All you need to do is book an international WanderTour in the month of April, and you’ll save $150 bucks! Such a deal!

Here’s a roundup of the 2011 tours:

Papua New Guinea Mt. Hagen Singsing Cultural Tour
Dates: August 5 – 19
Cost: $5,750
Highlights: Mt. Hagen Singsing (50th anniversary!), riverboat cruise and homestays along the Sepik River, and relaxing time in the coastal town of Madang.
Registration Form Papua New Guinea 2011 (PDF)

Vietnam Transformation Tour with Ainslie MacLeod
Dates: September 14 – 24
Cost: $6,950 (5-star accommodation)
Highlights: Workshops with world-renowned psychic, Ainslie MacLeod, sightseeing in Saigon, Mekong Delta, Central Vietnam, Hanoi and Ha Long Bay.
Registration Form Transformation Tour 2011 with Ainslie MacLeod (PDF)

Bhutan Laya Trek
Dates: October 11 – 22
Cost: $4,950
Highlights: 7 days of trekking in the remote Laya region, soaking in the restorative Gasa Hot Springs, temple visits, hiking to Tiger’s Nest.
Registration Form Bhutan Laya Trek 2011 (PDF)

North India Cultural Tour
Dates: October 25 – November 9
Cost: $5,100
Highlights: The best of the north including Diwali celebrations in Delhi, Varanasi, the Taj Mahal, Khajuraho, Udaipur, Jaipur and Jodhpur.
Registration Form North India 2011 (PDF)

Deposits MUST be received no later than April 30, 2011 to qualify

OK – now where do you want to go?

Travel Well!

Beth

With an upcoming women-only tour to Vietnam and Cambodia on the horizon in February, I’ve been receiving many inquiries along the lines of “Why Vietnam?” So I thought I’d address why I keep getting pulled back to this part of the world.

Strangely enough, Vietnam feels like a second home to me. That statement usually raises eyebrows. Me. A blond-haired, blue-eyed, fair-skinned American feeling at home in Vietnam? It’s true. From the moment I step off the plane, breath in the warm tropical air and zip off from the airport to my hotel, watching the rice fields roll by, I feel comfortable, settled and relaxed.

It was pretty much this way since I initially visited Vietnam in 1992. The government had just started issuing tourist visas and I was literally among the first foreigners to travel to the country after reuinification in 1975.

My visa, issued in Bangkok, was a piece of paper, not a stamp in my passport. As an American citizen, it was illegal at the time to travel to Vietnam (as it is with Cuba, today), so I didn’t want any record of my being there when I returned home.

I was able to get this one-month visa extended twice so my total time in-country was 3 months. And 3 months seemed to be the maximum time travelers were welcome. A couple of women I had met from the U.K. were kicked out of the country by the government sometime into their fourth month there. Their hotel rooms were raided in the middle of the night, their passports confiscated and they were escorted to the airport. The paranoid communist government suspected that these sweet twenty-something women who were simply teaching English, were in fact dissidents. Or perhaps influencing the locals in a way that the government didn’t approve of.

I left the country after 3 months, sensing that my presence likely wasn’t welcome for much longer than that.

But I wasn’t there to get to know the government. It was the people of Vietnam that so captured my heart and made me feel at home, a part of their family and like I needed to return again and again. In fact, it was the Vietnamese who often said to American travelers, “You are not your government. We are happy to have you here.”

Certainly there was a lot of desperation after the communists took over South Vietnam. Many South Vietnamese were stripped of their belongings, the men tossed in re-education camps and their wives and children left to fend for themselves. Even into the mid-90’s, men and women would approach me and beg for me to help get them out of the country as there were no opportunities for them as they were blacklisted from getting work.

The savvy ones started businesses. One of my closest friends during my 2 months in Saigon, was Kim. We were both in our early 20’s and were both eager to learn about each other‘s culture. She could speak English and French. She opened a café in the Pham Ngu Lao area (which is now THE area of Saigon that every traveler visits). She taught me Vietnamese and I taught her how to make macaroni and cheese. Her business exploded (not necessarily because of the mac and cheese!) and she continues to this day. And still to this day her family welcomes me with open arms each time I return and they treat me like a long lost daughter.

But this is not an unusual story. I have made many friends in Vietnam over the years, have stayed in touch with them and continue to be treated like a family member. 

This is my story, but there are reasons why others find the country so irresistible:

The people.  It’s not difficult to make connections with the Vietnamese, particularly in the South where they are more eager to connect with foreigners. Over all, the people are warm, gentle and easy to get to know. You’ll likely be welcomed into their homes and you might find yourself with a second “family.”

The landscape. Vietnam is not necessarily about “the sights.” There are no Disneyland-like complexes and few (in comparison to places like Thailand, let’s say) tourist sights. In Vietnam, you visit the markets or take a
boat ride along the Mekong or in Ha Long Bay to see how the locals live. You’re seeing real life.

Genuineness. At least for now, you won’t find a McDonald’s in Vietnam (though I did spot a KFC in Hanoi on my last trip). Starbucks hasn’t managed to penetrate this coffee-producing country either. So, you’ll see, for the most part, genuine Vietnam. Small independent and family-run shops and restaurants with few chain stores.

The food! Oh the food. It’s varied and the menus are long, utilizing fresh local ingredients. If you think you like pho in your neighborhood, just wait til you have the real deal.

Tourism is in its infancy. While the country has changed dramatically since my first visit in 1992, and much of this is due to the influx of tourist dollars, the country is still relatively young as a travel destination. At least for now, you don’t see hordes of international tourists.

Vietnam is very doable in terms of independent travel but Wanderlust and Lipstick is offering a women-only tour to Vietnam and Cambodia in February, 2011. This 17-day tour encompasses highlights of the country from north to south and then includes a trip to Siem Reap, Cambodia to see the fantastical temples of Angkor Wat. By the way, Cambodia is an amazing destination in and of itself but I’ve gushed enough about Vietnam!

Join us in February!

Travel Well,

Beth

Related links:
Vietnam and Cambodia Women-only Tour
Hanoi’s Old Quarter – Photo of the Day
Vietnam Hats – Not Just Conicals
Vietnam & Cambodia Photo Gallery

Within a 30-minute walk around Siem Reap, I saw the saddest sight and the most amazing sight. Both of which brought tears to my eyes.

First, as I strolled down a relatively main street, I caught something odd out of the corner of my eye. I looked to my right and, across the street, I saw a motorbike with 3 people on it. Not an unusual sight unto itself. What made it odd was that there was a driver, a person sitting in the middle with a bandage around his head, and a person on the back holding an IV drip for the patient in the middle.

What else do you do when you can’t afford a taxi, let alone a hospital stay? If I could have, I would have given the patient money for a safer ride, but they sped away before I could fully understand the gravity of this situation.

As I continued on my walk, I then stumbled upon a Buddhist temple and ventured inside. Besides 2 other foreign women, there was no one else around. But clearly this was a special place.

I took my time wandering through the main temple and the grounds surrounding it.

I walked behind the large altar in the middle of the temple and turned my head to see a huge reclining Buddha hiding. I was literally taken aback by the simple beauty of this statue. There was no indication that this reclining Buddha was there. No signs directing everyone to what was surely the most beautiful spot in all of Siem Reap (OK, besides Angkor Wat).

The statue was probably 30 feet long and struck me because it seemed so lifelike yet so serene. The reclining Buddha in Bangkok is on most people’s tour of the city, but I doubted that many tourists had seen this breath-taking Buddha.

Want to see the Buddha for yourself? I’ve just released details for a Cambodia tour in July that incorporates the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Passport School! Join the Passports with Purpose founders for this unique chance to see how a small fundraiser can make a big difference!

See more lovely photos at DeliciousBaby’s Photo Friday!

Travel Well!

Beth

Related links:
Photo of the Day: Buddhism in Bhutan
Cambodia Tour July, 2010
Unique Architecture of Bhutan
The (Bhutan) King and I
Bhutan Photography Tour – September, 2010
Eastern Bhutan Trekking Tour – October, 2010

Of course, all of the temple complexes are other-worldly but there are a few that really stood out for me

The first is Angkor Thom, pictured at left. Dating back to the 12th century, this one has about 250 faces carved into it. As you walk through the complex, you’re surrounded by these ancient beings looking down upon you.

The other really fantastical temple complex is that of Ta Prohm. While this complex has been renovated, much of the jungle has been left intact, so that trees, roots and branches remain draped over the ancient ruins.

Another that is off the beaten path but definitely worth a visit is Banteay Srei. This is considered “the women’s temple” because of the intricate carvings found throughout the complex. It was once thought that only a woman could have created such a beautiful temple! The truth is that this sandstone architecture was created by a counselor to the King during the 10th century. The sandstone lends itself to nuanced colors and many consider it the loveliest of all the temples of the region.

Unfortunately, the most famous of all the temple complexes, Angkor Wat, was under renovation when we visited. Therefore, my photos don’t do the area justice as I attempted to edit out the scaffolding and cloth surrounding the main area. None-the-less, visiting Angkor Wat IS awe-inspiring. Particularly if you choose to climb the very steep stairs to the top to have a look at the overview of the entire complex.

No matter if you spend just one day touring or multiple days, you’re sure to be awed by any of the temples you visit. Our group certainly had a fabulous time.

Travel Well!

Beth

Related links:
Saigon: She’s Come a Long Way Baby!
Ahoy Hoi An!
Trekking in Mau Chau
Vietnam: Same Same but Different
Photo of the Day: North Vietnam

I leave in about 48 hours for Hanoi. (Aaaaaah!) But Vietnam isn’t the only country I’ll be visiting in the next 5 weeks. I’ll also be in Cambodia, Thailand and Bhutan. It appears that temps will range from the 90s in Bangkok and Saigon to the 30s (at night) in Thimphu, Bhutan.

As the queen of packing light, I’ve spent an unusual amount of time over the last 2 weeks sorting through clothes that will work well as layers, pack well and enable me to wash them out at night so that they’ll dry quickly.

Fortunately, travel clothes have come a long way in the last 20 years and there are a lot more fashionable options today than ever before. I think I’ve narrowed down what I’ll be bringing with me in my one carry-on (that’s right, I’m not checking any bags!). Thought I’d share at least a partial list of my clothes:

• 1 pair of ExOfficio convertible pants
• 1 pair of Columbia capris
• 2 Columbia base layers
• 1 ExOfficio DryFlyLite
• 3 pairs of ExOfficio underwear (I’ve gotten away with 2 in the past but it’s always nice to have a spare so I’m not rinsing them out every single night)

I’ve got a couple of items on order from Royal Robbins – if they arrive on time, I might swap out an item or two.

I’ve also been using the Rough Guide books for research and will be carrying the Vietnam book with me on this trip and then my very trusty Lonely Planet guide to Bhutan.

As for electronics, this is where I usually get weighted down. Here’s what’s going in my bag:

• Kindle - I got a deal on one just before the holidays and have decided to carry this instead of paperback books. I’m excited to have found a book for free that I’ve always wanted to read, Autobiography of a Yogi.
• Digital Foci PhotoSafe – to back up my digital images from my SD card (hard lesson learned when I lost – but later recovered – about 300 images from India).
• iPhone - I’ll only use this for text messaging home and tapping into free wireless networks.
• Asus netbook – my latest purchase, which will allow me to keep up with my email and writing while I’m away.

This list is by no means complete. There’s my small bag of toiletries, snacks, paperwork, decaf tea bags and more. But it at least gives you an idea what I’ll be lugging around until April.

I’m hoping that since I’ll have the netbook, I’ll be able to blog from the road, sharing images of food, the locals, landscape and my groups!

Travel Well!

Beth

Related links:
Creature Comforts
Washing and Drying Travel Options
Tom Bihn Gear – win $200 in your name for Haiti!
Gear from XShot
Otterbox and Vemayca Cosmetic Bag

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