What A Trip: Nepal

This continues a series of articles featuring trips taken by travelers from all different walks of life to destinations all over the world. If you have taken a trip you’d like to see featured here, please contact me!

The Travelers:  Amie and Cyndy, friends from the Bay Area and avid travelers.

The Trip:  Two and a half weeks in Nepal, including a 16-day trek through the Annapurna Mountain Range

Amie answered some questions about this memorable adventure and shared some of her favorite photos with What A Trip.

 

WAT: Where exactly did you go?
A: We went to Kathmandu, Bhaktapur, Pokhara, and then into the Annapurna Range for the trek. The trip is 16 days but you will probably need an additional day at the beginning or end to make flights work. This trek was probably one of the hardest things I have ever done. I think I lost about 10 lbs on the trip between the veggie meals and the 6 hours of trekking daily. (The itinerary is here.)

 

WAT: Why did you choose this destination?
A: We wanted an active and exotic trip. I had done a hut-to-hut type of trip in Torres Del Paine in Chile and I love that style of travel. All you carry is your water for the day. Porters are available to carry your backpack if you want to hire them, which we did. Food is available at the lodges. We settled on Nepal after considering the cost of the trip including flights.  Europe was out due to the hideous exchange rates at the time. Our other options were hiking in Borneo or cycling in Vietnam.

 

WAT: Did you use a tour company for to book your trip?
A: We used a company for the tour, but booked our own flights. We used Intrepid Travel (a Kiwi-owned company based in New Zealand) and I cannot recommend them more highly. They were better than I could have expected. I will use them again for my upcoming trip to Southeast Asia.

I would not tell someone to go there without using a guide or reputable tour company. There were trekkers that would arrive at lodges in the snow and rain and if there was no room at the lodge, they had to turn around and go back to the last lodge or hike several hours further to the next lodge. Horrible.

 

WAT: What were your favorite sights during the trip?
A: Fish Tail mountain and hiking closer to it each day. The mountains each day were just unbelievable.

 

WAT: Tell us about some of your most memorable moments in Nepal.
A: I think my most memorable moments were the hours following the trek every day. We usually arrive at the lodge by 2 or 3 pm we had nothing to do but hang out. Luckily, we were with an AMAZING group of Aussies and Brits. We talked, laughed, played cards, told stories, and read books. It was really a luxury to be bored and just sit there and do nothing. You never really get to do that at home.

Also, some of our group made decidedly female snow-women with the guides and porters outside one of the lodges. Each man helped sculpt this perfect woman, while all the real women sat inside and took pictures and laughed at these guys while they were staying the snow-woman’s hair. Quite an afternoon diversion. It was hilarious to see how a snow-woman with breasts could unite such different cultures.

 

WAT: Do you have advice for others planning travel to this part of the world?
A: Be aware of your environmental actions. Eat vegetarian dishes like the locals. Treat the water with iodine and drink it instead of buying all that bottled water while on the trail. Take your used batteries home with you.  That country cannot dispose of all our hazardous waste. Pack minimally and live lightly. Be polite and remember EVERY MOMENT how lucky you are.

(Check out the amazing photos below!)

Budget-Friendly Travel

(Photo by Schacon)

 

USA Today recently published a list of Ten Amazing Adventures Under $1,000. These are all guided tours and are definitely a considerable savings over what you’d spend doing similar trips on your own. From hiking in Poland ($995 for eight days) to viewing gorillas in Rwanda ($1000 for four days) or biking through Whistler ($720 for six days), these are not journeys you’d soon forget.

 

Given the state of the economy and the cost of airfare these days, everyone is looking for a good travel deal. There are a lot of ways you can save money on your summer trip, and they don’t necessarily involve sticking closer to home. As I mentioned last week, Virgin America is offering incredible deals on some of their new routes. $79 each way from Los Angeles to Boston, anyone? Also, V Australia is launching service between Los Angeles and Sydney starting at $530 each way. Aer Lingus is offering reduced summer fares to Ireland. $329 each way from Boston or New York to Dublin is a great deal. Norweigan Cruise Line will be sailing to Alaska all summer starting at $399 for an interior room.

Photo of the Day: El Kasr, Egypt

(Photo by Ahron de Leeuw)

 

In the western deserts of Egypt can be found a series of oasis towns, settlements that cluster around underground water sources and are vital to caravans crossing the desert.  The ancient capital city El Kasr is one such oasis.  Comprised of mud houses situated along narrow alleyways, the town has become a tourist destination reachable by car and bus.  It’s a small settlement with fewer 4,000 residents, much smaller than the desert city of Kharga, about 100 miles to the east.  Kharga has been modernized whereas El Kasr retains its old traditions and appearance.

 

In El Kasr, which means “the castle,” visitors will find a spring of hot sulfured water, a wooden ox-driven flour mill and the ruins of an ancient temple dedicated to the Egyptian sun god Amun.  Walk along the narrow streets, designed this way to block both desert sun and wind, and step back in time.  This city has changed little since Medieval times.  It was built in the 11th century, perhaps on the footprint of a much older settlement, but has been only sparsely populated since the 19th century.  Parts of the town are beginning to be swallowed by sand, its ground floors returning to desert.  Tourism brings busloads of foreigners from the nearby oasis town of Dakhla to wander the town and  marvel at its construction.

Cool Gear: BottleWise Wine Travel Bag

(Photo courtesy of BottleWise)

 

So, you’re going on a trip to Napa Valley, Australia, or maybe Italy.  Somewhere that you’re sure to indulge in some wine tasting.  You’d love to bring a bottle or two home with you, but that pesky 3 oz. carry-on limit means you’re stuck shipping wine in your checked luggage.  How do you properly pack it so that it arrives in one piece?    Check out the BottleWise Duo wine travel bag.

 

This wine travel bag is well padded and securely holds two bottles of your favorite vintage in separate compartments.  Each compartment is liquid tight, guarding against any disastrous leaks or spills.  Simply tuck this bag into the center of your checked luggage and your bottles will arrive safe and sound at your destination.  If you have more than two bottles you’d like to pack, additional inserts are also available.

 

But why the fancy packaging?  Why can’t I just roll my wine bottles up in a sweater and call it a day?  Well, that’s a cheaper way to transport your wine, but it really tempts fate.  One tumble onto the tarmac or mishandling by a security screener and your luggage may take on a lovely Zinfandel-colored hue.  Don’t risk it.  Packing your wine into a case designed specifically for that purpose will give you peace of mind and an intact bottle to enjoy when you arrive home.

Hotel Rates Down in New York City

(Photo by Cessna 206)

 

If you are planning a Spring or Summer trip to New York City, you may end up with some extra cash in your pocket.  USA Today reports that NYC hotel rates have dropped nearly 30% from last year’s prices.  That’s great news for travelers looking for a bargain!  In addition, Jaunted.com tells us that city tourism officials have announced a new progam that allows visitors to take 50% off their second night’s hotel stay and offers similarly discounted passes to local attractions.

 

What to do with all the money you’re saving?  Go shopping!  Chic Inspiration offers up a great guide to shopping in the Big Apple and you can check Racked.com for information on all the latest stores and sales.  If shopping isn’t on your itinerary, there are plenty of inexpensive things to do in the city.   Examiner.com lists five fantastic places from which to view Manhattan, and they run from completely free to a $20 fee.  You can also gain admission to local museums at reduced or waived rates on certain days.

 

Tourists may also be glad to know that getting around New York City on foot might soon get a little easier.   Explorer Pass reports that Broadway is set to become a pedestrian zone, with traffic directed around the congested Times Square area.  Put on those walking shoes and hit the NYC streets this Spring!

What A Trip: Africa

(For more photos from Madison's trip, visit her blog)

 

This is the first in what will be a series of articles featuring trips taken by travelers from all different walks of life to destinations all over the world. If you have taken a trip you’d like to see featured here, please contact me!

The Traveler: Madison, a thirty-something lawyer from New York City

The Trip: Madison took her dream trip to Africa in March 2009. She spent two nights in Johannesburg, three nights on the Zambian side of Victoria Falls (with a day trip to Zimbabwe to ride elephants and explore the falls), four days in Kruger National Park on safari and seven nights in Cape Town.

More Info: Madison detailed her travels on her blog, www.manhattanmonologues.com. You can visit her site to read her complete report and see photos. She also answered some questions about her travels for What A Trip.

 

WAT: Why did you choose this destination?

M: I’ve always dreamed of going to South Africa. I’ve been fortunate to have traveled extensively and have pretty much covered all of Western Europe and South America and some parts of Asia and the middle East and because of that I’m interested in traveling more in Africa and South East Asia. I am at the stage of my life where I want to go off the beaten path and I also am conscious of traveling to destinations that are dollar friendly. I visited a friend in Ghana while she was in the Peace Corps and have always wanted to explore more of Africa since then. Also, I had a friend who was studying in Cape Town for four months so I thought, “It’s now or never to go there.” I’ve also always wanted to safari and I think that South Africa provides easy transportation and Kruger National Park is a more reasonable destination from there than say the Serengetti or someplace in Botswana.

 

WAT: Did you use a tour company to book your trip?

M: It all started with me seeing a ridiculously great deal on South African Airways. I booked a flight and then tried to do a lot of research on my own. I’m not usually a travel agent kind of girl, but it was a bit overwhelming because on this trip I was going to be traveling alone for a lot of the time. Initially, I was planning to go to Victoria Falls and on the safari by myself. Having read everything about safety in South Africa, I decided to consult travel agents. Additionally, I found the single supplement at the private reserves to be ridiculous, so I had a travel agent book the Victoria Falls portion of the trip and find me a safari in Kruger National Park. It turned out that friends could join me for the Victoria Falls portion. I probably could’ve done that on my own, but they joined at the last minute. The safari was cool. It was just a private guide, myself, and a couple. We stayed in the rondavel huts at the Kruger camp sites and had braais every night. It was fantastic.

 

WAT: What were the most memorable moments of your trip?

M: Great question. Everything was fantastic. I would have to say that my most memorable moments centered around animal sightings. While in Kruger we had a pack of elephants about 15 feet from us in the car. One decided to walk in front of the car and passed by the driver side of the car within a foot of the car. We could’ve reached out and touched him had we been so inclined and so stupid. Also while in Kruger we were lucky to spot five male lions lounging around with one female. Lions can be difficult to see, especially the male one because they sleep 20 hours a day and female are the hunters so it’s easier to spot a lioness. Our lioness eventually decided she had enough time laying around with the lazy men in her family and got up and started walking to the car in front of us. She quickly got bored inspecting the passengers and continued walking across the road. Another great moment was when giraffes greeted us as we entered the Zambezi Sun Hotel compound. They were intertwined in a perfect pose. Another involved seeing zebras right outside our hotel door at the Zambezi Sun. There was also a time while we were waiting at the Zimbabwe/Zambian border when we saw a giant baboon almost attack these two ladies in full African dress, then walk into the customs building, walk out (evidently he was tired of waiting for a visa), attack the garbage can, and then hop into the back of a pick-up truck. He sat in the back of the truck and leaned his arm up against the side as if to say, “Listen guys, can we get this show on the road, I’ve got places I need to be.”

 

WAT: Do you have advice for others planning travel to this part of the world?

M: I think security concerns are blown way out of proportion. I know what the statistics say (lots of rapes, lots of murders) so I wouldn’t downplay that, but I never felt in danger and I spent a lot of alone time there. I went out with friends for dinner and drinks, but entertained myself during the day. I think as a traveler one has to be vigilant everywhere they go. In South Africa, I’d keep my doors locked at all times when in a car, only go to ATMs that have security guards nearby, and ask if an area is safe before venturing out. I found the Zambians and Zimbabweans to be absolutely lovely people. Very friendly, chatty and relaxed. Where as we would try to cut to the chase to ask a question (e.g., where something was, operating hours, etc.) the Zimbabweans and Zambians recognized the importance of trying to have valid human interaction with people. For example, I was invited to have breakfast with these Zambian women while I was browsing through postcards and we talked all about the men in our lives. If I had to do it all over again, I might’ve looked for an airfare/hotel combo instead of doing it separately. I got a great deal, but I think it would’ve been a couple hundred dollars cheaper if I had done an airfare/hotel combo. However, the drawback there is you’re on someone else’s schedule and not your own.

Hot Hotels: Stockholm’s Jumbo Hostel

 

Well, here’s something new and different. Stockholm’s newest hostel is located on board a jumbo jet. That’s right, this Boeing 747 has been converted into a 25-room hostel, complete with modern, minimalist furnishings and a 24-hour cafe.

 

Jumbo Hostel is the brainchild of hotelier Oscar Dios. He explains the hostel’s beginnings on its website: “I was getting ready to expand my hostel business in 2006 when I heard about an old wreck of an aircraft for sale at Arlanda [airport]. Since I had for a long time wanted to establish my business at Arlanda I didn’t hesitate for a second when this opportunity struck.” The plane was gutted, cleaned and transformed into a hostel. It now resides at the entrance to the airport, giving guests up-close-and-personal views of arriving flights.

 

Okay, cool factor aside, if you are not a 22-year old backpacker you are probably not going to get excited about a hostel. It conjures up images of storage lockers, unshaven hippies on their way to Amsterdam, shared bathrooms and the smell of pot wafting through the halls. It’s enough to make an adult break out in hives. Jumbo Hostel certainly is a hostel, featuring three bunkbeds in each dorm-style room and shared bathroom facilities. However, there are also private rooms available and a suite located in the plane’s former cockpit. If you choose not to stay at the hostel, you can just pay a visit to their cafe, which offers coffee, snacks and a view of the Arlanda runway.

 

The prices at Jumbo Hostel are not your standard hostel bargains.  A night in the super cool cockpit suite will set you back 3,300SEK (or $380 US Dollars).  A private room costs about $155.  However, a dorm bed in one of the shared rooms is a true bargain at about $40.  Unless you can afford Virgin Upper Class, Jumbo Hostel may be the only way you can say you slept comfortably on a plane.  When in Stockholm, look no further.

FYI: Win a $25,000 Dream Trip from Conde Nast Traveler

(Photo by moohaha)

 

It’s Dream Trip 2009 time! Conde Nast Traveler’s annual photo contest is currently accepting submissions. The person who sends in the best travel photo, accompanied by an explanation of why it was an incredible moment, will win $25,000 to take the dream trip of their choice. The contest ends on July 31, so get cracking. Find that incredible photo and send it to Conde Nast Traveler! (Oh, and you can always feel free to share your photos with What A Trip, too. We’ll post them, along with your description of the scenery.)

 

The 2008 winner, who submitted a photo of a cliff-side monastery in Bhutan, chose to spend a week in the Maldives with a stopover in Hong Kong. That’s a pretty amazing vacation. And it’s certainly easy enough to drop $25,000 considering the world class hotels and dining available in both locations.

 

So, where would you go if you won $25,000 to travel anywhere in the world? Comment here and tell me about it!

Photo of the Day: Torres del Paine National Park, Chile

(Photo by bigeoino)

 

The rising sun shines on a magnificent rock formation located in Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia.  This wonderfully beautiful park is a favorite with hikers, featuring glaciers, lakes, waterfalls, meadows filled with wildflowers and the spectacular Los Cuernos mountains. The park was declared a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in 1978 and is celebrated for being one of the most natural and unspoiled places on Earth.

 

These rock towers, called “Cleopatra’s Needles” by Lady Florence Dixie in her book about the area, are the result of ancient volcanic activity, compressed piles of lava and sediment which were later eroded at their base by receeding glaciers.   Southern Chile is still an active region for volcanoes, the most recent eruption taking place just last year.   Visitors travel to this area, located north of Puerto Natales, to view the towering beauty of the rocks and enjoy the many outdoor pursuits the park offers.

I’m in Fodor’s Ireland!

The exciting news right now is that I’ve gotten a blurb published in the Fodor’s Ireland Guide 2009. Very exciting! I won’t know exactly what my quote is until I receive the guide, but I’m really looking forward to it.

 

Fodors.com has one of the best travel communities on the web. Their Travel Talk community is absolutely indispensable, with a very well-traveled group of folks on hand to give advice. I’ve been posting there for years. In recent years, Fodor’s has been incorporating travel tips from posters on their board into their printed guides. I was actually published in their 2009 guide to San Francisco, as well. My quote was about having a picnic in Washington Square Park. “On a nice day, this is some of the best people watching in town,” it reads in part.

 

After I returned from my two-week trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland in 2007, I posted a thorough report on the Fodors.com Travel Talk boards. I guess they have chosen a piece of that review to publish. I look forward to getting my copy of the guide!