Luxury Adventures

Breathtakingly beautiful

divajood — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 20:56:13 +0000

“Breathtakingly beautiful” is how Richard Branson describes SpaceShipTwo, the flagship for Virgin Galactic. Currently about 60% finished, SpaceShipTwo may be ready to take Space Tourists on sub-orbital flights later this year! For a mere $200,000.00, guests will get about 4 1/2 minutes of zero gravity time, where they may get out of their seats and float weightless before they have to strap back in for their return flight. No meal or beverage service on board, so sorry.

In order to travel with Virgin Galactic, prospective guests must undergo flight training which includes being subjected to extreme g-forces. People may be more qualified to do sub-orbital space travel than commercial Everest climbs – however, I am not too sure how this differs.

There is risk. But I believe that most things worth doing have some level of risk. Sir Richard Branson walks through life embracing risk, and then finding a way to make it accessible to everyone. I admire him tremendously. And if he offers a Travel Agent familiarization trip for this, I will sign right up. The view will be spectacular.

“Grow Younger, Live Longer”

divajood — Mon, 14 Jan 2008 22:06:34 +0000

Regent Seven Seas Cruises will host doctor, spiritualist and life-extension guru Deepak Chopra on the “Grow Younger, Live Longer” cruise aboard the Seven Seas Mariner June 4, 2008, in Alaska.

“Grow Younger, Live Longer,” developed by Chopra and Dr. David Simon, co-founders of the Chopra Center, draws on the cultural traditions of the East, as well as modern discoveries in quantum physics. The program offers a 10-step process designed to “reverse” participants’ biological age through instruction in areas including stress management, relationship fulfillment, cultivating a youthful mind, sexual vitality, restful sleep and optimal nutrition.

A native of New Delhi, India, Chopra is former chief of staff at The New England Memorial Hospital and Boston Regional Medical Center. His health and wellness principles were first outlined in his 1986 book, “Creating Health,” and were expanded in “Quantum Healing” in 1989 and “Perfect Health” in 1991. He has also addressed spiritualism’s effect on mental and physical health in “The Book of Secrets” in 2004 and “Life After Death: The Burden of Proof” in 2006. Departing from Seward, on June 4, Seven Seas Mariner will cruise to Sitka, Juneau, Skagway and Ketchikan, before ending in Vancouver. The seven-day journey is highlighted by scenic cruising of Hubbard Glacier and Tracy Arm. “Grow Younger, Live Longer” must be pre-purchased and costs $1,955 per person, exclusive of cruise fare. For further details, or to check availability, you can reach Judith at 800-225-3614 ext. 202

Mountain of a Man: Sir Edmond Hillary Dies at 88

divajood — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 16:41:43 +0000

Sir Edmond Hillary was a hero to me. In 1953, Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay became the first people to reach the summit of Mount Everest and safely return. It’s not enough to get to the top to conquer the 29,035 foot mountain. You have to get back down, and Hillary and Norgay did just that.

So many people had attempted to climb Everest before Hillary and Norgay, and were either turned back by howling gales, bitter cold and lack of oxygen; or, like George Mallory, lost their lives. Since their 1953 climb, 3000 people have summitted and 200 people have lost their lives.

Today, Everest expeditions are almost commonplace. On a single day in 2003, 118 people were reported to have made it. Some veteran climbers have criticized the “commercialism” and “circus atmosphere” surrounding Everest climbing. Sir Edmund added his voice to the lament in 2003 as crowds gathered for the 50th anniversary celebrations in Katmandu, Nepal.

In January, 1996, I met Scott Fischer, owner of Mountain Madness and a world famous mountaineer. Scott was seeking Travel Agents who specialized in Adventure Travel to promote his various guided climbs including Everest and Kilimanjaro. Five months later, Scott died on Everest in one of the most publicized climbing disasters the mountain has seen.

I question the commercialization of climbing this mountain. It is magnificent, and it is, as Mallory said, most definately there. Today it is littered with dead bodies, used oxygen canisters, climbing detrius. But it is a sacred place. Perhaps some things should be left limited access. Perhaps some things should be left to the true adventurers like Hillary.

Rest in peace.

Seven Seas Mariner

divajood — Mon, 07 Jan 2008 15:45:42 +0000

In June, I sailed on the Regent Seven Seas Mariner to Alaska. The Seven Seas Mariner is all-suite, all-balcony. There are no obstructed views, no “inside” staterooms without windows. The ship is all about space and unobtrusive service. What an experience!

The itinerary is classic “Inside Passage”, from Vancouver to Seward. In early June, it was still a bit cold and there was a tremendous amount of floating ice in the water – we didn’t get far into Tracy Arm; a kayaking trip I’d planned was cancelled due to ice; we could not get close to Hubbard Glacier. It was cold. But we had sun – in fact, by the last night of the cruise, sunset was about 1:00 AM; sunrise about 4:00 AM. Amazing!

Service aboard ship is gracious, friendly and prompt. Guest needs are anticipated and met; one never needs to ask twice for anything. Dining is another delight – single, open seating in the main dining room, Compass Rose, means that you dine when, and with whom, you wish. Large enough to accommodate everyone, Compass Rose does not require reservations. There is another, buffet restaurant for breakfast and luncheon which turns into a Mediterranean restaurant for dinner.

There are two specialty restaurants that do require reservations: Latitudes, the Asian Fusion restaurant; and Signature, the Cordon Bleu restaurant. While they do require reservations there is no additonal cost for this experience. And what a delight they are!

Latitudes offers a tasting menu which covers all Asian cuisines each night. It is tremendous variety in small portions, and quite good. Signature is a Cordon Bleu experience. Service is exquisite and the choices on the menu are varied. Presentation is perfect. The experience is perfect, and relaxed. Because of the time of year, summer in Alaska, we lost track of time based on the light – conversations flow, and friends are made over a meal, and you think it’s only been about two hours when you check your watch and see that you’ve been dining for four hours lost in good conversation. This is how life should be!

Regent Seven Seas Cruises has a tag-line: Luxury Goes Exploring. Itinerary driven, in luxurious accommodations, this is one experience you should not miss. If you are afraid of cruises because you fear an overly stuffy atmosphere, this is the cruise line that would dispell that fear. And real luxury is about experience and value. Regent Seven Seas provides all that, and more.

Great Wilderness Journey

divajood — Sun, 06 Jan 2008 19:41:02 +0000

12 Days – Best of Botswana and Victoria Falls

At the turn of the century, explorers and adventurers made their way leisurely across the dusty paths of Africa, allowing the great continent to seep into their souls. Our guided mobile safaris takes time to experience and explore Botswana’s contrasts and extremes: from the waterless and strange landscape of the Kalahari Desert to the lushly vegetated wetlands of the Okavango Delta. The style of accommodation takes you back to the long-gone era of Africa’s exploration – on the ultimate Safari. Flowing linen of heavy, pure cottons, brass bucket showers and basins, separate flushing toilets and shower areas all add to the atmosphere, while luxury comforts and amenities are available, including a bush laundry service. Many areas in which we travel are private concessions. All camps and lodges are private and for the use of our Safari adventurers only.

Day	Location	Lodge/Camp
1-2	Makgadikgadi Pans	San Camp
3-4	Okavango Delta	Jacana Camp
5-7	Okavango Delta	Ketumetse Trails
8-10	Linyanti Concession	Linyanti Tented Camp
11	Victoria Falls	Sussi Lodge and Chuma House
12	Departure Day	Sussi Lodge and Chuma House

Makgadikgadi Pans Day 1-2

Upon your morning arrival in Maun, fly by light aircraft to San Camp, situated in a private concession on the edge of the great Makgadikgadi Pans in the Kalahari Desert. The salt pans are among the largest in the world, part of a fossilized super-lake that thrived aeons ago. Surprisingly for such a harsh, lunar-like environment, life abounds, and brown hyaena, orys and springbok are just a few of the desert-adapted species that can be seen. Activities include up-close encounters with suricates (meerkats), one of the most fascinating and endearing animals in the world. Experience phenomenal geology, quad biking, authentic San (bushman) cultural walks or simply enjoying the wide-open spaces of this ancient lakebed.

San Camp

Okavango Delta Day 3-4

The Okavango Delta represents survival at the other extreme: abundant water, sunlight and soil combine to form a paradise bursting with life. The contrast becomes amazingly clear as we move from desert to delta, from dry sand to water world. We fly by light aircraft charter from the arid Kalahari Desert to lush Jacana Camp, situated in a permanently flood region of the private Jao concession of the Okavango Delta. A true water camp, it represents the essence of the Delta, with year-round mokoro safaris as well as island bush walks and water level permitting, motorboat cruises. The camp is set in one of the most densely populated wetland areas for Sitatunga and Red Lechwe. Game concentrations all depend on the flow of the water.

Jacana Camp

Okavango Delta Day 5-7

Transfer from the water world of Jacana Camp to the game-rich plains of Abu’s concession. This transfer itself becomes an adventure – depending on the Okavango’s flood level, a combination of mokoro, motor boat and Land Rover create a unique extended game experience. Activities concentrate on the open herd-filled plains surrounding “lechwe world,” where the seasonal congregations of wildlife make the perfect setting for exclusive game drives, night drives and bush walks.

Ketumetse Trails

Linyanti Concession Day 8-10

After a light breakfast, we fly by light aircraft to the private Linyanti Concession; upon arrival driving to our private Explorer campsite, which is elegantly set up under massive African ebony and knobthorn acacia trees overlooking panoramic vistas of the Linyanti Swamps. The landscape changes from the Okavango floodplains to savannah habitat with sweeping views, creating a paradise for a high diversity of wildlife and bird species. The first afternoon activity concentrates on exposure to different plains game, such as roan and sable antelope and their predators, the lion and leopard – with the endangered wild dog as an incredible bonus. Activities include game drives in the private northern sector of the Concession, exploring a range of habitats, from riverbanks to scrub and forest, which reveal a myriad of game en route to slake their thirst from the river. The seldom seen sitatunga can also be spotted in the waterways. There’s also a game drive to a private deck for lunch, then a siesta in hammocks and an afternoon canoe trip – all before taking an evening drive back to camp! We canoe on the Linyanti River fro an amazing close-up view of the elephant herds. To complete the experience, on the third day we enjoy a full activity to the Savuti Channel, with lunch at a private hide overlooking a waterhole. The spectacular zebra migration moves between Linyanti and the Savuti Marsh through this area, as well as an impressive diversity of mammals, including large elephant herds. This day is specifically tailored to enjoy the seasonal and migratory movements of wildlife within the Linyanti and Savuti systems.

Linyanti Tented Camp

Victoria Falls Day 11

After a short morning drive and breakfast, we depart by light aircraft to the northern Chobe region of Chobe National Park. This area is famous for its vast herds of elephants and other unique species such as the elusive puki and Chobe bushbuck that move to the river in the hottest hours of the day. Enjoy a boat cruise in a catamaran-style shaded boat. Leave Botswana and enter Zambia by way of the Kazangula border, a point where the four countries of Botswana, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Namibia meet, to stay at Sussi & Chuma, in Livingstone.

Sussi Lodge and Chuma House

Departure Day Day 12

Enjoy a guided tour of Victoria Falls, one of the seven Natural Wonders of the World. At 1708 metres wide, it is the largest curtain of water in the world and drops more than 100 metres into the sheer Zambezi Gorge. Transfer to Livingstone Airport to bid farewell to the adventure.

Sussi Lodge and Chuma House

Interested? Email me for details!