stay at this property, as we had the luxury of staying there in 1999. But as it was only 10 minutes away from Koro Sun Resort, we decided to do a quick resort inspection to see how it may have changed in those 8 years. Rose, the sales and marketing manager was very friendly and sweet. She showed us around and shared her enthusiasm about the resort. We were fascinated by the 10,000 square foot glass-walled Namale Spa overlooking the sea. It offers several types of massages from all over the world (U.S. $125 for 75 minutes). The spa is designed to induce a deep calm, a place for renewal and relaxation. How I would have loved to have a massage there, but alas, we didn’t have enough time! The resort’s entertainment center, Kava Center , has a two-lane bowling alley, a video golf range, a theater-size projection facility, and the internet is conveniently located in the business conference center. Needless to say, the Kava Center is very popular when Tony Robbins is hosting a conference Something unique about Namale Resort & Spa is that each day there is a personalized typed lunch or dinner menu complete with personal greeting. Would you prefer to eat in your room or have a picnic basket of lobster for lunch at the beach? How about dinner complete with candlelight, and quiet romantic music on a private corner of a rock near the gentle gliding sounds of the sea?

VOMO RESORT AND SPA
The old saying “getting there is half the fun” truly applies to Vomo Resort & Spa. This island resort is reached either by sea plane, helicopter (15 minute ride) or South Sea Cruises (45 minutes from Denarau Marina)! What a way to start a vacation! This property, located just below Fiji’s popular Yasawa group of Islands and includes 29 stunning bures, each with ocean front views and private decks. Our ocean front bure was very centralized with easy access to the restaurant, spa, golf course, resort store, and activities center. We particularly enjoyed sipping cocktails at Rock Bar, while gazing out at the beautiful sunsets, and attending the manager’s cocktail party. This cocktail party was before the “Lovo” dinner where they had native Fijians performing native dances. Like many of the guests, we dressed up, enjoyed our dinner, and mingled with the friendly natives and other resort guests until late into the night. The crystal blue water here was unbelievable! I could easily see 15-30 feet down to the colorful fish and corals beneath me as I snorkeled immediately off the shoreline. I did not need to endure a long boat ride to find an underwater paradise! And, as an extra bonus, the resort has a sea turtle sanctuary, where we thoroughly enjoyed playing with the baby turtles! Vomo Resort has a small island adjacent to it known as Vomo Lailai Island where guests can enjoy a private picnic. Only one couple at a time is allowed on this small island, thus it truly is a secluded romantic getaway! We found, however, that this little island is not quite as secluded as we expected. Suddenly we saw five native fishermen on the other end of the beach! Thankfully they never saw us, and we had nothing to hide (yet!). Our other favorite outing was a private candlelight dinner on the beach surrounded by lighted torches and candles. It just happened to be seafood night the night we went, so we had the luxury of privately eating yummy local lobster with our hands and fingers while enjoying a good bottle of wine. We would not have enjoyed the lobster nearly as much had we eaten it in a restaurant worrying about proper etiquette. (How does one politely eat lobster with a fork, knife and cracker?!?!?!). Then on our walk back to our bure after our romantic dinner I thought I was dreaming or feeling the effects of the wine. As we opened the door to our bure, the lights had been dimmed, soft music was playing, and flower petals were scattered throughout our bure. Even more surprising, our bathroom had also been decorated with flower petals, lit candles surrounded our bubble filled Jacuzzi! Needless to say, we were stunned and speechless with this special touch of romance! What a memorable and enchanting evening. Soon this turndown romance will be added to the long list of amenities and a small fee will be added. Incidentally, Vomo Resort and Spa is now under new management since May 2007. Wayne Milgate from the famous Hayman Island Resort, and Toni-Maree Milgate from Versage Hotel on the Coral Coast of Australia, are the new general managers and they plan to change this resort from a deluxe to a luxury resort. By the way they pay attention to their guests I am convinced they will quickly succeed!

BLUEWATER LODGE

Our final stay in Fiji was at the Bluewater Lodge. This privately owned and operated boutique bed and breakfast style lodge is centrally located along Nadi Bay. It is just five minutes from the airport and one block from Wailoaloa beach and upscale hotels and lodges. It is situated in an ideal location to explore Nadi, shop, browse the local farmer’s markets, use as a home-base for day trips, or just to rest before or after your international flight. Family owned and operated by Fiona Fong and Mike Beauchamp, this home-like property caters to both tourists and business travelers. The lodge has three separate bedrooms that share a common bathroom, as well as one master bedroom with private bath. This full service lodge offers free internet access, and for small fees will provide laundry and airport shuttle services. And, last but not least, Fiona is an excellent cook who goes out of her way to spoil you with Fijian hospitality and make you want to make Bluewater Lodge your home-away-from-home. Our anniversary vacation was a romantic experience in a place that only can be described as paradise. My husband and I walked hand-in-hand through pristine tropical rainforests, swam in crystal clear ocean waters, enjoyed lunch on a private secluded deserted (well, almost) island, enjoyed several private candlelit dinners, and we were even surprised one night by flower pedals strewn throughout our cozy bure complete with a candlelit bubble-bath waiting for us! Fiji’s unpretentious hospitality, outgoing culture, and romantic setting will keep us returning for years to come.

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net

**** RESORT DETAILS:
Hideaway Resort – from $250.00/ bure per nightWeb: http://www.hideawayfiji.com/Email: mailto:Adam@hideaway.com.fjContact: Adam WadePhone: 679 6500177Fax: 679 7520025 Koro Sun Resort – from $320/ bure per night
Web: http://www.korosunresort.com.fj/mailto:Namericares@connect.com.fjContact: Merlyn YoungPhone: 1 877 KOROSUNFax: 1 970 626 3715
Namale Resort & Spa – from $850.00/bure per nightWeb: http://www.namaleresort.com/Email: mailto:namale@namaleresort.comPhone: 1800 727 FIJIFax: 8585 535 6385Contact: Rose
Vomo Island Resort – from $680.00/bure per nightWeb: http://www.vomofiji.com/Email: mailto:kelvin@vomo.com.fjContact: Kelvin WadeMobile: 61 4 0212 1211Fax: 61 7 5577 9289 Bluewater Lodge
Web: http://www.bluewaterfiji.com.fj/Email: mailto:bluewaterfiji@connect.com.fjFiona Fong mobile: 679 9929704Mike Beauchamp mobile: 679 9929712

Other Helpful Information:
Electricity : 220-240 volts, 50 Hz cycle. 3 pin flat plug is the standard. A converter adapter is recommended. Language : English speaking country. Weather : Winter season is May through October with an average temperature of 84 degrees and low of 66 degrees. Summer is November through April with an average high of 88 degrees and low of 72 degrees. Population : Approximately 900,000, with a mixture of indigenous Fijians, Indians, Europeans and Chinese. Entry Requirements : No Visa required with US passport. Currency : Approximately U.S. $1.00 to Fijian $1.50 (July 2007) Air Travel : The national air carrier is Air Pacific. Driving : Left side of the road. Tipping : Not encouraged in Fiji, but you may leave a tip for the staff fund at the end of a resort stay.
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Historic Ship offers Adventure on Carribean

2009-08-22T21:10:00.000-07:00

"Ahoy me maties! Pirates on the starboard bow! Fire the cannons! Raise the main sails and shove off to sea, ye scurvy bilge rats!" The anchor is rising, and the crew is scurrying as the captain barks out commands. This is what I imagine as the Royal Clipper pulls out to sea.

OPULENCE AT SEA

On my recent excursion on this historic clipper ship replica, I flew from San Francisco to Miami to Barbados to the Caribbean via American Airlines on a seven-day, high seas adventure. I could feel the wind blowing through my hair as I stood on top of the bow with my arms extended doing a scene from "Titanic," while the sails flapped wildly behind me. "Champagne?" "Yes, thank you," I said to the waiter. As I lay comfortably sipping the bubbly beverage on a lounge chair atop the huge, 19,000-square-foot open deck, the entire experience felt surreal. This was heaven, and for the next several days I would be sailing through the Windward Islands of the Caribbean. How did I get here? Well, I’d always wanted to take a sailing cruise. I’ve been on many typical cruise ships with parties and casinos, but those do not interest me. I love adventure!

HOW IT BEGAN

A few weeks prior at a business meeting I met Dan Pedelaborde, the Director of Northwest National Sales, from the Star Clipper Cruise Company. He didn’t have to say much to convince me that this was the ship experience that I’d always dreamt of. I did not hesitate to book my trip, and I was determined to go without any of my typical second thoughts of being seasick. And, now, I was out to sea with my patch on and all….no, not my pirate’s patch on my eye, but my seasickness patch below my ear!

THE ROYAL CLIPPER

Contrary to my active imagination, the Royal Clipper is by no means a pirate ship, though it frequently sails the once-common pirate infested waters of the Caribbean, Indian Ocean, and Mediterranean Seas. According to Captain Segiy Pashchenko, the Royal Clipper is actually the world’s largest fully rigged sailing ship. It measures 439 feet long, 54 feet wide (beam) and has masts that are nearly 200 feet high. But, what really gives it its pirate ship feel are its fleet of sails billowing from its 5 huge steel masts! For you confirmed pirate types, there are 26 square sales, 12 staysails, 3 jibs, and a spinnaker.The Royal Clipper does not navigate by stars nor sextant. Instead, it relies upon a state-of the art navigation system to guide it through sparkling clear Caribbean waters. And oh, how silently we sailed, easily sneaking up on loud cruise ships powered only by the wind in our sails. Did I say fast? Yes, with the wind in our 42 sails, we raced along at speeds of up to 20 knots! But no need to worry. In the event of doldrums, the Royal Clipper is able to be motor driven—but with its 56,000 square feet of sail area, this is rarely needed!

CABIN SECRETS

Although the sails and historic design of the boat made me feel like Sinbad, this old-world scenario melted away once I stepped inside my cabin. It was beautifully decorated in classically-styled décor, with hard wood (mahogany/teak) and brass fixtures. It even had black and white marble in the bathroom. The Royal Clipper, which can accommodate up to 228 passengers, features two Owner’s Veranda suites (320 sq. ft), 14 Deluxe Veranda suites (255 sq. ft), two Deluxe suites with whirlpool tub, shower and mini-bar (175 sq. ft), and 88 Standard cabins with shower and two porthole windows (148 sq. ft).

PORT STOPS

Visiting the Windward Islands of the Caribbean was a treat. We stopped at St. Lucia, Dominica, Antigua, St. Kitts, Isle Des Saintes, Martinique, and Barbados. I could choose a few excursions per port, but since I have visited so many of these ports of call on past trips I selected Royal Clipper-sponsored beach activities, which meant I could hire a taxi and look for loot and treasures in the downtown shopping areas. My pirate escapade was filled with many opportunities for adventure. Unlike classic pirate ships of yore, the Royal Clipper has a huge platform that can be lowered from the back of the ship when the ship is at anchor. From this platform you can enjoy many water sports including diving, snorkeling, windsurfing, water skiing and even banana boat rides. What is a banana boat you ask? It is an inflated banana-shaped boat towed behind a ski boat. I was warned that I should not take this ride as the banana boat might capsize and I might fall off, but that didn’t stop me! And yes, I did fall off my banana boat, but before the captain could set sail and leave me to the sharks, I was able to scramble back on my banana boat with the help of my roommate Pina, and some new found friends.

PIRATE FANTASIES FULFILLED

In one day I really got to live not just one, but two of my pirate dreams! I climbed to the crow’s nest of one of the masts, 50 feet above the ship’s deck! Despite my safety harness, my heart was pounding a hundred miles per hour, but, oh, what a view! What an experience! What an accomplishment for an acrophobic like me! My second pirate dream was to climb out in front of the bow of the ship while the ship was under sail. And I did! Myself and some other adventurous wanna-be pirate passengers climbed out onto the bow nets that are slung from the bowsprit. There we lay high above the water bounding over the waves and enjoying the sound of the waves crashing over the bow of the ship. In the day, the most enthralling moment transpired during the raising of the sails while the speakers aired bold symphonic music. I imagined a classic movie scene where the soldiers would go out to sea to do battle to protect the motherland.

ELEGANCE INCLUDED

The ambiance of the Royal Clipper was anything but pirate-like. Just as the suites were elegantly decorated, so was the entire ship. The dining area was the most glamorous room. It sported a royal blue and rich, burgundy theme, with brass and mahogany wood fixtures, all magnificently accenting the elegant staircase linking the 3-level atrium-like dining room. And, to my shock and surprise, the roof of this area was actually the bottom of the glass bottom swimming pool up on deck! How unique, and what a lovely atmosphere to enjoy the open seating meals. Breakfast was served buffet style with an omelet chef always attentive to cook my eggs just the way I liked them! Also, lunch was served as an international food buffet ranging from stir-fried vegetables & noodles to sushi to curry chicken and roast beef. Dinner was served a la carte with most selections beautifully presented. I usually got my fill of steak every night. The evenings on board the ship were fun and filled with comradely, even though the passengers came from all over the world. Yet, language was not a problem as between the staff and passengers. About 25 different languages were spoken, and about 50% of the passengers were repeat Royal Clipper passengers making for a joyous and festive occasion. So, it was no surprise that during the talent show, the staff and the passengers had fun showing their talents at the Tropical Bar on the main deck. One night we enjoyed crab races, another night beautiful ice sculptures, and on yet another night a local steel band from Antigua performed for us. On our trip we were especially lucky as Jim Graham, a member in our little entourage was a professional pianist. What a privilege it was for us to be entertained by his talent. It was like having our own mini-piano concert at the piano bar.

LOUNGE LIFE, POOLS

No pirate would ever have imagined Nemo’s Lounge. It is a unique combination of beauty salon, spa and gym all in an underwater setting. Well, it really wasn’t underwater, but it had portholes below water level so you could imagine you were there. Unfortunately, though, I wasn’t lucky enough to see fish swim by! Also, unique to the Royal Clipper were the three swimming pools. My next door neighbor’s daughter, a synchronized swimmer, would have been disappointed with the pools. Two of the pools are only knee deep filled with chilly water, and the third pool was only 4 feet deep. But, this third pool was fun in its own way. It has a glass bottom and it sits directly over the dining room! No doubt she would have liked peering down at the unsuspecting diners! If you go, here’s a heads up on what is and is not included. Just like a typical pirate ship, there are no elevators onboard the Royal Clipper, but there are lots of stairs! They do have a nurse, who doubles as a waitress, but no doctor. Also, there are no programs for children. No self-serve laundry room exists,but the ship does have laundry and dry cleaning services available. Further, when you board the Royal Clipper you can leave behind to pay your American dollars. The onboard currency is the Euro! So, pack up your gear, grab your patch and come be a pirate on the world’s largest, five-mast, fully rigged sailing ship, the Royal Clipper!

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net

Magical Kenya

2009-08-22T21:04:00.000-07:00

After years of watching National Geographic specials and reading books about Kenya, I have always wanted to go to there. I studied and became a tour specialist on Kenya and recently joined the Kenya Tourism Board on a 9-day journey to this amazing African country. KENYA OVERVIEW To know and love Kenya, one must first understand that this is a country of dramatic contrasts. Covering an area similar to the size of France (almost 225,000 square miles), Kenya stretches from five degrees north to five degrees south of the equator. Altitudes range from sea level to 17,058 feet at the peak of Mount Kenya, Africa’s second highest mountain. Kenya possesses a plethora of natural habitats and terrain, from coral reefs to open grasslands and tropical forest, from snow-capped volcanoes to arid desert. Its national parks and game reserves host the most abundant and varied wildlife in the world. Its population of some 27 million includes over 40 ethnic groups, with cultural influences from all over Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Europe. In so many ways, Kenya is almost a microcosm of the entire African continent. Though there are several reliable tour companies to make your journey to Kenya a memorable one, we had the privilege of going on the Outdoor Expedition Safaris Ltd. Tour , led by our host Riz Virji. For our 9 days of touring and lodging with food, the comparable price for this land package would run approximately $3,400, according to the Kenya Tourism Board. NAIROBI If you decide to go to Kenya, avoid going in April and May, the rainiest time of year. Do wear comfortable clothes for your flight. The air time alone is 24 hours! Flights from SFO to Nairobi can cost $1,400 on up, according to a recent search on Expedia.com. Airlines that fly here include KLM, British Airways, and a few others. After a van ride from the Nairobi airport, our first stop was the Nairobi Serena Hotel . This elegant hotel, lavishly decorated with vibrant local colors and fabrics, features well over 200 rooms. The outdoor swimming pool is surrounded with a variety of indigenous, exotic trees and vegetation. It also has a great spa facility, so one can be totally pampered after the long voyage. The on-site Mandhari Restaurant , underscores the fact you are in Africa with its African decor and exotic art theme. Much of the restaurant fare in Kenya is barbequed meat. Thus, this place is a carnivore’s dream- beef, lamb, pork, even alligator is served everywhere. LEWA DOWNS The first day of touring meant traveling to the region of Lewa Downs . The Lewa Downs camp is probably best known for the Grevy’s zebra. Located in the 45,000-acre Lewa Wildlife Conservancy on the northern slopes of Mt. Kenya, this charming property is perched atop a hill with stunning panoramic views of the conservancy and its rolling landscape, valleys and hills. Lewa Downs is a unique and true Kenyan bush experience. It is a small, quaint property that can accommodate up to 12 people. It features three large cottages, each beautifully decorated with a double and a twin room. The temperatures in April are in the 70’s during the daytime and go to the low 60’s at night. It was good that all the beds had heating pads so when I went to bed at night, it felt so warm and comfortable. In fact, I found out that all the lodgings where I stayed had this except for the Peponi Hotel in Lamu where the temperatures are warmer by 10 degrees.

WILDLIFE -The Lewa Safari Camp features tented accommodations and is a non-profit private game reserve, owned and managed by the Lewa Wildlife Conservancy. Proceeds from the Lewa Safari Camp go to wildlife conservation and community development programs for building schools, feeding children, as well as rehabilitating orphaned and injured rhinos and zebras. We saw three rhino orphans due for release to the wild when they turn 18 months old. Besides seeing the world famous Grevy’s Zebras and other animals, activities include day and night game drives, guided hiking tours, and horseback rides.

MAASAI MARA, Ilkeliani Tented Camp Going to Maasai Mara was a dream come true. Maasai Mara represents one of Kenya’s most-beloved reserves encompassing 1,039 square miles of wide savannas, rolling hills and forest. It boasts huge grazing herds, bountiful bird life, and Africa’s largest population of lions. As our 4-wheel drive passed through the vast Mara wilderness to the Ilkeliani Camp, we felt as though we were on a National Geographic safari as we spotted giraffes, buffaloes, wildebeest, hartebeest, impalas, zebras, gazelles, leopards and many more. As we approached the comfortable Ilkeliani tented camp located in a forest, the staff welcomed us with champagne and juices. We were then chaperoned by the Maasai to our tents. The campsite easily blends into the abundant virgin foliage providing enough solitude and privacy to hear the primordial sounds of nature. Later that evening, the owner of the Ilkeliani Camp lavished us with a wine reception including an outdoors bush fire under the exhilarating starry night sky. We were entertained by a group of Maasai dancers. Dinner was served following the show inside a huge, nicely decorated dining room tent. It was quite an evening!

NAKURU, CONGREVE CONSERVANCY, MbWEHA CAMP Next, we headed for Nakuru, Congreve Conservancy and the MbWeha Camp . Not many know that Africa is also home to geographic natural wonders. On this day, we traveled through The Great Rift Valley, one of the most dramatic geological formations in the world, stretching for more than 3,600 miles through the heart of Africa. Just west of Nairobi, this truly grand canyon effectively separates Western Kenya from the rest of the country. The drive took us along the rift floor where we could appreciate the rich geography with its diverse countryside and lush valleys. After our picnic lunch stopover, we continued to be awed by the vistas of the Rift Valley with its unique geological formations such as the steep valley walls, extinct volcanic cones, and a multitude of both fresh and soda lakes. The scenery is breathtakingly spectacular! After lunch we by passed the town of Naivasha and ultimately arrived at Nakuru National Park to look for wild game. Lake Nukuru is a shallow soda lake, and its water level can vary by as much as four meters (13 feet) annually. Sometimes the lake dries completely, leaving behind a white dusty plain of soda. When this happens, dust storms and dust devils can whip the soda deposits way up into the atmosphere. When the weather and water conditions are favorable, one can see millions of flamingoes at Lake Nukuru, as Lake Nukuru provides an excellent source of spiralina, a type of blue green algae that these beautiful birds love. At dusk we headed to Mbweha Camp . This property, tucked away in the 6,400-acre Congreve Game Conservancy at Lake Nakuru National Park, provides excellent views of the Ebrru and the Mau mountain ranges. The property is dotted with nine cottages, each with a private veranda and spacious circular-shaped rooms. These cottages are constructed out of local volcanic rock, which erupted from the earth‘s crust during the formation of the rift valley. At night, you can enjoy the sunken bar and spacious lounge that has a large open fireplace to warm you up when the weather is cool. For more information, write to them at P.O. BOX 66229 – 00800. Call them at TEL- 574395 or FAX 574669.

LAMU ISLAND After rugged trail excursions and safaris, we finally had a chance to wind down at the beach resort area of Lamu Island , off the north coast of Kenya in the Indian Ocean. Lamu is considered to be one of Kenya’s greatest treasures. Since the 1970’s, Lamu and its neighboring villages have been a prime destination for the rich and famous. With a population of 13,000, Lamu represents one of Kenya’s oldest Swahili settlements dating back to the fourteenth century. It has remained largely unchanged by history. Here one finds a relaxed, welcoming atmosphere. There are very few western influences visible- no cars, just narrow winding streets full of exotic charm. When we first arrived, I felt like I was in another world. The culture is so different from those in the other parts of Kenya we had seen. Time seemed to stand still. We arrived by dhow (local small sailboat), softly gliding through the warm Indian Ocean. All our senses were overwhelmed….amazing seafood, smells of intoxicating tropical flowers, and the call to prayers in the setting sun. It truly felt like a step back in time, to a place where " time " had become a meaningless word. We stayed at the Peponi Hotel , located on the Shela beach of Lamu Island. This boutique hotel operates 27 rooms, most facing the water. I, like other guests, savored a late afternoon of relaxing on one of the lobby lounge chairs. How wonderful it was to feel the gentle blowing of the trade winds while sipping a glass of wine and listening to the waves crashing on the distant coral reef. At around 5:00 PM, our group took a sunset dhow tour around the island. The ride was very calm and soothing. We enjoyed watching the sunset, singing song after song. Back at the hotel, dinner didn’t start until it was late, but time seemed so irrelevant… When we finally did sit down for supper, the feast was unbelievable! Seafood drenched our table-lobsters, crabs, jumbo prawns, oysters calamari. Everything was delicious with a capital D. It is no wonder that this hotel restaurant has the reputation of having the best seafood in all of Lamu! Sadly enough, our trip was over all too soon. If you ever decide to come to Kenya, I’m sure you will also have plenty memories and stories you will share with generations to come.

**** NOTEWORTHY WEBSITES AND ADDITIONAL INFO: Outdoor Expedition Safaris Ltd. C/o Riz Virji P.O. Box 44406 Nairobi, Kenya Tel/Fax 254-20-313864 Mobile: 0722-379850 Email: mailto:riz@outdoorexpeditionsafaris.comWeb: http://www.outdoorexpeditionsafaris.com/Kenya Tourism Board P.O. Box 59159 Minneapolis, MN 55459-8257 U.S.A 1-866-44-KENYA 763-212-2533 FAX Email: mailto:infousa@magicalkenya.comWeb: http://www.magicalkenya.com/Lewa House, For more information, contact: Gustavo Romano PO Box 10.607, 00100 Nairobi Kenya mailto:Gustavo@Kewa.org* www.lewa.org

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net

My favorite Hotel in Disneyland area

2009-08-22T15:08:00.000-07:00

My Favorite Hotel in Disneyland By Lin Low It was that time of the year again for our family annual Disneyland Vacation. For the last 16 years, since our now 19 years old daughter was 3 years old, we have taken an annual family vacation to Disneyland and once again, we just brought our premium Disneyland season passes. I am already looking forward to going back during spring vacation. I have to say it is a challenge to find a hotel that will cater to our family. In the last 16 years our family has stayed in different hotels every year, from 3 star to 5 star hotels. Finally, we found the Holiday Express Hotel & Suites -Garden Grove. This hotel is located only 2 miles from Disneyland. Just 6 minutes away, it has many nearby stores and restaurants, unlike so many other properties near Disneyland.INTERIORS This hotel is only a few years old and it has a classy, modern, and elegant look to it. The staff are so super friendly. I was really surprised that most of them remembered that I stayed here last year. How many hotel staff especially near Disneyland give such a personal attention? The hotel features exquisitely furnished guest rooms including Single King rooms, Double queen bedded rooms, and Jr. Suites with a king bed, living room area and sofa sleeper. All rooms are designed for convenience and comfort with Free T1 High Speed Internet access. My family stayed in two standard rooms and I enjoyed the privacy of the spacious comfortable room. RELAX OR STAY FIT After a long day at Disneyland, my family enjoyed a refleshing dip in the heated outdoor swimming pool and a soaked in the hot jacuzzi to sooth our aching feet. Oh....yes, we sure enjoyed this particular amenity! For those who are fitness guru's, the hotel has a well equipped small workout gym. Towels and water were even provided for free. Breakfast anyone? The free hot continental breakfast with scramble eggs, hot sausage, biscuits, and a variety of sweetcakes was a great way to start the day before heading to Disneyland. Lounge- I loved the lounge with its spacious feeling and I enjoyed using their free Internet to check my emails while having a cup of coffee.OTHER SERVICES*Complimentary Self Parking- Unlike many hotels near Disneyland which charge parking fee of $8.00 or more per day, we never had to pay for parking at this hotel. *Shuttle Bus- For those that prefer not to drive to Disneyland, you can take ART- Anaheim Resort Transit. It picks up every hour with a $3.00 round trip fare. It's a non-stop ride going to the park since it is the last hotel on the route. Returning to the hotel, however, the ART bus stops at many hotels so the return ride may take up to 40 minutes. BOTTOM LINEThe cost of staying in the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites- is very reasonable with rates starting at $86.00 for up to 4 people in a room. The free hot continental breakfast and all the extra amenities that the hotel had to offer, makes this an incredible value, especially in this tight economy. Would I recommend this property? Definitely! In fact, I plan to return to Holiday Express Hotel & Suites during spring break! CONTACT INFO: Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites 12867 Garden Grove (714) 539-3535

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net

A weekend getaway at Half Moon Bay

2009-08-21T23:58:00.000-07:00

Ken and I had a chance to get-away for the weekend so we stayed in the Half Moon Bay Lodge. One of the nicest boutique style hotel of Best Western Hotels. We were quite impressed as we first checked-in. There were two rooms available for us to choose from and we choose the room with the garden-view. The other room had a view of the dried up part of the golf course which was not appealing. After checking-in at 8:00pm, it was time for a relaxing soak in the jacuzzi. A pool was next to it so after 15 minutes, I took a dip into the pool to cool off. A dry sauna was available also, so I took advantage of it on the next day. What a night to start!

On our second day, we had a continental breakfast. It was not great but we could make our own waffles so this made it exciting.

Our day followed by taking a long walk at the Ritz. The Ritz had a long walkway over looking the beach so you'll see local residents taking walks with their dogs. It's a perfect morning exercise for about two hours following the golf course pathway. We rested at the outside bench looking into the ocean and the golfers. It is a perfect place to relax and enjoy watching the golfers playing golf. As a golfer myself.........I watch them played with frustration and could relate to it quite well. Except this time, I am totally relaxed sitting there and enjoy the perfect view of both the golfs and the beach.

Later in the afternoon, Ken and I headed to the famous Barbara's Seafood Grill. A place we have aways wanted to try each time we drove by with our family but didn't have time to eat there. The restaurant is a hole-in-a-wall but after the 30 minutes wait........it was well worth it. We ordered fish and chips and it was totally yummy for $10.99pp, even for someone who is picky eater like me. Note: for Seniors 62 and over, it is $6.99. Well Charlotte, let me know when you want to go?

After the late lunch, we went back to the hotel and enjoyed our bottle of wine with French bread & cheese. Later it was time for relaxation again.........back to the jacuzzi, swim, and hot sauna........hm.........I could get use to this!

You see! We needed to take a short weekend to get away.........a totally relaxed & enjoyable weekend.

A rack rate of $129.00 per night is a steal. I was given a $50.00 voucher for the next stay, a real surprise.

I definitely recommend this hotel to your clients. They will thank you for putting them there for such a deal.

Lin can be contacted at lin_travels@sbcglobal.net