Travel Light

Thailand Hilltribes trek

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsaker) — Wed, 10 Sep 2008 08:13:00 +0000

Not many people are lucky (or adventurous) enough to trek right into the heart of Northern Thailand and visit remote hilltribe villages where the lifestyle has changed little in hundreds of years. A number of our Thailand tours operated by The Imaginative Traveller and GAP Adevtnures include visits and homestays to the Karen, Lahu and Lisu semi-nomadic people. These tribes began arriving in Thailand at the end of the 19th century after being pushed out of their native Tibet, Myanmar and China by civil war and political pressures. The hilltribes are truly unique, differing linguistically, ethnically, culturally and religiously from each other as much as they do from the Thais. It is often mistakenly believed that the hilltribes lead simple yet idyllic lives, unaffected by modern advances and global or even national concerns. In fact, they suffer from a lack of education and healthcare while competing pressure on land is drawing them into the Thai market economy. Visits to these villages on tours such as Wilderness Adventure, Northern Adventure, Thailand Enompased, Highlights and Hilltribes and Northern Explorer, provide some measure of support to the hilltribes, both financially and practically, whilst affording us the opportunity to witness and learn about a fascinating culture first hand.

In recent years, the area around the Mae Taeng valley has been terraced and irrigated to improve agricultural production, creating an attractive contrast of landscapes. Towering mountains slope down to green valleys where rivers and paths lace through the rice fields and water buffalo peacefully graze. The telltale ‘thwack’ of the women pounding rice and chickens scratching in the dirt lets you know a village is near. Imagine sitting outside a hut, weary after a good trek, the river burbling away beneath you, local children playing on bikes made of bamboo, old women smoking pipes, pigs squealing in the mud and everywhere the beautiful aroma of wood smoke and vegetation. As night falls the village grows quiet and a dazzling canopy of stars unfolds overhead.

Trekking to these hilltribes consists of a combination of walking and moderate hiking and can be enjoyed by anyone who leads a reasonably active life as everyone can walk at his/her own pace. For the most part, we walk along established tracks used by local people as trade routes and the trek is led throughout by a qualified guide. You will only require a small amount of luggage which you carry in a day pack during the trek, and you can leave the vast majority of your belongings in storage at your guesthouse in Chiang Mai. Our porters will also take care of other necessary tasks, such as preparation of simple meals. Most food is fresh and we try to limit tinned or dehydrated food.

Accommodation will be a combination of village houses and camping. Basic bedding will be provided (a sleeping mat and sheet to cover it), but we recommend you bring your own sleep-sheet and/or sleeping bag. In most cases rooms will be multi-share. As we are trekking through some of Thailand’s most remote regions, please be prepared for very basic washing facilities.

Visit our Travel Light to find more trips to Thailand

Imaginative Traveller Egyptology Guide - Saleh

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsaker) — Tue, 04 Mar 2008 05:19:00 +0000

Imaginative Traveller are proud to say that Saleh Shaalan Mahmoud has been one of their Egyptology guides since the company opened it’s doors in 1991. During this time Saleh has graciously welcomed thousands of guests to his kingdom - the fabulous temples of Karnak and the historic West Bank of Luxor, Egypt.

Born in a small village inside the precincts of Karnak Temple, the young Saleh played hide and seek with his friends, around the monumental columns of the Hypostyle Hall. His passion for Ancient Egypt developed in these early years through involvement with the archaeologists who were working on the temple. Saleh joined them as a 'basket boy' clearing the mounds of rubble from the excavations. Through this work he learnt English and also gained a small income to contribute to his schooling. In 1954 his family moved out of the temple but Saleh's association with this magnificent complex has never ended. His father had worked on British Naval ships until 1947, and when he returned to Egypt he started working within the temple. Saleh's brother was an excellent artist who also worked alongside the archaeologists on the renovation of such beautiful monuments as the White Chapel of Thutmosis Ill. So as Saleh says a love of ancient Egypt is in his blood.

Kashka Lantis had the chance to catch up with this captivating character recently, in a small garden restaurant in Karnak, right on the banks of his beloved Nile. He met her dressed, as usual, in a traditional Egyptian galabeya, turban and carrying his trademark accessory - one of his many smart canes.

Saleh can you tell me how you ended up working as a guide?
When I was a young boy living in the temple I saw a lot of guides and really admired their knowledge and their passion for the subject of ancient Egypt. I loved studying my country's history and also could see that being a guide was a wonderful chance to meet people from all over the world. So after I finished High school I started working in the Public Relations department of Luxor Council and I went to night school for 3 years studying to be a guide. I worked for a number of companies and then joined Imaginative Traveller in 1991.

What do you enjoy most about being a guide?
Well first I love the subject, it is so vast, so fascinating. Then I love meeting people from all around the world who are interested to hear the wonderful stories of the Pharaohs and their times. I love it so much when people ask me their questions. Really I am at my happiest when I am guiding a group, it's a big part of who I am.

What period in Egypt's history do you find most interesting?
I think the New Kingdom or the period of the tomb builders is a most important time as Luxor became the capital of Egypt and famous Pharaohs such as Thutmosis I, Hatshepsut and Ramses all reigned. The one Pharaoh that I feel was most impressive is Thutmosis Ill. He was a great man and brilliant military leader and this is why we call him the Napoleon Bonaparte of Egypt, he is one of my favourite characters.

You have guided literally thousands of people through the amazing sites of Luxor. Are there are some experiences that stand out in your memory?
Well I enjoy meeting everyone but I have had the privilege of guiding some distinguished people. I was guide for Prince Charles in 1976 and then Lord Mountbatten. I also guided for the Australian Prime Minister, Gough Whitlam and his wife. One of my most wonderful experiences was my involvement with the movie 'Death on the Nile' which was shot here in the 1970's. I guided some of the cast through the temple and was an extra in the movie. I enjoyed talking to the actors Peter Ustinov and David Niven, they were such gentlemen. But really I don't mind who I have with me on my tours because for me everyone is an important guest and I want them all to have a wonderful experience of my country and its treasures.

I believe you have had some experiences of sharing your passion for the ancient world outside of Egypt?
I visited the UK and France in the 1980's where I was a personal guide for a group when they visited the amazing Egypt collection at the British Museum and at the Louvre in Paris. Then I was very proud to be chosen as the Egyptian delegate to attend the 1989 conference of the World Federation of Tourist Guides Association. That was a wonderful experience and an hcnour.

When you are not guiding do you have any other commitments?
Yes, I have been a member of Luxor City Council for many years and am the chairperson of the Subcommittee of Culture. This committee considers aspects of management of the antiquities but also considers the preservation of local culture. I attend a range of monthly meetings and day to day I often have people coming to me for advice and information about a range of things that impact on their lives. I love being able to help people and to contribute to my community.

When you are not working in these various capacities what are you doing?
Well I have a large wonderful family who I see a lot. I had 7 children and now they have given me 13 grandsons and 4 granddaughters and there are 4 more babies on the way! As you can guess the house is often full of noise and laughter. I have always loved to read and now I have a laptop I have a great time reading about the world but mostly my favourite subject ancient Egypt.

What does the future hold for you?
More grandchildren no doubt! Seriously though, I would say I will be happiest if I am fit enough to keep guiding with Imaginative Traveller for a long, long time to come.

Saleh is just one of a great team of guides that welcome our guests to the fabulous sites of Egypt, should you have the luck to visit Egypt be sure to keep an eye out for the striking figure of Saleh walking proudly through the temples and tombs of his ancestors.

Here are a few of our tours that visit Luxor, who knows you could have Saleh as your guide!

Jewels of the Nile - 14 nights/15 days from GBP640 per person sharing (excl Local Payment)
Nile Valley and Red Sea - 14 nights/15 days from GBP599 per person sharing (excl Local Payment)
Nile Safari - 7 nights/8 days from GBP425 per person sharing (excl Local Payment)
Nile Rover - 7 nights/8 days from GBP299 per person sharing (excl Local Payment)
Magical Egypt Family Tour - 7 nights/8 days from GBP440 per person sharing (excl Local Payment)
Treasures of the Pharoahs Family Tour - 11 nights/12 days from GBP640 per person sharing (excl Local Payment)

Tour Leader Talk

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Wed, 16 Jan 2008 14:01:00 +0000

Almost all Travel Light small group adventure tours are fully escorted by a Tour Leader. These intrepid leaders are available to the group 24 / 7 and not only facilitate a great trip but are there to advise on free time activities, prices the locals pay, what to eat and equally important what not to eat, local customs, getting you away from the crowds, choosing good restaurants, know where the nearest internet cafe is at any point in your trip, teaching you a few choice words in the local language plus so much more. Below is an interview from Bridging the Gap with one of GAP Adventure's tour leaders Juliana Loaiza:

Tour Leader Talk: Juliana Loaiza

A number of years ago, a G.A.P Adventures tour leader was born in Colombia and her name is Juliana! A former Engineer, find out what 'The Plops' are and how she followed her dreams to do what she loves - travel!

bridging the gap: What interested you about becoming a tour leader?

JL: When I got my degree as a Mechatronics Engineer, I realized I didn't like Engineering. I tried and I got a job as an Engineer, but I didn't accept it and lucky me, because at that moment I knew about G.A.P Adventures. I decided to become a tour leader because what I like the most is to travel, but at the same time it's great when you can travel in your own continent showing people from all around the world how amazing it is here in South America.

bridging the gap: From an Engineer to a Tour Leader is a big change, what tips do you have for anyone else changing jobs?

JL: I have this advice: You should do what you really like. If you don't 'love' your job then you should try and find something different that you can really enjoy, something that makes you happy and feel good with yourself.

bridging the gap: What do you love most about being a tour leader?

JL: What I love about leading is to share with people from everywhere and the good feelings and good energy that it brings back to you. It's great when you help your passengers and in the end they smile and say: "thank you, you made my trip awesome". I love the contrast of South America, one day you are in a very cold place but next day you are travelling to a very hot one. I love the irregularity of the landscape, you see high mountains but then you have flat deserts. And of course the people because they are always friendly, they always help you.

bridging the gap: Tell us about your experience in the Ccaccaccollo community.

JL: I did a volunteer trip in Peru. I lived for 3 days in the community of Ccaccaccollo, one of the Planeterra projects. I stayed with the family of one of the leaders of the community, he has two little girls that literally touched my heart. That family, and the community in general, made me realize how simple life could be and how lucky I am to have all that I've got. That is an experience I will never forget and that family is always in my heart because they treated me like one of them and showed me how important it is to have a family and to look after them no matter how far away you are.

bridging the gap: Any favourite or strange food and drink experience to share?

JL: I have 2 favorite drinks, one is Gin and Tonic and the other one is San Mateo. But so far the only country where I can find San Mateo is Bolivia. The strangest food I've had was on the way to Uyuni from Potosi (Bolivia again). It's a challenging trip, as the road is terrible and you stop in small towns in the middle of nowhere. In one of those towns I had a choclo (corn) soup but, It was horrible! It was very greasy and it had a very strange taste but, I was sooo hungry that I didn't have any more options and besides it was super cheap, like 3 bolivianos.

bridging the gap: What was the first trip you guided as a Tour Leader?

JL: My first G.A.P Adventures trip was PLT (Peru Uncovered). I started and finished in Lima. It was a 10 days trip with 15 people of different ages. It was a great trip, I had to deal with a strike in Puno, but in the end everything worked out very well.

bridging the gap: Ok. Your emails say 'Future coach of the rugby team The Plops!' Who are 'the Plops?

JL: Well, when I was in Colombia I wanted to have a rock band called "Ju and The Plops" (Ju is my nickname). I couldn't find any musician interested in my band so I gave up. Then I saw the light and I decided study to become a rugby coach in New Zealand and have my own rugby team: The Plops! I hope this is going to happen in my future. I have had this goal since 2000.

Vitals on Juliana Loaiza:
Nationality - Colombian
Hometown - Bogota
Languages spoken - Spanish, English and a little bit of Italian
Hobbies - Astronomy, Kung-fu, Dance irish music...
Favourite TV show -The X files
Book You're Currently Reading - El Tesoro Secreto de los Templarios
#1 Travel / Packing Tip - Don't forget sunblock
Countries Visited - USA, Dominican Republic, Peru, Brazil, Bolivia, Chile, Argentina and Colombia of course.

Pleased to meet you?

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsaker) — Sun, 30 Dec 2007 16:54:00 +0000

Wear a tie featuring cartoon pigs to a business meeting in New York, and they’ll think you a bit of a joker; do the same in Saudi Arabia, where the pig is unclean, and you may well have lost the contract. A nod of the head may indicate ‘yes’ here, but in Albania it mean ‘no’ (while a shake of the head means ‘yes’). In Spain, ‘Adios’ means goodbye; in Cuba the same word means ‘hello’. In Japan, the cheery ‘Cin cin’ may not be your best drinking toast, as ‘cin’ is slang for the male organ.

Reassuringly, there are many similarities, too. In almost all countries it’s polite to wait for the host to be seated before you start eating, whether you then say ‘Bon Appetit!’, ‘Sahtain!’, ‘Youyi!’ or ‘Itadakimasu!!’ The meal that follows may be eaten with hands, chopsticks or knives and forks – and include raw reindeer (Siberia), goat’s penis soup (China) or palm weevil larvae (Nigeria) – but when you’ve finished a hearty expression of thanks is universally expected and appreciated.

Inevitably, globalisation is changing everything. Visitors to Japan no longer need worry about niceties of bowing, while business-minded Indians have learned to put aside the elegant namaste gesture and shake hands like a Westerner

We can only pray that this process is not terminal, and that in 100 years we won’t be all be identical clones, shaking hands with universal gusto as we mouth the chirpy platitudes of an international cold english. Until then let’s cherish the people of Guinea-Bissau, who point with their lips, not their fingers and respect and appreciate that each of us is slightly different and that’s what still makes the travelling to each of these destinations a unique experience.

Part excerpt from Conde Nast Traveller by Mark McCrum - Nov 07 edition

Your next holiday - Afghanistan?

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Tue, 23 Oct 2007 19:37:00 +0000

Believe it or not Afghanistan was a popular destination for the adventure traveller. In fact Top Deck - one of the original overland companies - cut a route through Afghanistan on their London to Kathmandu trip using converted double decker buses in the 70's. A very turbulent and often violent period since then halted all but the most intrepid traveller crossing the Khyber Pass but can it make a come back? Personally I think so. Ok, not in the very near future but I'm confident that in my life time countries such as Iraq and Afghanistan will be safe to travel to. This desire of mine isn't anything so pretentious as a want to "tick off" dangerous countries there are some real travel gems in this corner of the planet - ancient cities, powerful history and incredible scenery. After travelling through Pakistan and reading engrossing books such as "The Great Game" my interest in Central Asia is burgeoning on obsession. I'm not the only one who believes that these wondrous places will once again welcome the traveller, the Lonely Planet has just released a guide book to Afghanistan. You may shake your head in disbelief but travel fashions change with time, just think when the Top deck double decker was passing through a safe Afghanistan Vietnam was the last place you would want to holiday.

From Travel Mole
Welcome to Afghanistan, warts and all

LONDON – It may be one of the world's most volatile nations, but that has not deterred Lonely Planet from releasing its first ever standalone guidebook to Afghanistan.

Researched and written by Afghanistan specialist Paul Clammer, the book also contains a special chapter on safety written by a Kandahar resident and former military officer.

Lonely Planet says the guide is a necessity for anyone thinking of going to the country, "and is therefore primarily designed for businesspeople and representatives of non-profits or NGOs who are travelling to Afghanistan for work or aid".

"The guidebook aims to help travellers stay safe and get the most out of their time in the country, but also provides interesting reading for independent travellers and armchair travellers who are curious about the state of the nation."

The author spent seven weeks on the ground conducting research, travelling from Kabul to Herat and Mazar, all by road, stopping in many remote towns along the way.

"It's hard to think of a more demanding country to write a guidebook about than Afghanistan," says Clammer. "It's a nation with a broken infrastructure and serious security concerns. But the rewards are incredible.

"Despite the recent history, the Afghans are the most amazing and welcoming people on the planet, and the scenery from the mountains to the deserts is sublime.

Earlier this year, Lonely Planet founder Tony Wheeler visited Afghanistan for his book, Bad Lands: A Tourist on the Axis of Evil.

Afterwards Wheeler wrote, "Perhaps surprisingly, I had a great time in all my 'Bad Lands' and – apart from a little uneasiness in Afghanistan and Iraq – I was never particularly concerned for my safety. North Korea was easily the weirdest: a place alternating between horror and comedy, a Stalinist theme park, a gulag run by Monty Python."

If it's travel it's Travel Light - www.travellight.co.za

Travel Light Reading
Lonely Planet's first stand-alone guide to Afghanistan includes a chapter on security by U.N. Senior Security Advisor Rodney Cocks. Click here or on book to buy

Peru - Lares Trek

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Thu, 11 Oct 2007 13:40:00 +0000

Trekking to Machu Picchu via the Inca Trail has to be one of the best treks in the world. Full of history, scenery and fulfillment it is no wonder that it has become very popular amongst travellers in recent years. So popular in fact that the Peruvian authorities who control the Inca Trail have restricted the numbers of permits issued to travellers to 500 per day - this includes porters and guides. This sounds plenty but the Inca Trail is so popular at the moment that permits are sold out months in advance. So you have your heart set on trekking to Machu Picchu but you cannot get a permit for the Inca Trail? is there an alternative? Travel Light are pleased to say YES... The Lares Vally.

Lares Valley Trek

Here's how Tucan Travel describe the Lares Valley trek "The Lares Trek is an exceptional alternative to the Inca Trail and it is so far off the beaten track that it has changed little over the past 500 years. Encompassing original Inca routes, spectacular scenery, thatched stone and adobe houses with herds of llamas, alpacas and their shepards roaming free. The Lares Valley is an authentic journey into ancient Inca civilisation, it is amazing that is has escaped the attention of mainstream tourism to date.

A great alternative to the Inca Trail then? Yes, except for one thing - The Lares Valley trek does not finish at the Sun Gate over looking Machu Picchu like the Inca Trail trek. It finishes close by but you will take a bus to Machu Picchu for a guided visit. Maybe not perfect but the Lares Vally trek has been getting some great reports from travellers liking it's "off the beaten track" feel and lack of crowds. It's not as commercialized as the Inca Trail and could easily become a major Peru highlight once word spreads on the bush telegraph.

So what do you need to know about the Lares Valley Trek?

Here's a list of FAQ's from GAP Adventures

How long is the Lares Trek and how many hours do we hike per a day?
The Lares Trek is 33 kms ( 20.5miles) long and depending on which campsites are used the approximate hours hiked per day are: Day 1: 5 hours Day 2: 8 hours Day 3: 4 hours

How difficult is the Lares Trek?
The Lares Trek is considered a moderate hike. It's not a technical hike but the altitude may affect some individuals. We recommend purchasing a wooden walking stick while in Peru as it will help with your balance and reduce the load on your knees. We ask that you not use a metal tipped walking stick as it can harm the fragile environment along the trail.

Is altitude sickness common? And how high is the Lares Trek?
It's impossible to predict who will be affected by altitude. Your ability to adapt to high altitude is determined by your genetic makeup and has little to do with fitness or health. Most people will have no problems as long as they take the time to acclimatize properly. A full day spent in Cuzco (3249m), taking it easy and drinking plenty of water, is usually enough for most people. The highest point you will reach while hiking the Lares Trek is 4550 meters.

Is it possible to skip the Lares Trek even if the tour includes it?
Yes! If you do not wish to hike the Lares Trek please advise us at the time of booking (it is very difficult to make these arrangements once you have already confirmed). If you choose not to hike the trail you will spend two nights in Cuzco and then take the train to the town of Aguas Calientes for the third night. You will rejoin your group at Machu Picchu the next morning.

When do we reach Machu Picchu and how much time do we spend there?
You will reach Machu Picchu early in the morning on Day 4. You will be met by a local guide who will take you on an informative 2-hour tour of the ruins. After the tour you will have a few hours of free time to explore the area on your own before the group travels by bus to Aguas Calientes where we catch the train back to Cuzco.

Do porters carry our luggage while on the Lares Trek?
No, llamas, pack mules and/or horses will be provided to carry your personal items. You will still need to bring a day backpack to carry any essentials you might want or need, such as water, snacks, camera, sweater, rain jacket, etc.

How cold does it get on the Lares Trek (will I need to bring hats and mitts)?
The high altitude means it can get quite chilly, especially during the Andean winter (May - September) when the temperature can drop to below zero degrees (Celsius) at night. It can still be cool at other times of the year and so we recommend bringing thermal underwear and a warm sleeping bag. You can purchase warm, inexpensive and locally made hand-woven hats and gloves in Cuzco.

What type of accommodation is used on the Lares Trek?
Three-person tents are used to accommodate two same-sex travellers for the first two nights. The third night will be spent in a simple hotel in Aguas Calientes. There are a few places where permanent but very basic toilet facilities exist and when they are not available our team will set up portable toilet tents. Trekkers are provided with a bowl of hot water (and a hot drink) every morning in their tent.

Is a sleeping bag and mat included?
Sleeping bags are not included and so we recommend bringing a compact three-season sleeping bag. A popular alternative is to rent a sleeping bag in Cuzco, which is done locally. They are clean, warm and cost approximately USD$10 (for all three nights). Some renters may choose to bring a sleeping bag liner or sheet. Foam mats are provided however some travelers also bring their own self-inflating mat (ie. a Thermarest).

Is purified water available on the trek?
Bottled water can be purchased on day 1 of the Lares Trek and you will be provided with clean boiled water every day of the trek.

What type of food will we get on the Lares Trek?
Our cooks prepare excellent high-energy meals appropriate for a trek of this nature. The menu usually includes pasta, rice, chicken, fresh fruit and vegetables and a variety of oatmeal, eggs and other breakfast foods.

SAVE R500 per person* on the Peru Panorama 15 day tour

*subject to availability and dates of promotion

Expedition Cruising - Explorer

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 09:04:00 +0000

One of the most important aspects of your expedition to Antarctica is the ship that will take you there. Again for Travel Light small means beautiful. A smaller ship can get to places the larger vessels can't and with enough space on the zodiacs for all passengers you won't find yourself waiting in line to get your experience. Travel Light recommends GAP Adventure's ship Explorer, here's why

Few experiences match the adventure of shipboard travel - and none equal the exhilaration of sailing to the world's most remote and wild shores aboard our superb expedition ship, the legendary Explorer.

Expedition - the word conjures up images of the great explorers of old like Shackleton, Amundsen and Magellan who mapped the earth, and the modern scientific pioneers of today, who delve into its deepest scientific mysteries.

A voyage aboard G.A.P Adventures' M/S Explorer is an expedition in the truest sense of the word. Explorer goes where other ships cannot, where only a ship of her caliber could. At only 75 meters in length and equipped with an ice hardened double hull and a fleet of robust zodiacs, she is a go-anywhere ship for the go-anywhere traveller. With a veteran crew of polar mariners and an experienced expedition team of marine and avian biologists, geologists, historians and naturalists, these adventures are voyages of discovery to the far reaches of the globe with a quest for knowledge and authentic cultural and natural experiences as the driving forces.

Since 1990, G.A.P Adventures has specialized in a unique brand of small group adventure travel experiences. We strive to show you the real world, by taking you off the beaten track to the heart of the destination and to meet the locals who call it home. If you have a sense of adventure, a lust for life and a curiosity for culture, you will quickly find yourself addicted to the G.A.P Adventures Expedition style of travel. Explorer and her staff share this passion for new experiences and a history of off the beaten track exploration. We look forward to adding to that history in your company.

Cabin Re-Classification
We are pleased to announce exciting changes to our Expedition program aboard the M/S Explorer. Beginning with our April, 2008 departures, we will be modifying the way in which we classify our cabins, effectively reducing the number of categories from 8 to 5. We have made this decision in response to valuable feedback from our past travellers and agent partners who have encouraged G.A.P Adventures to align more closely with the classification system employed by the mainstream Cruise segment. Cabins images and descriptions are below.

Cabin Categories (effective April 2008)

Category 1
1 upper berth; 2 lower berths. Ensuite shower facilities. Porthole*.

Category 2
1 upper berth; 1 lower berth. En suite shower facilities. Porthole*.

Category 3
2 Twin lower berths. En suite shower facilities. Porthole*.

Category 4 (shown in photo)

2 Twin Lower berths; En suite facilities with shower; small window

Category 5
Lounge area; Queen bed; En suite facilities with showers; 2 picture windows; updated décor, TV/VCR; Amenities Program.

*Porthole will be covered during rough weather

IAATO Approved:
In April of 2006 G.A.P Adventures became a full member in IAATO (International Association of Antarctic Tour Operators). IAATO was founded in 1991 to advocate, promote and practice safe and environmentally responsible private-sector travel to the Antarctic and now represents about 95% of all annual tourists to Antarctica. In 1996 IAATO developed an independent Onboard Observer program to ensure that companies applying to become members meet their detailed and extensive regulations for visiting Antarctica. This past Antarctic season G.A.P Adventures carried one such observer onboard their M/S Explorer and met IAATO standards. Subsequent to this, G.A.P Adventures was voted in as full member to IAATO at their 17th annual meeting. IAATO developed a set of Guidelines for tourists to Antarctic, which were subsequently adopted by the Antarctic Treaty parties as part of their Environmental Protocol. It is both GAP's and IAATO's hope that our passengers will return home with a basic understanding of the continent and will be ambassadors for the Great White Continent.

Become Part of History...
The travel market is awash with shipboard travel options, but none compare to the experience of a journey aboard what polar adventurer, Sir Wally Herbert, called "the explorer's Explorer". Explorer was the first passenger ship to travel to Antarctica and the first to voyage south of the Antarctic Circle. Explorer was also the first passenger ship to make the journey through the Northwest Passage, the infamous, ice-covered Arctic waters connecting the Pacific and Atlantic. She has blazed a marine trail around the globe, earning accolades from passengers, ship enthusiasts and professionals alike - most recently from National Geographic Adventure magazine, which ranked our Antarctica adventures among their Top 25 Adventures of the Year.
"The most travelled vessel with the most varied record of natural wonders anywhere on the high seas."
- Keith Shackleton -

The Expedition Style of Travel...
Explorer travels in a yearly cycle from the icy realm of the great white continent, Antarctica, then across the oceans, making stops along the way to remote locations, before heading to the islands of the North Atlantic and Arctic. These destinations have inspired the bold explorers of old for centuries, and today inspire the modern wanderlusted traveller seeking a unique and authentic adventure experience. The imagination wanders at the very sound of their names, calling curious travellers to come experience unique ecosystems, stunning landscapes and fascinating cultures and histories.

A day onboard an Explorer expedition could have you tracking a pod of minke whales by zodiac in Antarctica, viewing polar bear on the ice off the bow in Spitsbergen, or exploring the deep fjords and remote Inuit villages of Greenland's rugged coastline. The focus of our time aboard Explorer will be on wildlife, culture, history and scenery, and on learning about our surroundings under the tutelage of seasoned experts such as marine biologists, naturalists, historians, anthropologists, geologists and photographers.

The Original Expedition Ship...
Dubbed "The Little Red Ship", Explorer was specifically designed for the rigours of expedition travel as well as the safety, comfort and convenience of her passengers. She was the first (and we still feel the best!) expedition ship ever constructed, not a converted freighter or research vessel. Her compact size, shallow draft and ice strengthened double hull were specifically designed for challenging marine environments and exploratory travel while her cabins and common areas were conceived for passenger comfort and enjoyment. All of Explorer's public areas were designed to hold everyone on the ship in one sitting; so there is no need for multiple meal and lecture shifts. Small, agile and stalwart, she is a go-anywhere ship for the go-anywhere traveller! And because Explorer is our ship, we are literally at the helm so we can ensure you'll experience a high caliber journey while benefiting from the affordable pricing you have come to expect from G.A.P Adventures.

Explorer Quick Facts
* lounge and onboard library
* fully outfitted lecture hall
* small gym, sauna and pool
* all cabins with private bath and outside view
* dining room serving international cuisine
* medical clinic and onboard doctor
* gift shop
* topside observation deck with 360-degree unobstructed view
* double, ice-hardened hull ice rating 1A1 ice A
* large fleet of Zodiacs with clean 4-stroke engines

Book all your unique adventures and travel experiences with the experts Travel Light
www.travellight.co.za

Antarctica Expedition Cruise FAQ's

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Tue, 02 Oct 2007 08:26:00 +0000

We spoke to GAP Adventures one of the world leaders in Antarctic expedition cruises and asked them some frequently asked questions about taking a trip to Antarctica. Here's what they say

What ship do you use for your Antarctica programs?
We have recently taken ownership of the Explorer, the world's first purpose-built expedition cruise ship designed specifically for polar destinations. Triple, twin and single cabins are available and all feature private facilities and a porthole or window. The lecture hall, lounge and dining room are large enough to accommodate all 108 passengers. The ship also features a small gym and plenty of viewing space on deck. For more information on our ship check out the post above this blog entry.

When is the best time to visit Antarctica?
Antarctica can only be visited during the summer season which lasts from November to March. November is best for viewing penguin rookeries while March is a good time for whale watching.

Where does the ship depart from?
The ship departs from Ushuaia, Argentina. Flights typically arrive in Ushuaia via Buenos Aires. If you are a resident of Southern Africa please contact an adventure specialists Travel Light for a quote for a full antarctic package.

Do you have tours that combine Antarctica with a visit to Patagonia?
Yes, our Antarctica and Patagonia Experience does exactly that. If you are looking for this and other options please contact one of the Travel Light Adventure Specialists for further details.

How long are the shore excursions?
Shore excursions are typically 2 to 3 hours long and there is at least one a day (depending on weather).

What type of outerwear is required in Antarctica?
We recommend you bring a warm winter jacket, waterproof pants, tall Wellington boots, hats, mitts and anything else that would make you comfortable in cold weather. There are places in Ushuaia where outerwear can be rented however there is no guarantee that items will be available (and so we recommend you bring it with you). For more information please download the tour dossier.

Can outerwear be reserved in advance?
We cannot reserve outerwear in advance. It can sometimes be arranged at your Ushuaia hotel upon arrival however we cannot guarantee that the items or the items in your size will be available.

Is seasickness common?
All our Antarctic voyages cross the Drake Passage, notorious for rough seas. We recommend bringing seasickness medication and if you are unsure which type to bring please consult your physician.

Book your Antarctic Expedition through Travel Light

The experts in unique holidays and genuine travel experiences
www.travellight.co.za

Cevichi de Pescado

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 19:45:00 +0000

Ceviche is a popular cooking method throughout South America, using the citric acid in lemons or limes to pickle and therefore "cook" fish or thin slivers of meat with no heat used. It's very unusual but it works. The freshness and flavour is invigorating and perfect with a glass of chardonnay on a hot summers day. Thousand Flavours is a South American tour operator specializing in gastronomic experiences in South America. Travel Light are teaming up with Thousand Flavours to bring you some fantastic gourmet adventures throughout South America. Until then give your taste buds a real treat by trying the following recipe for Ceviche de pescado (fish prepared using the ceviche method). The recipe is from our friends at Thousand Flavours

Classic Cevichi de Pescado

Ingredients
Fresh white fish - 500g
Thinly sliced red onion - 1
Small red chili pepper - 1
Juice from 10 large limes or lemons
Ice cubes - 4
Salt to season

Method
Cut fish into bite sized pieces. Cut the chilli in half and rub the inside of the shallow container you will use to marinade the fish in. Place the fish and onions in the container with the ice cubes to keep the ingredients cool. Season with salt and squeeze the lime / lemon juice over the fish. You need enough juice to cover the fish. Remove the ice cubes, cover the container with cling film and place in the fridge to "cook". The citric acid in the limes / lemon will cause the proteins in the fish to be denatured which pickles or "cooks" the fish with no heat. The process should take two to three hours. The fish will looked cooked with a strong white colour when it is ready.

How to serve
There are many variations from Mexico (add fresh coriander, diced tomatoes and serve with avocado) to Costa Rica (add garlic and more chilli) but I prefer it the Peruvian way which is the recipe above served with corn on the cob and sweet potatoes.

Top 5 Big Cats

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 14:46:00 +0000

So, who is the coolest cat of them all? This list of 5 big cats represents the biggest, smartest and coolest cats around. See if your favourite feline made the final list!

#5 Snow Leopard (Uncia uncia): The elusive Snow Leopard is a close second for biggest small cat. For its environment, the mountain ranges of Central and Southern Asia, it is a big cat, weighing 77-121 pounds. This hunter's brown/grey fur changes to white in the winter to allow for ultimate stealth. To endure cold winters, its proportionately large tail doubles as a stylish scarf and camouflage.

#4 Cheetah (Acinonyx jubatus): The Cheetah is the fastest of all land animals, travelling at speeds upwards of 100km/hour. Their semi-retractable claws and enlarged nostrils, lungs and heart, increase their running capabilities creating intense high-speed chases. This slender and long-legged cat weighs in at 90-140 pounds. They are found primarily in Africa and are easily the biggest small cat around.

#3 Lion (Panthera leo): Lions used to live in various locations around the world, but now wild lions are only found in Eastern and Southern Africa. The "King of the Jungle" is known for its distinctive mane and strong roar, a key component of big cats. We can't talk about lions without giving due credit to the lioness who has more speed and agility than lions and does most of the hunting.

#2 Siberian Tiger (Panthera tigris altaica): This is the largest natural cat on the planet, with males weighing in at about 800 pounds. The Siberian Tiger is critically endangered with only about 500 left in the wild. The remaining Tigers reside in Northern Asia and Russia. It has larger feet than most tigers to navigate through snow, and has brown rather than its fellow tigers' black stripes, just to be different!

#1 Jaguar (Panthera onca): This is the third largest cat, and one of only four "roaring" cats from the panthera genus. Typically weighing between 124-211 pounds, some have been recorded at 333 pounds! This compactly built cat excels at climbing, swimming and crawling. Currently, they live in a range of places from Mexico to Northern Argentina. It is an elite hunter with sleek features and is sometimes rumoured to be the only big cat to kill for "fun"!

We do have to give notable mention to a few other "big" cats out there. The Cougar (Puma concolor), Leopard (Panthera pardus), Bobcat (Lynx rufus), Ocelot (Leopardus pardalis) and even the infamous Liger were all in contention and would round out a great "top 10" list!

Travel Light Reading
One of my favourite reads. A boy is adrift at sea with only a Bengal tiger for comapany. A masterful story of the surreal and one you may start to believe by the end.

Life of Pi - Yann Martel
Possessing encyclopedia-like intelligence, unusual zookeeper's son Pi Patel sets sail for America, but when the ship sinks, he escapes on a life boat and is lost at sea with a dwindling number of animals until only he and a hungry Bengal tiger remain.
(click here to buy)

'On the Road' Celebrating Jack Kerouac's legendary novel

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 12:29:00 +0000

2007 marks the 50th anniversary of Jack Kerouac's legendary American novel 'On the road', the only book that succeeds in putting down on paper all the mystery and promise of America's great open road.

Kerouac's original manuscript which was typed in 3 weeks on one long sheet of teletype paper affectionately called 'the roll', was sold in 2001 for $2.4 million. Now that's one damn good read.

'On the Road' traces Kerouac's spontaneous road trips across the states during the changing times of post war America, and inspired countless young writers, artists and musicians, helping to shape America's youth culture for decades. Viking Press who published the first addition of 'On the Road in August 1957, fifty years ago today, have recently publishing an uncensored version of the book with material that was deemed unsuitable at the time.

For over 30 years, TrekAmerica has been tempting travellers away from the "package" holiday approach and into the world of active and exciting small group adventure holidays. This is the world of TrekAmerica - the specialists in "off the beaten path" adventure travel across the Americas. So why not challenge yourself...not your budget.

Travel Light Reading

On The Road - Jack Kerouac
The novel that defined the Beat generation, this exuberant tale of two men traversing America is as fresh and fantastic as ever.

click here or on picture to buy this book

Airplane Funny

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Thu, 13 Sep 2007 13:18:00 +0000

It takes a college degree to fly a plane but only a high school diploma to fix one; just some reassurance for those of us who fly routinely.

After every flight, Qantas pilots fill out a form, called a "gripe sheet", which tells mechanics about problems with the aircraft. The mechanics correct the problems, document their repairs on the form. Then pilots review the gripe sheets before the next flight.

Never let it be said that ground crews lack a sense of humour. Here are some actual maintenance complaints submitted by Qantas' pilots (marked with a P) and the solutions recorded (marked with an S) by maintenance engineers.

By the way, Qantas is the only major airline that has never had an accident.

P: Left inside main tire almost needs replacement.
S: Almost replaced left inside main tire.

P: Test flight OK, except auto-land very rough.
S: Auto-land not installed on this aircraft.

P: Something loose in cockpit.
S: Something tightened in cockpit.

P: Dead bugs on windshield.
S: Live bugs on back-order.

P: Autopilot in altitude-hold mode produces a 200 feet per minute descent.
S: Cannot reproduce problem on ground.

P: Evidence of leak on right main landing gear.
S: Evidence removed.

P: DME volume unbelievably loud.
S: DME volume set to more believable level.

P: Friction locks cause throttle levers to stick.
S: That's what they're for.

P: IFF inoperative.
S: IFF always inoperative in OFF mode.

P: Suspected crack in windshield.
S: Suspect you're right.

P: Number 3 engine missing.
S: Engine found on right wing after brief search.

P: Aircraft handles funny.
S: Aircraft warned to straighten up, fly right, and be serious.

P: Target radar hums.
S: Reprogrammed target radar with lyrics.

P: Mouse in cockpit.
S: Cat installed.

P: Noise coming from under instrument panel . Sounds like a midget pounding on something with a hammer.
S: Took hammer away from midget

Travel Light Reading

The Rough Guide to Comedy Movies uncovers cinema's funniest and most varied genre, from silent slapstick, to 90s gross-out and the dark indie humour of today. The canon of fifty greatest funnies runs from The Gold Rush and Duck Soup to Airplane and Shaun of the Dead, plus double-acts, drag-acts and ensembles from Laurel & Hardy and the Marx Bros, to the Pythons and the Coen Brothers. Seeking out the films that have amused people the most - or simply amused the most people - the Rough Guide gives you the ultimate lowdown on laughter in the movies from Wes Anderson's Rushmore to Withnail and I, and from John Belushi to Billy Wilder.

Nepal Airlines’ sacrificial goats

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Mon, 10 Sep 2007 20:16:00 +0000

Brilliant!

KATHMANDU - Technical problems with one of its Boeing 757 aircraft have led officials at Nepal's national carrier, Nepal Airlines, to sacrifice two goats to appease Akash Bhairab, the Hindu sky god.

Media reports said the sacrifice was made, according to Hindu traditions, in front of the troubled aircraft at the international airport here.

After the ceremony, an airline official said, "the snag in the plane has now been fixed". The B757 aircraft is back in action.

Travel Light Reading

The Rough Guide to Nepal ranges from the eastern most tea hills of Ilam to the grasslands of the far west, from Tibet to the Indian border and from Everest to Kathmandu Valley. There are accounts of all the attractions and details of the best places to stay, eat, or shop.

(click on book to buy)

Egypt Travel Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Sat, 08 Sep 2007 14:41:00 +0000

History, beautiful scenery, a friendly welcome and fantastic shopping are all elements for a wonderful holiday and these elements are in abundance throughout the magical country of Egypt. I worked in the travel industry in Egypt for over a year, 1997 - 1998, and have returned many times since. In fact I will never tire of the magic of the Pyramids, the beauty of the Nile and the warmth of the people.

If you are planning a trip to Egypt please read the advise below as part of your research

Best Time to go
Egypt sits on the Eastern edge of the Sahara dessert so it doesn't have a "wet" season, although you may experience some rain during winter months along the Mediterranean coast. Bright blues skies are the norm but the sun that we all love when travelling needs to be respected especially in Egypt. We will work on the Northern hemisphere seasons in this article. Summer, especially July and August, the heat is fierce and not to be underestimated. In the southern towns of Luxor and Aswan expect a high of +50C a couple days a year and a norm of +40C over summer. In December and January the temperature can drop to the low teens at night and a warm coat or fleece is advisable. You will find the most comfortable temperatures for travelling from March to May and September to November. Saying this if the only time you can travel to Egypt is in mid summer then I would still advise you to go. The sites and experiences in this great country will make it worth it. You can escape the heat of the day by doing your site seeing early in the morning and late in the afternoon.

Staying Healthy
Along with the dangers of over heating travellers tummy can be common in Egypt, a couple of days of the Pharaohs curse can put a dampener on your travels. I strongly advise when in Egypt to drink lots and lots of bottled water, it's available everywhere and at around 1USD great value. See the "How to avoid Delhi belly" post in this blog for more good tips. As for escaping the heat you need to replace the liquid you sweat. The Egyptian Climate is extremely dry and your sweat evaporates on contact with the dry air giving the illusion that you are not sweating. A hat to keep the sun of your face is essential along with sunglasses and sunscreen.

Changing Money
There are ATM and currency exchanges in all the major towns and cities. Bazaars and hotels will take US dollars but you might not get the best exchange rate. The exchange rate is fixed by the government in Egypt so you will get the same ROE where ever you change.

How to avoid the crowds
Egypt is a very popular destination and official figures put the number of tourists visiting every year as 8.6 million. Quite difficult to avoid the crowds then? not necessarily. Operators such as The Imaginative Traveller pride themselves on giving you the real experience and could mean having dinner with Nubians on a Nile island, eating in good restaurants popular with the locals or even riding donkeys to the valley of the Kings through villages and farms.

Felucca or Nile Cruiser?

If you are not familiar with a felucca it is a traditional Egyptian sailing vessel that takes travellers on a three night sail up the Nile river. It is basically a floating mattress and has to be one of the most peaceful and relaxing ways to do the Nile cruise. There is a crew on board who sail the felucca and cook for you. Sounds ideal right? well if you asked where the bathroom was you will be offered a bush on the Nile banks. remember the Nile is a river and sea sickness is not an issue.

Felucca Positives:
Relaxing and a great experience
Great for travellers on a budget as felucca's are a fraction of the cost of a cruiser

Felucca negatives:
Basic comforts much like camping but meals are cooked for you.

Nile Cruiser
If you would prefer a more luxurious Nile experience then a Nile cruiser is the other alternative. These cruisers are basically floating hotels that have all the mod cons including air conditioned cabins, restaurant, bar, entertainment, sun loungers, shade deck and most have a splash pool for cooling down.

Important note: many cruisers are shared with different groups and many will do a lot of cruising at night time meaning you miss the most beautiful parts of the river. The Imaginative Traveller's MS Melody has only Imaginative Traveller clients on board and does most of her cruising in daylight hours.

History yes but what else?
There are other great places away from the main Nile Valley region in Egypt that are worth a look. Check out palm tree oases and the sand dunes of the Western Desert, the diving and snorkeling on the Red Sea and catch one of the most beautiful sunrises on earth at the top of Mt Sinai.

All Egypt travelcan be arranged at Travel Light

These are just some of the more common questions I get asked if you have any other question please feel free to post a comment or contact me at vagabond@travellight.co.za

5% Early Bird Discount!

Book your next Imaginative Traveller tour through Travel Light 6 months or more prior to departure and recive a 5% discount!

Vietnam Adventure

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Wed, 05 Sep 2007 16:47:00 +0000

This time we are off to Vietnam
Jeremy Dale travelled to Vietnam with The Imaginative Traveller on their Vietnam Adventure trip. Here are his impressions on the Southern Mekong Delta region of this young and vibrant country.

Dawn in the Mekong Delta is heralded by the crowing of hundreds of cockerels followed by every dog in the delta providing a chorus of howling - might as well get up and go out. If you do, you will have a fantastic view of everyday life beside the slow, mud-brown Mekong. Girls in conical hats carrying baskets strung on poles across their shoulders make their way to market which is just starting to come to life - around 100 stalls spread out along the banks and small boats jostling for prime positions along the banks, all of them piled high with just about anything and everything you could ever need – fruit, vegetables, chickens, blankets, crockery, cosmetics, sunblock, toy windmills . . . . I was beckoned into a café by the owner who invited me to sit at a table with himself and his two sons. I asked for a ca fe sua – coffee with milk - which came in a glass with a centimetre of condensed milk at the bottom. The chainsmoking owner chatted to me in Vietnamese – he could have been highlighting places to visit or giving me his ancestoral history for all I knew but nods and smiles are all that were needed.

Later that day we moved northwards to Saigon – here for authentic street life visit the pho stalls in Phm Hong Tai Street. Pho (pronounced “fur”) is traditional noodle soup usually eaten for breakfast but is popular at any time of the day. Stalls line the pavements and customers perch on plastic stools at low tables. Each stall serves one kind of pho – there's pho bo (beef), pho tom (shrimp) pho ga (chicken – but possibly railway station if you're slightly off with the pronunciation). If you're vegetarian you'll need pho chay.

The pho stall I chose was at the corner of a road which became a giant market at night and even at 10 pm the tables were full of people slurping their noodles! Space was found right in the middle of a group of friends who seemed delighted at my arrival. After a brief game of charades with the waitress I was unsure of exactly what I had ordered but sat down to wait. The boss came over and began chatting in Vietnamese asking where I was from, whether I was married and how I liked Vietnam. Her son provided the translation – he lived in Sydney and had a broad Aussie accent. Halfway through this conversation an enormous cockroach ran under the table and up the wall. Without pausing for breath, the boss removed her wooden sandal and swatted the monstrous insect off the wall and into the gutter. Some time later I saw it zigzagging across a table nearby with its antennae knocked askew. I reckon it was about the size of a hamster.

When a vast bowl of pho arrived I followed the example of those around me and started drinking it from the bowl using my chopsticks to shovel in bits of vegetable. Immediately my spectacles misted over and the chilli went to work on my sinuses. Picking up a large clump of noodles I carefully guided them towards my mouth but at the last minute they slithered off and landed back in the bowl with a splash that covered me in vegetable stock and cause a small child opposite to get the hiccups from laughing so hard. With my dignity in tatters I took refuge in my bowl once again draining the remaining stock and encountering one last rogue chilli in the final mouthful I crunched my way through it, sweat running off me in rivers. Panting gently from the heat I spotted someone drinking what looked like chocolate milkshake but it turned out to be iced coffee made with condensed milk. It tasted as strong as whisky and had an effect more akin to amphetamine. Delicious but after the chilli I’d had more than enough stimulation for one day. I said goodbye to my new friends and with my heart pounding from the quadruple espresso, hair damp with sweat and shirt spattered in broth I wandered back to the hotel bearing the unmistakable signs of a full-on encounter with pho.

Jeremy Dale

Book The Vietnam Adventure and other Vietnam tours at Travel Light

Early Bird discount 5%
Book your Imaginative Traveller tour with Travel Light 6 months or more prior to departure and get a 5% discount on the tour price!

Trekking the Inca Trail

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Sun, 02 Sep 2007 12:31:00 +0000

The Inca Trail has to be one of the best short treks in the world and is more popular with adventure travellers now than ever before. The Trek follows part of an ancient series of roads that connected the Inca Empire.

The ancient road network stretched over 16,000 kilometers but the Inca Trail that leads you to the lost city of the Inca's, Machu Piccu, is only 43km in distance.

With the help of G.A.P. Adventures we have compiled a f.a.q (frequently asked questions) list about trekking the Inca Trail

How long is the Inca Trail and how many hours do we hike per day?
The Inca Trail is 43 kms (27 miles) long and depending on which campsites are used the approximate hours hiked per day are: Day 1: 5 hours Day 2: 8 hours Day 3: 7 hours Day 4: 4 hours

How difficult is the Inca Trail?
The Inca Trail is considered a moderate hike. It's not a technical hike but there are a lot of Inca staircases to walk up and down, and the altitude may affect some individuals. We recommend purchasing a wooden walking stick while in Peru as it will help with your balance and reduce the load on your knees. We ask that you not use a metal tipped walking stick as it can harm the fragile environment along the trail.

Is altitude sickness common? And how high is the Inca Trail?
It's impossible to predict who will be affected by altitude. Your ability to adapt to high altitude is determined by your genetic makeup and has little to do with fitness or health. Most people will have no problems as long as they take the time to acclimatize properly. A full day spent in Cuzco (3249m), taking it easy and drinking plenty of water, is usually enough for most people. The highest point you will reach while hiking the Inca Trail is 4200 meters. You will sleep at 3600 meters for one or two nights.

Is it possible to skip the Inca Trail even if the tour includes it?
Yes! If you do not wish to hike the Inca Trail please advise Travel Light at the time of booking (it is very difficult to make these arrangements once you have already confirmed). If you choose not to hike the trail you will spend two nights in Cuzco and then take the train to the town of Aguas Calientes for the third night. At sunrise you will rejoin your group at Machu Picchu. You may also choose to book a trip that includes the slightly higher and scenic Lares' Trail. This popular 3-day and 2 night trek, ends in Aguas Calientes, where you will spend the night and catch the early buss to Machu Picchu.

When do we reach Machu Picchu and how much time do we spend there?
You will reach Machu Picchu at sunrise on Day 4 (the hike begins at approx. 3am). After viewing the sunrise you will be met by a local guide who will take you on an informative 3-hour tour of the ruins. After the tour you will have a few hours of free time to explore the area on your own before the group travels by bus to Aguas Calientes where we catch the train back to Cuzco.

Do porters carry our luggage while on the Inca Trail?
Yes! In Cuzco you will be provided with a large stuff sac in which you can place up to 7kg of personal items. These bags will be carried by our porters while you hike the Inca Trail (please note they will be weighed before we leave Cuzco). Items not required while on the trail can be stored safely at our hotel in Cuzco. All you will be required to carry is a daypack containing items you will need during the day (ie. Water, camera, sunscreen, rain poncho, etc..).

How cold does it get on the Inca Trail (will I need to bring hats and mitts)?
The altitude means it can get quite chilly, especially during the Andean winter (May - September) when the temperature can drop to below zero degrees (Celsius) at night. It can still be cool at other times of the year and so we recommend bringing thermal underwear and a warm sleeping bag. You can purchase warm, inexpensive and locally made hand-woven mitts and gloves in Cuzco.

What type of accommodation is used on the Inca Trail?
Three-person tents are used to accommodate two same-sex travellers. There are a few places where permanent but very basic toilet facilities exist and when they are not available our team will set up portable toilet tents. Trekkers are provided with a bowl of hot water (and a hot drink) every morning in their tent.

Is a sleeping bag and mat included?
Sleeping bags are not included and so we recommend bringing a compact three-season sleeping bag. A popular alternative is to rent a sleeping bag in Cuzco. They are clean, warm and cost approximately USD$10 (for all three nights). Some renters may choose to bring a sleeping bag liner or sheet. Foam mats are provided however some travelers also bring their own self-inflating mat (ie. a Thermarest).

Is purified water available on the trail?
Bottled water can be purchased on day 1 and on the evening of day 3 of the Inca Trail however we discourage trekkers from purchasing bottles as it increases the amount of garbage that must be packed out. Boiled water will be provided every evening after dinner so that you can refill your water bottle(s). If you wish to add water purification tablets you should bring these with you.

What type of food will we get on the Inca Trail?
Our cooks prepare excellent high-energy meals appropriate for a trek of this nature. The menu usually includes pasta, rice, chicken, fresh fruit and vegetables and a variety of oatmeal, eggs and other breakfast foods. Vegetarian alternatives are available upon request at the time of booking.

How much should I tip the guides and porters?
Tipping is at your discretion but always appreciated. A good rule of thumb is anywhere from $2-10 dollars per day for the porters.

What are the requirements to hike the Inca Trail?
To hike the Inca Trail with GAP Adventure you must be over 12 years of age, with moderate level of fitness, and hold a passport that is valid for up to 6 months after you return to your home country. We will require your passport at the time of booking, as this is essential to purchase the Inca Trail permits. Bookings should be made 3-4 months in advance to ensure a permit could be obtained. A limited amount of permits are available each day for hikers, in an effort to preserve the trail.

Travel Light offers a vast selection of Inca Trail adventures. If you have any other questions about the Inca Trail, Peru or travel please contact vagabond@travellight.co.za

Travel Light Reading

Lonely Planey Peru I have no preference of what guide book is best and usually go for what one is most up to date. This Lonely Planet guide to Peru was published in 2007.

G.A.P. Top 5 Responsible Travel Tips

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 13:17:00 +0000

Travel Light is serious about responsible travel because we feel it's the most fun way you can holiday. Like all our operators G.A.P. Adventures is a poineer of responsible travel and is continuing to do some great work with their Planeterra Foundation. Here are 5 resposible Travel tips from G.A.P Adventures.

Straight from the G.A.P Adventures Sustainable Tourism department, here are 5 quick and easy to-do tips for making yourself a more responsible traveller. Take a look...putting a little effort into your travels so you can be "green" is really easy!

These are 5 of my favourite tips to help everyone reduce their footprint while they are on the road. If you have any "top" tips, why not share them with everyone in our Sustainable / Responsible Travel section of our online forum?

#1 Use rechargeable batteries. Many remote areas don't have proper disposal facilities, so by travelling with rechargeable ones you'll save money and keep thousands of them out of landfills.

#2 Don't pack your "packages". Limit product packaging and bring re-usable containers for things like toiletries rather than one-time use travel size containers, which just add to waste in foreign countries.

#3 Use biodegradable products. Often available at camping or outdoor stores, biodegradable products make a big difference when visiting fragile and pristine parts of the world.

#4 If bringing gifts to a host family, school or community choose items that will have a lasting impact. Items to consider include books or sporting equipment. When bringing items like soccer or basketballs, bring a pump too so that the gear can be enjoyed again and again. Also think about purchasing such items locally to support the economy.

#5 Bring a reusable water bottle. Be sure to fill your own bottle whenever possible and think about bringing purification tablets to reduce waste from plastic, disposable bottles.

Following these simple tips will go a long way to minimizing your "footprint" in foreign countries. Hopefully you found them helpful!

Liz Manning,Sustainable Tourism Assistant G.A.P Adventures

G.A.P Adventures has amazing adventure holidays across the world from Antarctica to Zambia. Travel Light can offer you advice and expert knowledge on any G.A.P. Adventures trip.

Morocco - High Atlas Trails

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:08:00 +0000

Angela Featherstone travelled to Morocco with The Imaginative Traveller on their High Atlas Trails tour. Here are her thoughts.

I chose this tour because I had never travelled outside Europe or America and I wanted to see a different culture and lifestyle. I was prepared to deal with the more basic living conditions whilst trekking in order to see countryside that can be seen no other way except by getting out there on foot.

The tour began in Marrakech and the riad which was our hotel was definitely far from basic – the rooms are small but were en suite with western style facilities The riad had a lovely roof garden where breakfast was taken and drinks could be ordered throughout the day whilst making use of the sun loungers. The roof top views were fascinating in themselves as well as being able to view neighbouring courtyards and streets.

In our exploration of the souks it was sometimes frustrating as locals insisted on helping you find your way even when you weren’t lost! However everyone was good natured and they were not after money – just being helpful and friendly to a visitor. Be warned though, the entertainers in the Jemaa el Fna are there to earn money anyway they can and if they catch you taking a photograph anywhere in their general direction they’ll endeavour to get you to pay around 20 dirhams (18R) for a “close-up”.

The best value lunch we had in Marrakech was at Chez Chagrouni – a bowl of hirara – a vegetable soup and bread for 8 dirhams (R7). You are expected to buy drink as well and a large bottle of still water seemed to be 10 dirhams (R8.50) at most restaurants 5 dirhams (R4) in a shop) but anything you hadn’t drunk by the time you left you took away with you.

The best evening meal we had was at Riad Omar. This is on the main pedestrianised street of the main square – I think is is Rue Bab Agnaou (but you probably won’t find a name board anyway) It’s on the opposite side of the main square to the souks. We went here at the end of the tour with our group and the restaurant was up on the roof under bedouin style drapes. It came to the very reasonable price of 150 dirhams (R132) and this was the most expensive meal we had – usually we managed on 120 dirhams (R106).

On the trek itself, life in the remote villages for the Berber people is a sharp contrast to the city. Barren rolling desert on the first day gave way to valleys of olive trees and the houses appeared camouflaged as they are constructed from the same surrounding red soil. The trek traversed many fertile areas where orchards and vegetable plots abound. Goats graze the hillside and the main form of transport is the mule or donkey. Children call out along the way hoping for sweets or pens but provided you’ve perfected the phrase “Je n’ai pas des bonbons (ou des stylos), said with a smile they usually gave up at the village boundary. (Although at one point our group had about 15 children of assorted ages all clamouring the same thing! – it was like the Pied Piper of Hamlyn).

We walked from approximately 8.30 am until around 3pm although the lunch stop could be anything up to 2 hours (This was during Ramadan so our Berbers needed to sleep – they’d been up since 4 am to break fast before going to the mosque at sunrise).

The village houses we stayed in were exactly that – the family vacate two or three rooms for the benefit of the visitors. Our muleteers and cook who trek with us, prepare our meals and clear up as well as look after the pack animals who carry our heavy bags, mattresses and all the other paraphernalia associated with the trip.

Breakfasts were essentially bread, jam and tea although there was orange juice and cereal as well as the beginning of the week.Lunch was prepared for us en route and comprised mint tea, bread, rice or pasta or couscous and salad with either cheese or tinned fish. Dinner was prepared and served at the village house and was vegetable soup followed by a tagine and fruit as a desert. The meals were wholesome and perfectly satisfactory after a full day’s walking.

Entertainment was provided by the muleteers during the evening – they were fantastic. Anything that could be used as a drum was used as a drum – washing up bowls, cola bottles, jerry cans.

African rhythms, African mysticism, amazing scenery – barren desert through to lush plots of courgettes, maize and fruit orchards. The simple lifestyle followed by the Berbers is only simple when compared to our western values – life there is changing but whether it will be better is arguable.

Angela Featherstone

If trekking is not your thing check out Imaginative Traveller's cultural trips to Morocco at Travel Light

Early Bird discount 5%
Book your Imaginative Traveller tour with Travel Light 6 months or more prior to departure and get a 5% discount on the tour price!

Authentic Thai Green Curry

noreply@blogger.com (Lindsaker) — Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:04:00 +0000

I got this recipe from Mamma’s street food restaurant just off of Soi Sam, Banglamphu, Bangkok. Mamma is a robust no nonsense Thai lady who cooks in a fiery wok on a busy street corner surrounded by at least 599 different ingredients. She makes the best Thai food for pennies and is a diva on the karaoke machine!

I learnt that it’s not only the ingredients that make a good green curry it’s the way you cook it.

Authentic Thai Green Curry -Gaeng Keow Wan-

The ingredients for 4 persons:
1 tin of coconut cream – coconut milk will not give the same results
2 large chicken breasts cut into thin strips
1 tablespoon of Thai green curry paste. Can be replaced with Red or Yellow curry paste
2 tablespoons of Thai fish sauce
1 tablespoon of sugar. (Palm sugar available at many spice shops is best but ordinary sugar is fine)
Handful of sugar snap peas
Handful of baby corns cut in half lengthways
1 fresh kafir lime leaf (optional)
2 fresh red chillies sliced (optional)

The way you cook it:
This dish doesn’t take long to cook on a high heat and it’s best to stir fry with a fast hand. Plan ahead and prepare everything in advance so you can cook up a storm just like Mamma.

Firstly the tin of coconut cream needs to have been standing upright for a while so the thick coconut cream on top separates from the thin coconut milk below – do not shake the tin.

Prepare the chicken and veggies seperatly, set aside.

Mix the curry paste, sugar and fish sauce together and set aside.

Heat the wok on a medium to high heat. Open the coconut cream tin and spoon as much of the thick cream as you can into the hot wok and leave. After a few minutes you will notice that the oil from the cream starts to boil, separate and the cream starts to brown, wait until you have a lot more oil than cream.

Add the curry paste mix and quickly stir into the cream in the hot wok.

Then add the chicken and stir fry until the chicken turns white.

Add the rest of the contents from the coconut cream tin and the kafir lime leaf, bring to the boil.

Add the vegetables, cook for 2 – 3 mins or until the chicken is cooked and vegetables are tender but crunchy.

Garnish with the red chillies.

This curry is best served with plain boiled Thai fragrant rice what the Thai’s call “Kao Suai” or “Beautiful Rice”

This is as close to the authentic flavour of a Thai green curry as I’ve experienced at my dining table but let’s be honest, you really cannot beat the real thing.

Travel Light to Thailand and experience some of the best cuisine on the planet or even take a Thai cooking class as part of your holiday.

Some Travel Light Reading -
Lemongrass and Sweet Basil -Traditional Thai Cuisine

I chose this cook book because the recipes are traditional Thai and it is has been compiled by a Thai chef.
Easy-to-follow, modern approach to traditional Thai cuisine with stunning photos of the Thai way of life.

Thailand should be Inspiring

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Mon, 20 Aug 2007 18:12:00 +0000

When I open the travel supplement of my preferred Sunday newspaper why do all the advertisements urge me to pack my bags and go to Phuket? or pay 5 nights and stay for 7 in Pataya? Surely there is more to see and do in Thailand than that?

I know Thailand and I know what a fantastic holiday you can have there for a great price. I also know that Thailand consists of more than Phuket and Pataya and the last three couples I spoke to that have just come back from these idyllic paradise getaways say the same thing... "too crowded and over touristy".

In fact as a travel agent I will always offer an alternative, Pran Buri for example, Koh Lanta or the quieter beaches of Samui. I have nothing against Phuket or Phi Phi but if you are looking for that genuine and tranquil Thai beach experience, you may be disappointed. I always offer the alternative but invariably clients have not heard of these gems and unless I have managed to persuade them otherwise, off to Phuket they go.

How about spending a night with a Hill Tribe family or volunteering your services at an elephant sanctuary for a few days? Thailand has so much to offer but we hardly see it through the cheap uninspiring packages.

The fact is that many operators know that these packages look good, sell well and easy profit is king. Of course this is important to any business, I know, but why not show some imagination in the packages advertised? You can have a great value holiday in Thailand and get a genuine experience at the same time.

Prove it! I hear you ask. Well OK....

How about a 10 night package?
Bangkok with fully guided tours of palaces and canals
plus the famous and family friendly Lady Boy cabaret
Flight to Chiang Mai
Elephant rides through the jungle
Stay with a Hill tribe family for 1 night or not -choice is always yours
Shopping at the night market
Visit the Doi Suthep Temple
A Thai cooking lesson
Flight to Koh Samui
Relax for 4 nights in 4 star beach front bungalow -not a 500 room hotel

For R16,500 including international flights and taxes? I think that is brilliant value. Remember for Travel Light value comes from your travel experiences not from the price.

Includes above plus
All transfers in Thailand
Proffesional guides
Hotels are 3 / 4 star and chosen for there location and relaxing ambience
Homestay is genuine
All taxes are included
All transfers included
All entrance fees included
Some meals - we will not force you to eat at the hotel buffet in Thailand!

I have spent over a year travelling through Thailand in the '90s and have returned many times since I know Thailand and I know the above is a great package. In fact we just a had a family return from that trip and they called as soon as they arrived home to rave about the wonderful experience and original holiday they had.

So if you'r looking for that great holiday with a genuine experience of a country check us out at Travel Light you may just be insired.

Travel Light Reading

Rough Guides 25 Islands at R25 it's a bargain!
Make the most of your time on earth! Whether you're planning the trip of a lifetime, dreaming about going, or have already booked, check out Rough Guides selection of the 25 ultimate island experiences not to see where you could be going but to see where you should be going - from Key West and Sicily to Zanzibar, Iceland and Pulau Tioman. Covering well known and off-the-beaten track experiences, this book gives you 25 reasons to grab your passport, stop what you are doing and go.

What is Small Group Adventure Travel?

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Sun, 19 Aug 2007 16:11:00 +0000

Lucky means many things to many people. I have never won a large sum of money in fact I never won anything really. I have a nice place to stay and enough to eat but I work for that so I’m not sure how much it has to do with luck. I find more red lights than green and I never get away with anything that is even slightly naughty. But I am a lucky man.

I have worked in small group adventure travel for 10 years now I have experienced many countries and sights, made real friends and learnt a great deal. Travel makes me happy and a happy man is a lucky man.

Small group adventures is a fast growing sector of the travel industry, some say the fastest, but it's a style of travel that has many misconceptions. Unlike other styles of travel such as cruising, or a beach resort the words small group adventure is quite cloudy for travellers and travel agents alike. So what I want to do, as simply as I can, is clarify what small group adventure is all about.

Adventure

Adventure is the word that starts to confuse us because adventure means different things to different travellers. Think of this type of adventure as a genuine experience of a country and it’s people. So if we are having an adventure in Tuscany, for example, we would stay in a beautiful Tuscan farmhouse, meet Tuscans in a local restaurant eating great Tuscan food. Now if we were having a genuine experience in say Papua we will be trekking through thick jungle, staying in a remote village house and the food, well, it will be local.

Escorted tours in small groups.

The words group or escorted tour can conjure up visions of name badges, flag waving guides and one hour toilet stops. Small groups average 12 people of many nationalities from different backgrounds and all ages. Small groups mean more attention from guides and leaders and a lot more freedom. For most it is a relaxed way to travel that gives you freedom and expert local knowledge but takes the hassles of day to day travelling away.

Age

The average age of one of our travellers is 18 to 70. Travellers are attracted to different destinations, level of budget and comfort. This determines what type of person travels on which trip. Generally the group you are travelling with will have chosen that trip for the same reasons as you. Will they be the same age as you? Maybe but you will find you will have a lot in common.

Accommodation
Small groups do not need to book big hotels. Your budget determines the facilities of your place to stay but not the comfort. People travelling on a budget will be staying in basic but clean, comfortable and central accommodation. You can afford something a little more then stay with a Maharajah in his palace or in a family run 4 star boutique hotel. You can afford the best then we will find you the best hotels hand picked for their uniqness.

Responsible Travel

The only time you can have more fun being responsible than not being responsible is travelling. Giving back to people who welcome you to their country is a responsible thing to do. How can we do this? We can use operators that take us to eat in a good local restaurants, that use family run hotels, that use local businesses to help run their trips, we could buy some souvenirs from the markets or visit some sight that is away from the crowds. We could also use operators that have different community projects help those that need help the most. We can even get involved in those projects by donations or spending a couple of days helping out on a volunteer holiday.

This, I hope, clears some of the haze surrounding small group adventures. There are many other questions to be answered I’m sure so you can contact me on the address below.
enquiries@travellight.co.za

Space hotel to open in five years

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 11:49:00 +0000

A report in Hotel TravelNews says that the first hotel in space has been unveiled by a Barcelona-based architect, with The Galactic Suite opening for business in 2012, allowing guests to travel around the world in 80 minutes.

The Galactic Suite will be the most expensive hotel room to-date, costing $4 million for a three-day stay and during this time guests will see the sun rise 15 times a day. "It is the bathrooms in zero gravity that are the biggest challenge," says company director Xavier Claramunt.

Reservations will begin next year for the aluminium vessel made of five modules, which is to be launched by rockets into space and the Galactic Suite already has private investors from the United Arab Emirates and Japan.

Guests will be able to participate in scientific experiments during their stay in the hotel, 450 km from earth and the operators estimate that some 40,000 people will be able to buy a Galactic-Suite ticket.

If it's travel it's Travel Light

Travel Light Reading

Moondust

A facinating read about the men that walked on the moon. I loved this book because of the the history and facts of the Apollo program and interesting interviews with the moonwalkers themselves.

Are cruise liners a viable alternative to flying?

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Mon, 30 Jul 2007 19:01:00 +0000

A very interesting article on the environmental effects of Cruising from responsible travel.com

You could be forgiven for thinking you would be saving on carbon emissions by taking a cruise instead of flying. But when looking at the statistics, it is clear that the environmental impact of taking a cruise is far worse in many ways…

Gliding along from port to port, cruises take a lot longer to get to their destination(s) than flying would. But it is not just an airline seat, but almost an entire small village with swimming pools, restaurants and amenities that is floating around our oceans.

It may seem like time spent at sea would not have a lot of impact on its surrounding environments, but the facts paint a very different picture.

The stark reality is that cruise liners do have a significant ecological impact – one that has gone largely unnoticed in the global warming debate – and bring little or no benefit to the places they visit.

According to our partner at Climate Care, a cruise liner such as Queen Mary 2 emits 0.43kg of CO2 per passenger mile, compared with 0.257kg for a long-haul flight (even allowing for the further damage of emissions being produced in the upper atmosphere). That means it is far greener to fly than cruise...

According to a report by The International Council on Clean Transportation (ICCT), worldwide, oceangoing vessels produced at least 17% of total emissions of nitrogen oxide and contributed more than a quarter of total emissions of nitrogen oxide in port cities and coastal areas.

The report also points out that carbon-dioxide emissions from the international shipping sector as a whole exceed annual total greenhouse gas emissions from most of the developed nations listed in the Kyoto Protocol. "International ships are one of the world's largest, virtually uncontrolled sources of air pollution. ..air pollution from international ships is rising virtually unchecked," said ICCT president Alan Lloyd. On a typical one-week voyage a cruise ship generates more than 50 tonnes of garbage and a million tonnes of grey (waste) water, 210,000 gallons of sewage and 35,000 gallons of oil-contaminated water.

On average, passengers on a cruise ship each account for 3.5 kilograms of rubbish daily - compared with the 0.8 kilograms each generated by local people on shore. In addition, there is significant damage to coral reefs from cruise liners. There are 109 countries with coral reefs. In 90 of them (about 70% of cruise destinations are in biodiversity hotspots) reefs are being damaged by cruise ship anchors and sewage, by tourists breaking off chunks of coral, and by commercial harvesting for sale to tourists. (Source: Ocean Planet).

Most cruise companies claim to have very good environmental standards and we have recently seen the promising arrival of the first cruise ship to reduce engine emissions by using sea water to remove harmful components, but just look at this sorry tale of environmental fines racked up by Cruise companies.

Mandatory environmental standards of the Cruise Lines International Association relate largely to discharging hazardous waste into the marine environment. The negative cultural impact of large numbers of tourists descending on, in some cases, small destinations can also be significant.

The local economic benefits of cruising are harder to assess, but certainly are limited in terms of their local purchasing of food... Of course the cruise industry is considerably smaller than the air travel industry, but anyone considering a cruise as a green alternative to flying to their destination may want to think again. Apart from the increase in CO2 emissions, there is often a need to fly to the departure points of the cruise, clocking up further carbon emissions. Add to that the waste, environmental degradation and cultural impact, and one can only begin to imagine the size of the footprint produced by taking a cruise – even if it is a once-in-a-lifetime experience, it would take a lot of recycling, energy saving light-bulbs and cold showers to reconcile this!

Our tips If you were considering a cruise, but feel put off by the environmental and social impact they have, it may be worth asking yourself this question: What attracted you to doing a cruise?

If it was the thought of visiting several places on one trip, there are many responsible alternatives that offer this; you can take a tour that allows you to experience the local culture at the same time, or arrange your own itinerary using local transport and ferries. Find responsible overland tours here If it was the idea of spending time on board a boat, there are many options of sailing, or spending time on board traditional boats such as a Keralan houseboat, Egyptian felucca or a Antarctic Expedition Vessel. This may be a far more interesting option than the often sterile confinements of a cruise liner. Find responsible boat cruising trips here If you liked the thought of kicking back and sipping rum with a Caribbean backdrop, there are many superb resorts that allow you to do just this, with the added benefit of allowing you to stay on after the cruise liner has long departed its shores again – giving you lots of extra time to soak up the atmosphere and really unwind away from the usual tourist traps.

All the operators Travel Light use have sound responsible travel guidelines dating back over 15 years http://www.travellight.co.za/

How To Avoid Delhi Belly

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Wed, 25 Jul 2007 15:18:00 +0000

Traveller's Tummy, Cairo Curse, Montezuma's Revenge, Biological Pressure and good old Delhi Belly. Those and other more repulsive phrases are usually described in way too much detail in many a traveller's tale of adventure in far flung places. This happens to such an extent that most people believe a short trip to India or Egypt will have the same effect on their waist line as a year on the Atkins diet. Not true! try eating Indian food three times a day here for two weeks and then struggle with those tight jeans that you will not throw away because one day you'll be slim enough to fit them again. No better not, it will depress you and you'll head straight to the biscuit tin for comfort. I digress, back to the Aztec Two Step. You see travelling to countries with such bad intestinal reputations need not mean a fortnight on the thunderbox. There are a few things I can recommend to help prevent you having to experience such a nightmare when you are supposed to be on a holiday of a lifetime.

Water
We all know how important it is for us and are constantly nagged by medical professionals to drink lots everyday. Well I'm going to nag you to drink even more when you are travelling. If you are travelling in a country where you shouldn't drink tap water you should be able to find clean bottled water almost everywhere. Drinking clean water keeps your body strong and healthy and in better condition to fight off any nasties that get inside you.

Hand Hygiene
Some traveller's carry with them antibacterial hand wash which is not a bad idea. Remember you can pick up nasties on your hands from many different things such as money or a handshake. If you think you have dirty hands wash them. Also try not to bite your nails if that's your habit.

Eating with the locals
Eating in good local restaurants or street food shouldn't be avoided on the contrary it should be part of your travel experience. I like to ask a local for a good recommendation or look for somewhere busy where food is being prepared fresh, fast and hot. In my opinion many hotels "bland" food down for the foreign palate and prepare buffet food hours in advance.

Eating with your hands
Eating with your hands is one of the most amazing sensual pleasures that you can experience - and write about on a family travel blog. To enjoy a meal using all your senses breaks down barriers and leaves not only your tummy satisfied but your whole being. If you see the locals eating with their hands join them - but wash them first please.

Hygiene Paranoia
No matter what you do you will never stop germs getting into your system and in my opinion it's a good thing for your body to get used to a few "local" germs. I've seen travellers before being over cautious and putting antibacterial lotion on everything and eating very plain food. They all came down with tummy problems that were quite severe. A coincidence?

If you do get it?
Hopefully if you have been drinking plenty of water your body is in a better position to fight whatever nasty has set up shop in your belly.

Water
Can you see a theme developing here? Put back whatever fluid has come out and more. Most pharmacies will stock electrolyte solutions to replace salts and minerals, read the instructions, use them they work.

Imodium
There is a whole debate about the helpfulness of medicine that stops your runny tummy. In my travels I stay clear of it. I feel that the reason your body gives you diarrhea is that it wants whatever is bad inside you out. These medicines do not allow that instead keeping it inside building up and festering -holds his breath and waits for the Imodium lawyers to phone-

Doctors
If you think you need to see a doctor get one reccomended. Hotels will have doctor's contact details that have treated travellers before.

Travelling on one of Travel Light's escorted adventures gives you the benefit of travelling with a tour leader that knows the best restaurants and what will keep you healthy travelling in that country.

Travel Light Reading - Travel Light has not read this book

There's No Toilet Paper... on the Road Less Traveled
This collection captures the wackiest experiences of writers whose travels took a detour, such as Dave Barry vainly trying to learn more Japanese than how to order a beer, and Mary Roach, who discovers that utilizing an Antarctic outhouse at the very moment a seal chooses to use its opening as a blowhole may not be the best way to start the day.

Silk Road Adventures

noreply@blogger.com (Vagabond) — Mon, 23 Jul 2007 18:52:00 +0000

For the past week I have been working on an incredible itinerary for a group travelling the old silk road from Almaty to Ashgabad. It's an incredible part of the world and a real adventure for intrepid travellers. I once took a group from Xian in China to Islamabad in Pakistan on what turned out to be a wonderful journey full of surprises...

Silk Road Adventures
There is something very remarkable about this story. Not the fact that it covers part of the ancient Silk Road route from Xian in

China

to Islamabad in

Pakistan

. It’s not the fact that we crossed desserts, remote wilderness and the highest border crossing in the world. Nor is it because we explored the world’s greatest market in Kashgar or stayed with Kazakhs in traditional yurts during a blizzard. These are all special in their own right but what made this such a memorable trip was the group I travelled with. Four girls and you’ll have to wait until the end to find out why they where so remarkable.

We start in Xian ancient capital of China and regarded as the true start of the Silk Road. I was escorting four girls on an Imaginative Traveller tour to Islamabad on what I consider to be a pretty hard going trip into some of China and Pakistan’s remote corners. After meeting the girls and having dinner in a very local street restaurant I was confident we would have a successful journey.

Back to Xian. Xian is perhaps my favourite Chinese city. I love the way ancient and modern blend effortlessly in it’s architecture and local culture. The history is long, sights are everywhere and there seems to be a surprise around every corner. But what really brings travellers to Xian are the Terracotta Warriors. I will not write about them as I’m sure others can and have described this ancient wonder better than I. I will give you a tip though - find out what time the doors to the warriors open and get there first. When I was there is was 8 am. You see most of tourists coming that day are in Xian –one hours drive away- having breakfast at their hotel at 8am. The crowds start arriving around 9 - 9.30 so getting there early means you get the warriors for at least one hour without the crowds.

Now we head west and leave the tour buses behind. We are going to the end of the Great Wall to a small town called Jiayuguan. Famous for being at the edge of ancient imperial China, the Last Pass Under Heaven is the fort we have come to visit. In ancient times an imperial guard was considered very unlucky or must have upset the wrong person to be posted so far away from the centre of the universe. It’s really not that bad! The fort is fine for a few hours but the beauty is in the town’s remoteness and the surrounding snow capped mountains. A couple of us hired bicycles and gently explored the local villages and countryside.

The Silk Road traders took Silk to India and returned with Buddhism which although didn’t take a hold in India spread throughout the Far East. Dunhuang, our next town, was a popular stop for the traders and a large Buddhist community grew there. They built the Magao Grottoes a spectacular series of Buddhist carvings, murals and statues that if were closer to tourist China would, in my opinion, be one of her greatest sights. There are more than 492 caves carved from the cliff face, featuring 2,415 coloured statues and murals covering an area of more than 45,000m². Incredible.

The desert is harsh in this part of

China

. Mountains of stone become mountains of sand, the sun’s heat is fierce and will run it’s course of relentless torment everyday. Crossing these deserts in search of wealth on slow and stubborn camels must have been daunting. Sitting on our bus travelling on a tarmac road we were silent trying to grasp the enormity of the trek taken by Silk Road traders that came before us. But the desert can occasionally be kind and the oasis town of Turpan was more than kind for the passing trader, it meant survival.

Turpan sits in a depression meaning it is lower than sea level. A basin that holds heat even during the winter months when nighttime temperatures in the surrounding desert mirror the summer suns heat. This can be stifling during the summer but Turpan holds life for the desert traveller in the form of water. It comes from a unique system of ancient aqua ducts bringing water from the distant snow mountains. Grapes are grown everywhere even on the back streets where the vines are trained on trellises to provide shade during the hot still days.

The great thing about this trip is it’s diversity of different landscapes, culture and peoples. Urumqi is in the mountains and the world’s remotest city from the sea, 2,500 km from the nearest coast. We came to spend a night at the Lake of Heaven in traditional Kazakh yurts –felt tents. We had two options, we could stay at the government fixed yurt camp that was very nice, just off the main road and had an ablution block with hot showers. Or we could take a boat across the lake to see if any nomads were willing to let us spend a night with them. A quick vote and we were on the boat crossing this beautiful lake surrounded by mountains and alpine forest dusted with late spring snow.

Our hosts welcomed us the way nomads do. No big fuss just an instinctive show of hospitality and a safe, warm place to stay given to all passing travellers. We paid them the same as we would have paid the state camp but this was so much better. The group helped cook food and milk some goats while I and our local guide helped feed the horses and yaks. After dinner we sat in the yurt around a pot belly stove with the family and finished the bottle of scotch I was carrying. It was probably the scotch that made me sleep through the howling blizzard that night. About 4 am one of our hosts brought in two young goat kids to shelter from the snow. After calling for their mums and trying to eat my hair two of my group took them and snuggled the goats into their blankets to sleep. Sun rose and my guide expressed his concern about the blizzard, we had a plane to catch later that day and the boat couldn’t launch in the snow to take us back to the bus. We had no choice other than take the horses through the forest to the main road. Wrapping up I put three of the group horses while waiting for Peggy, the fourth member, to put on her lipstick! She never left the house without makeup she explained. The trek took two hours and the snow wasn’t so bad in the forest. O.K. it was cold and not the most comfortable ride but what an adventure! We were going to make our flight with time to spare so we stopped at the guides house to have lunch with his wife and kids before heading to the airport.

Half way through the trip and so far so good and the group were in high spirits. It had been pretty hard going so far with long days, strange food, harsh climate and hard beds but for a pick me up exploring Kashgar’s Sunday Market is better than any energy drink.

Kashgar is the trading centre for many different tribes Tajiks, Kyrgyz, Kazakhs, Uzbeks, Uigers to name a few and there has been a market in Kashgar for over 2000 years. Being from the west we are used to traffic jams but a donkey cart jam is another thing all together. Tens of thousands of tribes people make the trip into Kashgar to trade on a Sunday creating one of the worlds largest and most outstanding markets. The animal market is the biggest draw where many come to watch the horses being put through their paces. Boys are paid to gallop horses over a short distance on a dusty track so the potential buyer can see how it performs. The faces and dress of different tribes and their wares makes Kashgar a photographic nirvana.

Xian seemed an age ago, we had done a lot in a little over a fortnight. Terracotta warriors, desert oasis, snow blizzards and ancient markets so what now? Now we needed to get to Pakistan over the worlds highest border crossing the Khunjerab Pass which will take us onto the Karakoram Highway down to Islamabad.

Our crossing date coincided with the opening day of the pass for the season, 1^st May and I wanted us to be the first group through that year. I was informed by the operator that I didn’t need a visa as that year Pakistan were issuing tourist visas free on arrival. I knew that, the operator knew that and even the Pakistani government knew that but forgot to inform immigration officials at the border. The most magnificent black moustache I have ever seen told me there was a problem because I had no visa and his subordinate needed to phone Islamabad to “sort this confusion out”. While I was waiting he insisted we drunk tea and discussed the up and coming football world cup, he was a big Manchester United fan. As we had the most surreal discussion on David Beckham’s right foot the all clear came from Islamabad to let me enter Pakistan. A make shift entry stamp was made up and he asked “how long do you intend to stay for” “ten days” was my reply “I’ll give you 60 days, I’m sure you will like it here”

The pass we came over is 4693 m./15,397 ft high but to look at the mountains around you would think you were at sea level. This part of Pakistan boasts the highest concentration of mountains over 7000 meters in the world, it is truly breathtaking. We spent a week in this area and to this day I cannot get over the extreme beauty of this place. Looking down at the Indus River you raise your head slowly pass fruit orchards in blossom, pass mighty glaciers up through the clouds to the top of mountains almost the height of Everest.

From here South to the Pakistani version of Canberra – Islamabad. A city designed to house government departments it’s clean, green and very modern. A nice change to the wild remote places we had experienced over the last 21 days and I soon got bored of it. Hopped in a taxi and took a short drive to Rawalpindi. This was more like it. Dust, noise, people, chaos, smells and life, a good way to end a journey like this.

My group and I had experienced a lot and it wasn’t always plane sailing. This route is away from the tourist trail so hotels, food and transport are all basic and not what we are used to. We were taken out of our comfort zone practically for the whole trip but there was no alternative and maybe that added to the experience. So what is so extraordinary about my group of four girls? Well the youngest was 67 years old and the eldest Peggy, remember the girl with the makeup?, was 72.

A journey along the Silk Road needs planning and consultation why not start with the experts? Travel Light

Travel Light Reading
Foriegn Devils on the Silk Road - Peter Hopkirk