Travel-Trails

Enroute, we had sugarcane. The farmers were so good natured here that they gave us a few sugarcanes just on seeing how we were eying them. Ah! It reminded me of my childhood days when on a buffalo's back i used to suck on a sugarcane stick without a worry in the world.

The place that we were headed to was Billigiri Rangana Hills (BR Hills). Its approximately 230 kms away from Bangalore towards Mysore and at an altitude of about 5090 ft. above sea level. At an easy pace, it took us about 6 hours to reach the place.

Posted After talking to the officials at the Forest Office, a Ranger accompanied us to the cottage where we were supposed to stay at night. It was a simple hut of 3 rooms, a hall and a kitchen that had all basic amenities. The most surprising thing to me was that there was round the clock electricity - really helped! I recharged my camera batteries.

Junglee cottage and Lunch

After checking in at the cottage we went to this small hotel for lunch. Well, i did not find it agreeable to my pallate but my Kanadiga friends liked it very much. They said it was better than Chandrika.

My surprise lay elsewhere! 50 (26+24) people ate at a bill of just Rs 750! Unimaginable in Bangalore - filling meal at Rs. 15 which makes my colleagues happy! Really amazing. The show biz of Bangalore has really not penetrated here. Simplicity is still in its pristine glory.

I noticed Sitesh tipping the rangers with Rs.30 and how happily yet hesitatingly they accepted it. If i try doing that in Bannerghatta National Park - i think they will tip me instead! ;)

a Temple, the Wet Carpet and Deers

We also visited a local temple. It was raining and the whole mountain range was magically transformed to a lush green carpet. I have my religious beliefs close to my heart and do not visit temples often. I rather enjoy His creation more than idolatry - something that we conceived, created and propagated. So, i stayed outside as usual, enjoyed my Cadbury's Temptations and His Green Carpets. Post lunch we went for a safari ride. We chanced upon some Cheetals and a couple of wild boars. Though Vaibhav stalked one of them, he was unsuccessful in getting a shot.

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At sundown we were back to our lair, had dinner and campfire! Some people will remember that game of Truth or Dare forever! ;-) There were some pretty nastily crafted questions for unsuspecting folk like Sashwati and Deepthi. I just escaped with naming my crush in THBS. Actually, i was not asked the right question, my fortune! No one let Pavan ask it! ;-)

Even after stubbing out the camp fire, the night was hardly over. We met Swami Abhayananda cloaked inside the flesh and bones of sleepy Abhay! Well, it started with ghost stories from Vipin, but ended with discussions on theology, karma, reincarnation, you name it! I particularly enjoyed pestering Abhay for one story of a fortune teller that i had instantly developed an appetite for. We laid down our funny bones well beyond midnight amidst peels of animated laughter and jokes that even ghosts would have considered blasphemous! Abhay was scared ( citation needed! ;) ) to share our room.

Idli, Gaj, Mountain and the Tiger's appartment

Next day, lazy morning... A very tasty breakfast and off we went to K Gudi. People went berserk for a photo session with one of the tame elephants over there. There were elephant safaries for ladies and some insistent guys. I got some lovely photos of blooming Gulmohar engulfing the forest in its flaming red flowers.

And in the mountains there had to be a trek (logically enough)! No! I am not putting up my own photo here which some sadist shot when i was sweating like a pig. Its totally gross. We also came across a thicket which the ranger said was supposed to have been a tiger's lair at night. I am not sure, i did not find any tiger hair on the many thorns in the thicket or pug marks on the soft soil.

Bliss

Ill-scented and hungry after the trek, we headed back to Bangalore. But the adventure was not over yet. We saw a crude dam on the way, and there was this vast stretch of land, water and mountain that queerly enough reminded me of Windows Xp default desktop wallpaper named as Bliss.

I wondered what name they would have given to this breathtaking sight. I just fell in love with it and shot at it with all kinds of scene compositions that i had known. Well, one of them did end up as Shailesh's desktop. I have, however still kept the old one, which still remains my favorite.

Finally, we reached Maddur. There we had lunch. And then a swift drive back to Bangalore amidst Antakshari and omnipresent flashing cameras.

The most special thing about this trip was that most of the things about it was not planned beforehand. Well, i think this was a good way to demonstrate that smart decisions can be reached in nick of time and its not always that if a discussion has many members, the decisions will not be unanimous. Its unplanned nature also gave a juvenile fabric to the trip, where everyone had a say and no one was treading down a beaten path or being vetoed out by some invisible pre-determination. In my opinion the credit should go to the accomodating attitude of Sitesh and Deepthi and the fact that though Deepthi knew Kannada, yet Sitesh put the onus of translation on Harish thereby bringing all of us into descision making roleplay. No wonder it was a great success.

Though physically tired after the trip, i feel mentally reinvigorated. Also last but not the least, i made some great friends.

This year my parents did something they haven't done in thirty years: they spent their summer holiday driving through Norway. And so did we. To check where they were going, we decided to meet up with them at the cabin of Annett's parents. Don't get me wrong, it was the only way we could avoid running in to them on our own holiday.

At the cabin Gaute introduced us to his new girlfriend Runi, and we went fishing with the eight of us. We caught a lot of fish, although my mother caught mostly water plants, trees and other leashes.

There is a Norwegian proverb stating that there is no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothes. In the pouring rain, Annett's mother, my father and me the next morning took the boat to fetch a net. Because I borrowed effective rain gear, the rain wasn't bothering me at all. Instead it made the fishing experience somehow more real. The sky and the water both had the same gray color, and the only color was coming from the forest: several shades of green, fading to gray with distance. Pretty, in a mystical sort of way.

Afterwards we prepared the fish outside in the rain. Outside, to keep it clean inside. This time Bastian had to share the fish heads with Inu, but he didn't seem to mind. I guess more than forty fish heads is a lot, even for an ever-hungry Labrador.

Inu had the time of her life. She was constantly exploring the area around the cabin. We didn't bother anymore to keep an eye on her all the time. She managed to fall into the water, and so she swum for the first time. And she lost her first milk teeth. A couple of times we had to put her in the room, because she wanted to play with Bastian all the time. We think of her as the annoying side kick of Bastian. This is too much for Bastian, with his hundred dog-years he just doesn't manage to play so much anymore.

It means a lot to me that my parents know what my life here is like. By the time I post this on my blog, Maarten and Marian have payed us a visit. In the autumn we plan to go camping in the mountains together with Joost and Annieka. Bjørn will probably start working for Trolltech in Berlin, and might go to its main office in Oslo now and then. I'm glad that our advertising of our sleeping couch is paying off.

That's how I would describe Singapore.

Our tour began upon landing at Changi on June 12th after which we headed straight to Little India - the township where our hotel was located. The drive was superb. Clean roads, beautiful cars , green trees and super sexy bikes ! Seeing Chinese people ride them reminded me of Police Story ( Jackie Chan ) ! There are some really cool models in China/Singapore ( most of them come with a front glass ) . The city is very well planned and structured. Quite literally so ; for, we came across a truck carrying labourers and even the labourers were seated in an orderly fashion ! There were exactly 3 striaght rows with 8 people each ! :-)

Day 1 was the Night Safari trip. A lot of work has gone into simulating the real jungle experience and it is by no means wasted. You are taken on a long tour on a tram into a forest where you see wild animals on either side and very close to you . As you move along, the announcer gives you very interesting information about the animals you see and she makes it so exciting ! The quiet atmosphere and flawless rendition reminds you National Geographic ( only , this time you are inside the TV ). Great Experience.

On the side of the entrance , there is an Animal show every 1 hour called Creatures of the Night. We sit around in an open Amphitheatre and the host brings animals to the stage and makes them do interesting things. I am amazed by how they make it not only entertaining but also educational. Most importantly, they spell out a hidden message on Environment And Conservation. Like the mongoose in the show which picked up plastic bags and neatly dropped them into the waste bin !

Day 2 was the visit to Jurong Bird Park and Sentosa Island. The bird park is so big , it will probably take you two full days to see all of it. It is as exciting as the Night Safari , there are two interesting shows with birds ( Hawks , eagles and other birds of prey go wizzing above your heads !) . We went around on a mini-train and stopped midway at a place called the Lory Loft where you have a huge netted enclosure of lories. You can move around with a small cup of bird seed and feed these birds .They coolly perch on your hands - but if you try to touch them , they'll fly away !

Sentosa Island is a beautiful place. The underwater world is one of the best attractions there. You walk through a transparent glass tunnel where you see exotic fish and shark swim all around you. Other attractions are the Dolphin show ( which , surprisingly - is not very great. My parents tell me the one in San Diego is much better ) , and the Merlion . The cable car ride where you cross the sea is fantastic . The tour ends with a laser show called 'Songs of the Sea' where they use water , lights , music and fire(!) to construct an amazing visual experience lasting half-an-hour.

Day 3 was a tour of the city. Did you know that Subhash Chandra Bose formed the Indian National Army in front of the City Hall at Singapore ? The Supreme Court of Singapore is located on top of the City Hall. I must admit I was amused when the tour guide called it the 'supreme' Court - I mean, it is serves only a small city of 4 million people ! However, it is by no means taken lightly by the people there . The law is very very strict in Singapore. For example, drug trafficking invokes a mandatory death penalty. And corruption attracts rigorous imprisonment and caning on the seat of your pants ! In fact, the court is in the shape of a flying saucer. Supposed to be symbolic of a gateway to hell for the wrong-doers ! If you drive around in Singapore, you can't miss the skyscrapers. ( You could have a panoramic view if you take the special sky ride at Sentosa ). Some of them have lovely shapes - there is one which looks like a slice of cake, one which is a chocolate and one which...was meant to be a mike ( stage microphone ) but looks like a jackfruit ! ( This building is where plays/operas are held ).

Out tour came to end on Day3 and we reached Changi Airport four hours early for our 20:15 flight back to India. The airport is simply mind-blowing !! If you go to Singapore budget some time specifically to go around the airport . For those familiar with Bangalore, imagine a super-mall comprising The Forum + Garuda + Bangalore Central. Multiply the size of this mall by a factor of 20. Now , you might get something close to Changi. You get the idea.

Seriously - its incredible. After security check, you can catch a free movie or work out at the Gym. Or , you could sit around in the Lounge and watch TV. Or, you could go back and forth in the Travellator ( the 'horizontal' escalator ) :-) Well, you begin to wonder if Changi is primarily an entertainment super-mall which , INCIDENTALLY, manages to land planes !

Ah, that brings me to the end of this travelogue. I must not forget to narrate that funny incident at the Mustafa Center ( Singapore's 24/7 shopping mall ). I was wandering around when three burly policemen came out of nowhere , gave me a handout and walked away. The handout said, " Beware of pickpockets and shop-lifters ". I felt good ( thank-you- that- was-very-kind ). I turned over the page and saw - " Shop Theft is a crime ! If caught ......." . Oops . Now, why the handout ? Was I a potential victim or the thief himself ! LOL.

View from the Train, leaving the Edinburgh Waverly train station -- The Water Tower flying the American and Scotland flags.

The cottage & water Tower where we will be staying as guests of Susan & Gerry Goldwyre shown hear preparing for a welcome champagne toast.

Once we were off the cruise ship, we travelled by limo to King's Cross Train Station in London. We boarded the 12:00 train called The Highland Chieftain which made several stops on its trip from London to Inverness. It was a 4 1/2 hour train trip from London to Edinburgh Waverly station. The scenery is beautiful and pastoral as the train travels at over 100 mph. Fields of grasses, hay bales, sheep, cattle and small villages all among the green rolling hills. You think you could be somewhere in the USA until you see the old buildings and farms. In the major cities there is more modern architecture among the old. Many old stone walls and bridges.

The sun is out as the train travels at the high speed through the countryside. We arrive at a town which is right at the border of Scotland and England--Berwick-upon-Tweed. Here there is a famous ancient Roman style bridge that you can see as the train comes into the bend and then uses that bridge to cross the river. After this crossing, we are in Scotland and the train travels within sight of the coastline of the North Sea. So much I could describe to you about the sights - what a beautiful country! I know you'll be reading more later about it so I'll stop here for now.

Gerry & Susan are waiting as the train pulls into the Edinburgh Waverly station. It is so great to see them and feels like we just saw them -- can't believe it has been over 16 months! With all of our luggage, they needed to bring two cars. Gerry takes the luggage in his car and Steve and I join Susan for the drive to their home.

Susan gives a quick tour down The Royal Mile and then off to Dalkeith where they live. We see from the window of the car the famous volcanic remains called Arthur's Seat and lots of people climbing this mountainous formation. Guess what - so will we Susan tells us :-)

When we arrive, we finally get to see The Water Tower and Cottage that Gerry & Susan have told us and showed us pictures. It is even more lovely than we could have pictured. We get the grand tour and then a champagne toast. Gerry cooks up a lovely dinner and we sit out in the garden overlooking the hillside as the sunsets catching up on making plans. An absolutely delightful start to our visit. We couldn't have found better friends or a more lovely place in Scotland!

Moon Festival, also known as Mid-Autumn Festival, falls on Sept. 25, so I have Tuesday off of work! I also have Saturday off because the kids have to make up their day of regular school on Saturday. From asking some people and researching it on the internet I've learned that there are several different versions of the myth behind the holiday, but basically the holiday celebrates abundance and family. There are so many versions, I can't even begin to list them here! Anyway, it's the second most important holiday here (next to Chinese New Year). Everyone gets the day off and families gather outside to "bbq" and look at the moon. Another big part of the holiday is the mooncakes, a traditional Chinese pastry which is only available around Moon Festival. I tried some at work and so far my favorites are the ones filled with red bean paste. I know it sounds weird, but it's good!

All is well in Taiwan. I can't believe it's just one week from October! It's going by so fast already. Teaching is good. We're getting another foreign teacher, an American girl, this week. I met her briefly on Friday. I'm glad that I won't be the only western female around the school now. I broke my streak of having no students cry in my classes. I had one student cry on Thursday because she couldnt answer a question and one four year old cry in the little kids class on Friday for no apparent reason. I try not to take it personally. In both cases the TAs pretty much deal with the situation but it's annoying because, especially in the little kids class, the other students get so distracted. In talking to other teachers and my roommates I think it's a pretty common thing to have students cry. Sometimes, though, I just want to be like "grow a backbone, kid!" I had one very interesting experience while teaching my advanced class on Saturday morning. Right now they're learning about nationalities (ie, so-and-so is from Greece, he is Greek, he speaks Greek.) So I was showing them where some of the places on their vocabulary lists were located on a map (U.S., Argentina, Brazil, Greece, Spain, Hungary, etc.) Well first I showed them where Taiwan was located and they first words out of their mouths were "So small! So small!" It really seemed as if they'd never seen Taiwan on a map before and that they had no knowledge of just how small it is. And this was my advanced class (mostly 12-14 year olds.) I couldn't believe it!

This past week was my birthday. I went out with friends to a bar downtown which was so much fun! Last night I had my first Taiwan club experience which was interesting. I went to Luxy, a very upscale club downtown. It was a lot of fun, too. The most amusing part of the night was the ridiculously dressed Taiwanese dancers who were on stage some of the time! They were wearing these huge, furry boot-like things! Many people wear boots here...I just don't understand it because it's so hot!

I've done a couple more touristy things since I last wrote. I visited Longshan Temple which is in the city. It was so cool! The colors are very vibrant and it was full of people praying, making offerings, and burning fires and incense. I also went to the "tourist" night market/Snake Alley. It's a huge night market and also a place where people go to eat snake for dinner. (I got that whole thing out of my system last summer in Vietnam when we had our feast of cobra, turtle, etc!) This reminds me, I'm not really sure that I've explained the whole night market concept. There are huge markets throughout the city with food stalls (and other products: clothing, shoes, etc). They open up at night and are filled with people (every single night of the week.) There's one about a 7 min walk from my apt. that I go to a couple of times a week. They have every kind of Chinese food you could want and also amazing fresh fruit juices. (I especially like the mango juice and the watermelon juice...just about $1 US!) I typically eat a beef and vegetable dish at one of the stalls which is about $3 US. The one by my apt. is huge to me but it's not even as big as some others I've been to in the city! It's pretty much what people do at night. I was joking with one of my roommates the other night about where Taiwanese go on dates. I said "What do you do? Go to the night market?!" (I was completely joking.) But he said that is what they do!

In other news...my first visitor is coming! Charlie just bought his plane tickets a few days ago and will be here December 27-January 8. We'll spend some time in Taipei, but will also travel around Taiwan for a few days. Well, that's it for now. I have posted a lot of new pictures on my photo site (photos of everything I talked about in this post, plus photos of my neighborhood!) So take a look!

Sydney is one of the best places in the world that is worth exploring. It offers much tourist attraction that travelers shouldn't miss. Here are some of the things you can see and do in and around Sydney:

Sydney aquarium
Perfect for the whole family and friends, Sydney Aquarium lets you walk under water and see the sights of Australia's rich and diverse marine life and habitats. Sydney Aquarium houses more than 650 species that includes over 6,000 individual fish and other aquatic creatures.

Sydney Opera House
Sydney Opera House never fails to mesmerize tourists with its splendid and elaborate façade and structure. A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Sydney Opera House is one of the most magnificent, unique and popular buildings of the 20th Century. However, what travelers see outside is, so to speak, just the tip of the iceberg.

Known as the venues of top performing arts in the world, it showcases outstanding art productions like theatre, ballet and musicals and is home of internationally renowned performing arts producers such as Opera Australia, the Sydney Theatre Company, and the Sydney Symphony.

The 1.8 hectares of land elevated 25 metres above sea level houses five spacious theatres, five rehearsal studios, two large halls, ten bars and restaurants, and a handful of souvenir shops.

Sydney Harbour Bridge
Locally known as "the Coathanger", Sydney Harbour Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks not just in Australia but across the globe as well. It links the city centre in the south and the residential north.

Thrill-seekers are welcome to the BridgeClimb, a guided walk to the top of the world, or as high as 50-storey. The tour is available at Dawn, Day, Twilight or Night.

The foot of Sydney Harbour Bridge, known as "The Rocks" is a busy tourist spot consisting of various leisure destinations like art galleries, shops, cafés and restaurants.

Above are just few of the many things that guests can experience in Sydney. Finding a place to stay while touring the rest of Sydney is recommended so one can relax and rejuvenate after a day packed with activities. For a fine hotel accommodation, one can count on Sovereign Inn Crows Nest. It offers cozy rooms and superb hotel services at very affordable rates. Plus, it is admired for having a strategic location where guests can witness the magnificent view of Sydney Harbour Bridge and the Parramatta River.

For more information on hotel accommodations, feel free to visit http://www.sovereigninnsydney.com

I'm back from Zambia. The flight home was easy enough--an hour's delay in Atlanta but otherwise easy enough. I slept A LOT on the plane and have felt good this afternoon....I hope to get a good night's sleep this evening.

What new in Zambia: Retail space—lots of new stores. Most of the places are chains that were based in South Africa (Bata Shoes, Shoprite and Mr. Price are three.) The good news is that products sell for less. The bad news, much of the sales revenue leaves the country—although all the retail developments employ people and the consumption opportunities give people a reason to aspire for middle class or higher status.

My friend Muwana took me to a couple of local Zambian social clubs. Our first stop was the BP Club—literally run by British Petroleum for the employees but available for others to visit. The BP Club is located near ZNBC's Mass Media Complex—Muwana's office location. It was a good place to be because it was off the beaten path—no mini bus routes were particularly close so if you didn't drive yourself or take a taxi, you'd probably select another place. The room would likely hold 50-60 people but there were probably no more than two dozen patrons when we arrived.

Muwana introduced me to several friends, including Joshua who upon hearing my name was Greg, told me he had a nephew named Greg and that for the evening, he'd be calling me Nephew. I called him Uncle. A doubting friend who walked up questioned us on the family relationship. As quickly as I could I said, "Look at our smiles and the sparkle in our eyes—you'll see that we are related." It was a good time for all to laugh.

Later we went to an Irish pub—the sort of place you'd see in the U.S. with all sorts of plaques or signs saying things like, "Liquor kept the Irish from conquering the world." The bar, McHags, is located in Manda Hill Shopping Center.

Food: It was great to have N'shima again. Made from boiled corn meal, the thick paste is the Zambian equivalent to bread. I enjoyed lunch with two friends at a restaurant called Food Fayre. During the week, they have a buffet style meal. Saturday, when we were there, we ordered from a menu board. The three of us had village chicken (a Zambian equivalent to free-range chicken), rape (a green similar to kale), okra, and lowanbi (a local vegetable that's boiled and cooked with some peanuts mixed in.) Delicious! The meal cost about 15,000K per person—that's a little less than $4.00. While it seemed like a bargain meal for a hungry worker, I found myself thinking later that I often spend only about $1 for lunch by bringing something to work or keeping some cans of soup in my office. The simplest option in Zambia would be to walk a little further to an open market and buy some bread, fruit or vegetables from a seller's stall.

Zambian Phrases:
"It's just there." A location reference that could mean 100 feet away or several miles.
"Where do you stay?" Where do you live?
"I'll just pass by on my way to . . ." or "I'll pass by at 18:30 hours." I'll stop by while I'm on my way. Or, I'll stop by at 6:30 PM.
"Do you take ______?" Do you eat or drink or consume something.

Things I brought back:
Baskets—a suitcase full of them. A tablecloth with a guinea fowl pattern. Some small animal carvings. A bottle of Mosi Beer, made by Zambia Breweries, a company once controlled by the government but privatized and then purchased in full by SAB-Miller—the combined South African Breweries and Miller Brewing. And, renewed friendships and wonderful memories!

So you're like John Locke of the TV series Lost and simply (literally) dying for an adventure. Or maybe you're just bored to death and you want to experience more of life. Have no fear… no need to travel across the globe to taste adventure in the wilds of Africa or the rain forests of South America. Why should you when you've got Alaska. Alaska… the 49th state and fondly known as the Land of the Midnight Sun and The Last Frontier.

Most people believe that Alaska, a name which comes from an Aleut word meaning "land that's not an island" is simply tundra in the middle of nowhere because of it's distance from the lower 48 states and because most of the stories you hear about it are usually related to the cold and snow and so-called vast, desolate, open spaces. But you thought wrong.

Alaska - the largest state (by land mass) is also one of the least populated - is a land that combines the beautiful snowy scenery of the Alps with the challenge of an adventure trip to the Congo.

Don't believe me?

That's okay because I've got proof.

River Fishing
When someone mentions Alaska, people usually visualize a land of ice and frozen desert. So it's a bit hard to imagine people being able to fish in such a place. But like I mentioned earlier, Alaska is a place filled with adventure, a place well worth traveling to.

For your Alaska fishing adventure, you can try your luck at hooking any of a variety of prized fish like: Silver Salmon in Resurrection Bay during August and September, the King Salmon of the Lower Kenai River from May to July or Red (Sockeye) Salmon, Dolly Varden and Rainbow Trout in the Upper Kenai River.

Rafting
Yes, you can raft to your hearts' content and pretend you're a lone wanderer having an adventure in the midst of the vast array of Alaskan wildlife. Travel and encounter the many natural wonders of Alaska. Listen to the stories of the natives. Catch a glimpse of moose and bald eagles as you hold on for dear life while traversing the rapids of Kenai River Canyon - a trip that is highly recommended and one that you don't want to miss.

Backpacking
This is an adventure you must grab because there's virtually nothing that compares to backpacking in Alaska. You can of course choose your own adventure travel destination: Brooks Range, Artic Refuge, Talkeetna Mountains, and Wrangell-St. Elias to name just a few.

Sea Kayaking
This not so common adventure is one that only traveling to Alaska can bestow upon you. This is not for the feint of heart and make sure, that you don't attempt this alone.

Expeditions to Walrus Island
So you haven't seen any of those furry adorable creatures up close? Find yourself aching for more of a marine adventure rather than a landlocked one? Or perhaps you're content to simply watch. Have no fear because Alaska's Walrus Island has it all. You can view walrus, other marine mammals and rare bird species from the comfortable deck of a cruising yacht. But if you want a bit more of a challenge, you can take a hiking trip and see more of the Alaskan wildlife.

Dog Sledding
This is probably the most popular sport in Alaska and an adventure worth telling your grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends, barber or whoever will listen. If you so choose, you can simply watch the dog sled races or try it out yourself by mushing your own team. The Siberian huskies, are highly trained so there's no need to worry about your safety. Plus, if you have the time, you can also visit the renowned author, husky owner and Alaskan original Mary Shields.

Fjord Exploration
If you've ever dreamed of experiencing the sheer scale of an honest-to-goodness glacier that the pages of a book or movie screen just can't convey then Alaska is the place to be? Unless, of course you prefer Greenland or Iceland for your icy adventure. I think not... and just another of many reasons why we should be thankful for the great State of Alaska.

So... are you now convinced that traveling to Alaska is an adventure that you must not miss? I sure hope so because if you're not - what's wrong with you. Just kidding, however before making reservations be sure you've got everything you need like clothes for wide range of temperatures and a comfortable pair of hiking boots.

Have a great trip and enjoy everything that Alaska has to offer!

Our tour guide kept saying Lets say together These three little words made me feel like I was in elementary school, then I would remember why she kept saying this to our group and I would immediately find the core of my group and join them.

If your travel destination has shown up on the US State Departments Travel Alert within the past 12 months, then you too may want to travel with a group. Or if you are traveling alone, or if you and your travel companion dont want to spend a lot of time thinking about your next venture while visiting far away places then, group travel would be the answer.

Travel is Education at its best, or at least that is our slogan. When I traveled to Egypt a few years back, there had been some problems, nothing serious but Egypt was listed on the US Department of State Travel Alerts. I was traveling alone and I needed the security of a group so I sign up for a 10 day group tour and cruise to Egypt. It was one of the most memorable journeys of my life. I traveled from San Francisco to JFK, New York, then to Paris and then to Cairo, Egypt.

Egypt had some issues with terrorist and US citizens had been involved in a couple of the incidents, so the lets all stay together idea was foremost in my mind. When we landed at the Cairo International Airport we saw guards walking around the Airport with machine guns on their back. From the moment I saw this, they never had a problem with me staying with the group.

A couple of little old ladies on the tour stopped me from fibbing about where I was going for the morning or afternoon. They would wait down stairs in the hotel lobby and catch me when I was coming out of the elevator. Oh, you are feeling better; good we can catch a cab and go to the bazaar. It seems that the little old ladies did this to several of the younger travelers. Needless to say, they always got their way, one way or another. Free Time was scheduled on the tour, however our group had grown close and pretty much stayed together. Our group consisted of couples, college students, little old ladies, professionals, retired individuals and me. We were a regular UN from the US.

In Cairo women were not allowed in the casinos at night without a male. So the women who had husbands ended up sharing their husbands attentions with all the single women on the tour. We just selected the couple that suited our personality and tagged alone with them. No, there was no under the cover activity going on! It was good clean honest survival tactics. For some reason they forgot to mention in the tour brochure that women were not allowed in the casinos without a male. (Yes, they have casinos in Egypt)

During my stay in Cairo, I wore a scarf over my head when I went out of the hotel. I did this out of respect. Cairo, at that time had over 14 million people living there and 75% were Muslims and 25% were Christians. Even though I was not a Muslim, I felt more comfortable covering my head and blending in with the Muslim population.

Our tour went something like this; Full day tour featured the Egyptian Museum, the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx at Giza, the Solar Boat, the Citadel, the Hanging Church and the famous Bazaar over a 3 day period

Then it was time to depart Cairo and catch a train to Luxor to begin our Nile Cruise. Our train ride was overnight and we had sleeper cars so privacy was not an issue. During the train ride while viewing the terrain, the small towns and the living conditions of the Egyptians, we had time to reflect on all the information, history and lessons we had experienced while in Cairo.

We sailed from Luxor to Aswan (Aswan is the gateway to Africa and was a prosperous market city on the crossroads of the ancient caravan routes) and then caught a flight back to Cairo) The river boats go back and forth from Aswan to Luxor, so some of the Americans on another tour flew to Aswan and then sailed back to Luxor.

Once on the luxury (small) cruise ship, it was like floating on air, where ancient pictures of the Nile River banks could be seen from each stateroom and the dinning rooms. Almost every moment of every day for 3 days there was a Kodak moment happening on the shores of the Nile River. The cruise revealed the most intimate details of the river banks. The ship was extremely modern and the sights were exceptionally ancient. It felt like we were caught in a time machine.

Our tour was high end meaning it was a 5 start tour, the hotel was beautiful and the cruise on the Nile was breathtaking. I returned to the United States feeling more knowledgeable and more willing to stay with the group when traveling to far away places. All the questions I had asked myself about my American History were answered.