Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia and Botswana

"Hakuna Matata" come on sing with me! Hakuna Matata! What a wonderful phrase Hakuna Matata! Ain't no passing craze It means no worries for the rest of your days, It's our problem-free, philosophy Hakuna Matata!

I just love that song, just like I loved the animated movie 'The Lion King' and where Disney set the scene, a place where you feel the WOW factor;  the African continent and where I spent three weeks with fourteen amazing people, in four of the most amazing countries.

It was my second visit to Botswana and Zambia and as I reflect, I realise why you just become addicted to some places and you want to go back again and again!

My soul can still feel the beat of the drums, the warmth and friendship from the Masai people as they sing and dance in front of me, the open plains of Kenya, the water deltas in Botswana, the rift valley and open craters of Tanzania, the picturesque Victoria falls in Zambia and all of them boasting to have some of  the most incredible species of wild animals you could ever imagine, no photo or camera can capture the true spirit of these amazing places, until you become a part of it.

Five star camping is definitely my style and even though I love the outdoors, I have never, ever been a camper and the thought of taking a holiday in a tent is definitely not on my "to do" list, unless however it is done African style and I can guarantee I would be there every weekend!

Each country and area we visited were different and the landscape gave us an indication on just how diverse and unique each country is.  So many highlights; crocodile eating a very large catfish, Lioness preparing for a kill, a cheetah in the Delta; it was our last day and no cats had been seen for over 6 months due to the flooding, the Leopard stalking the Zebras, the hippos outside our room while in the Delta, two male Lions standing and stretching and heading directly to our vehicle, an elephant in the Delta glaring and stamping his feet at our vehicle for separating him from his family, oh and not forgetting an elephant taking a shower in the Zambesi river as I am looking out from my massage table as the sun sets, it just cant get any better than that!.

I won't mention other highlights, otherwise this blog will go on and on, however I will share with you what a typical day on Safari generally consists of.

Each country allowed us to travel in different vehicles, which I enjoyed and each vehicle was best suited for the conditions of that particular area, I must admit I was pretty impressed that we only had one flat tyre and it wasn't while we were on safari!
We always went on 2 x 2 hour game drives every day whilst staying on camp; one in the morning and the other in the afternoon, as these are the best times for game viewing. 
Each drive is different and at each one you will experience moments that will stay embedded in your memory forever and that I can guarantee!. 

After watching so many documentaries on the National Geographic channel that generally take years to capture on film, rest assured you will experience some of these even if on safari for a short span of time.

I learnt so much more about the individual big 5 and the thousand of different species of birds and so many other animals, some that I had never even heard of, yes it was truly amazing! 
I often get asked so what is your favourite animal ? of course I love "Pumba" who plays the warthog in the Lion King, the cats - Lions, Leopards, cheetahs, oh and the Zebra's, Elephants, Rhinos and not forgetting the sleek and sexy Giraffe's, you just have to see the Waterbuck, oh and the Impalas! Okay I guess my answer is: "love them all" even the crocodiles look good in Africa!

If you are considering traveling to Africa it is so important to pick the right time to visit the country you are most interested in, if you are taking in more than one I suggest you go shoulder season, also costs are better than in the high season, which is Winter!

I had a truly incredible journey with 14 amazing people and I thank them for being a part of it.  What I love the most about taking groups away is you go away with friends and/or strangers and you come back as family and it is that bonding of a group that makes you appreciate the destination even more. 
When am I heading back you ask? September 2012, so if you are interested in coming just send me a quick email, if you just cant wait check out our Delta Dunes safari that leaves in September 2011. 

I am now planning my next trip for 2011, I am returning to Israel and Jordan with the option for you to extend and go to Egypt.  I have created an exceptional tour with a company that comes with my highest recommendation. I look forward to hearing from you.
I have attached some of my favourite shots which I hope will make you feel and appreciate my recent journey to the African Continent!  Love you all.....................cheers  Ida

Travelling with the best: Peru, Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail

Travelling with the best: Peru, Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail

Peru, Machu Picchu and the Inca Trail

While going through some photos this morning, I sat in awe as I distinctly remember my trip to Peru in South America and my 4 day trek of the Inca Trail. 

Geographically, Machu Picchu is located partly in the Andes and partly in the Amazon rainforest. The perculiar emplacement of the citadel is characterized by tropical vegetation. This type of ecosystem is the habitat of unique species of flora and fauna, some of them threatened with extinction.

 In order to complete the Inca Trail, you need to have a reasonable level of fitness, age shouldn't be an obstacle. It is essential to be well acclimatized to the altitude. The maximum height above sea level along the way is 13779 feet above sea level (4200 masl). If travelling from sea level it is reccommended to spend at least 2 days in Cusco before attempting the trek. Visiting the city of Cusco, the ruins of Sacsayhuaman and the gorgeous Sacred Valley of the Incas is ideal for acclimatization.
Once you have completed the inca trail hike and if a day can be squeezed in your itinerary, it is highly recommended to stay overnight in Aguas Calientes and return to Cusco on the fifth day - giving you more time to explore Machu Picchu and the surrounding area - hike the orchid trail, Huayna Picchu ascent or just wonder around.
My personal memories of this trip are still very alive and well.  I would have to say it was one of the most memorable and amazing experiences of my life. I can still visualise the rugged mountains, the clean fresh air, the fittest sherpers one would find and the friendliest people on earth. 

If you want to challenge yourself while experiencing an amazing and unique holiday, I highly reccomend incorporating this trek in your South American holiday and definitely visiting Peru.
Qantas fly direct from Sydney to Buenos Aires and you can then connect with Aerolineas or Lan Peru from there, a stopover in Buenos Aires is also reccommended.  This is just one option, there are so many others. 

Let us plan and book your South American Adventure holiday, you can contact one of our professional consultants who will help plan your itinerary to this amazing and unique part of the world! 

South Africa with Kelly

2010 World Cup, Safaris and the BIG 5! Can you guess what these things all have in common -

SOUTH AFRICA!

On Monday June 21 with my bags packed and full of excitement I met my Africa Safari Co Representative and began my adventure with a 14 hour flight from Sydney to Johannesburg! Upon arrival and after collecting our luggage our small group of 7 were transferred to Peermont Metcourt Emperors Palace which is a new 3 star hotel and is conveniently located next to Tambo International Airport Johannesburg.
Our next stop for two nights was at Jatinga Country Lodge which is located on the outskirts of White River just outside of Nelspruit and is also located approx 38km from the world famous Kruger National Park. After our day of sightseeing, we were transferred to Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit for the World Cup soccer match between Australia and Serbia!
As a majority of my weekends are spent supporting and following our local soccer team, the opportunity to attend and watch a World Cup match was the best and most amazing experience ever! The atmosphere is ecstatic, the adrenaline just pumps through you and it’s just magical!

After departing Nelspruit we made our way to Hoyo Hoyo Tsonga Bush Lodge where we stayed for two nights. Hoyo Hoyo Tsonga Lodge is located in the Kruger National Park bordering the Northern Sabi Sands and Manyeleti Game Reserves, the lodge boasts a breath-taking blend of ethnic luxury, built in traditional tribal design.

Ten minutes drive from Hoyo Hoyo Lodge is Hamiltons Tented Camp and Imbali Safari Lodge, these three lodges are all apart of Kingfisher Resorts and all offer magnificent hospitality, exceptional service and gastronomic excellence ensuring an unforgettable African Safari experience. While on our safari at Kruger National Park, there are so many animals that you we saw on our game drives elephants, giraffes, antelope, zebra, lions, hippos along with many other species. However my most memorable spotting was two puff adders on the side of the road and a black rhino which is very rare.

Our last two nights’ we stayed on Sabi Sands Game Park Reserve at Kirkman’s Kamp. Kirkman’s Kamp has spectacular views of the unspoilt wilderness, overlooks the Sand River and has exceptional African wildlife and leopard sightings! We were very lucky to spot all the BIG 5 at this reserve which means yes we spotted a leopard in a tree! It was the most amazing and beautiful sighting ever, what made this even more spectacular was hyenas lying underneath the tree waiting for the leopard meal to drop to the ground. I will never forget it!

Whether it’s your first time to South Africa, or you have visited before I am sure that all your time spent there will be something you will remember for years to come, I had the most amazing experience and will never forget it! I can highly recommend travelling with Africa Safari Co. whether you’re interested in a self-drive holiday, a budget overland safari or maybe a deluxe lodge safari and unlimited game viewing opportunities, they will help you design your perfect safari and the holiday of a lifetime!

Montreal, Beverly Hills and Vegas

It has been awhile in between trips, so I hope you enjoy my new blog, that will hopefully tempt you.

The latter part of the year has been exceptionally busy at travel experience.com as we have seen a 35% increase in travel, particularly to the US and Canada. You can understand why, our dollar is strong, flights are cheap, amazing destinations to visit and they both have so much to offer the holiday maker.

I have always had a love and passion for these countries, so having the opportunity to visit again really put a smile on my face.

I travelled to Montreal, East Canada with Sherri, my first time to this part of the country and wow I just loved the ambiance of the quaint Province of Quebec, with its french influence, fascinating history, home of Cirque du Soleil, these were just some of my highlights, of course attending the 101st Rotary Convention, for the first time was also a wow factor!
What can I say exceptional guest speakers including Queen Noor of Jordan, Dolly Parton and a host of other amazing people who are doing so much in the Rotary world.

Montreal is a great city and boasts some amazing architecture, great restaurants and the best crepes in the world! I had a truly memorable experience topped with a well organised convention, great fellowship with over 17,500 Rotarians from around the globe and catching up with a friend who was an exchange student in Mareeba over 23 years ago. I absolutely loved it!

As a Vegas addict for so many reasons, I had the opportunity to stop in for a few nights prior to the convention. Great new hotel in Vegas called the ARIA, very classy and it boasts the new Cirque du soleil using music from non-other than the King of Rock n Roll himself Elvis Presley. I got to see Cher for a second time, she is still amazing and her show was outstanding. Shows are a must do in Vegas and if only stopping for a few nights I do recommend pre-booking before you go.

After the convention I was able to spend a few nights with my niece who has now moved to Beverly hills, always a different experience when you holiday with a local and from a locals perspective.

We shopped at some great department stores which were offering massive discounts, dined at some great restaurants, I particularly enjoyed brunch at Kings cafe on Robertson Boulevard, where I was able to take a sneak peek at some famous stars. My highlight, however, was being part of a live television audience for Jimmy Kimmel and meeting Tom Cruise!

If you are considering travelling to the US and Canada we will not only give you great airfares and accommodation packages, we have some hot tips, great restaurants that we recommend and non-touristy suggestions that will give you a more cultural local experience, we look forward to welcoming you!

Until next time stay safe, live, love and laugh.
cheers
Ida

Cowboys vs Storm Dairy Farmers Stadium Townsville

Recently I travelled to Townsville to attend a conference and it just happened to be the same weekend that the Cowboys played the Storm! I had never been to a game at the newly renovated stadium, you may be shocked thinking "what!"

Well you know what it's like when you have something in your own back yard you keep putting it off and saying "I will do it sometime soon" luckily, that weekend was the right time!

We stayed at the newly renovated Holiday Inn, the old sugar shaker, which is located right in the heart of Flinders mall and directly opposite the Cowboys leagues club, how convenient!

For only $10 you can purchase a return ticket on the city bus, which is located across the road from the leagues club. It will take you out to the stadium and back to the same spot directly after the game, how good is that! Oh! I must add that the trip back on the bus, is fun and very interesting. You must also have a drink at the Cowboys leagues club after the game the whole team call in for the presentation and supporters are welcome!

I was so impressed with not only the efficiency of the buses, location, prices, but the whole set up, is just so well organised, I was even happier when I got there and realised I could get a real drink at the bar.

The night was amazing! I can guarantee that you won't feel crowded or uncomfortable, we had grandstand seats, which we purchased at really good prices. The only disappointment about the night, was, that the Cowboys lost.

Not that it really mattered, as I was with great friends and we just had an exceptional night out.
The Holiday Inn have packages to all Cowboys matches and I have just been thinking about going down in July when the Cowboys take on the Broncos, that will be interesting especially as Geoff is a huge Broncos supporter.

Both Virgin and Qantas fly to Townsville and they have some competitive airfares as well, so if you don't like to tackle the 4 to 5 hour drive take a flight instead you will be there in 40 minutes.

Hire a car and enjoy Townsville it is quite a nice city to visit.
cheers
Ida

Dubai is located on the Eastern coast of the Arabian Peninsula, in the south west corner of the Arabian Gulf. It is extremely well known for its warm hospitality and rich cultural heritage, and the Emirati people are welcoming and generous in their approach to visitors. With year-round sunshine, intriguing deserts, beautiful beaches, luxurious hotels and shopping malls, fascinating heritage attractions and a thriving business community, receives millions of leisure and business visitors each year from around the world. .
Nina and I recently escorted one of our niche small group tours to Dubai for the 2010 Dubai World Cup at the new Meydan Racetrack; wow what can I say they surely know how to throw a party. We flew Malaysian via Kuala Lumpur and while it’s not the quickest way to get to Dubai, it offered us a stopover in Kuala Lumpur on the way home and the flight cost was exceptional great value for money.

I do recommend if you are considering travelling to Dubai for an extended holiday, consider going January through to March, it is winter and the temperature is much cooler than summer.
Whether you like horse racing or not I also recommend holidaying during Dubai Cup Week, you will have the opportunity to experience something so amazing and so unique, that there is nothing quite like it anywhere in the world.

During our 7 night stay, our home was at the Layia Oak Hotel Apartments located in new Dubai, close to the Emirates mall, Palm Island and the Atlantis Hotel and water park.
You just have to experience a desert safari where you take in a 4wd tour on the desert sands you will try local cuisine, ride a camel and get a henna tattoo and even smoke Apple tobacco from a Sheisha.

Other highlights included, afternoon tea at the Burj and the Arabian Nights dinner hosted by HRH Sheik Mohammed Bin Rajesh Mahktoum, the evening also included half an hour of spectacular fireworks that filled the night sky.

This was definitely not my last trip to Dubai, it is a totally amazing city, I love the mix of Middle Eastern and Western culture, I loved the service and the amazing dining experiences and I know when I go there is always something new to see and do.

I will be heading back to the World Cup again in 2011, so if you are interested in coming you can register your interest by calling one of our team members at either Mareeba or Atherton!

India with Rotary

I recently had the opportunity to travel to Mumbai, India, on a Rotary project. The project had started in my year as President with the Mareeba Rotary club in 2008-2009, where the years theme was Make Dreams Real.

That year, ten Mareeba Rotarians ran in the great wheelbarrow race from Mareeba to Chillagoe whilst raising $4500 for the street kids in Mumbai. Through my connections with a friend, Nina, Sherri and I travelled to Mumbai to distribute the funds raised.

Mumbai, formerly called Bombay is the capital of the Indian state of Maharashtra, it is the most populous city in India and one of the most populous cities in the world with a population of approximately 21 million.
It’s known for its chaotic street scenes and the outdoor bazaars top the list of attractions, for the bargains and the people-watching. Popular waterfront destinations are Marine Drive, where you can go watch the sun set over the Arabian Sea, and the carnival-like Juhu Beach. More sightseeing options are the Gandhi Museum, in the leader's former home, the cave temples of Elephanta Island and the Gateway of India which was opened on December 4, 1924, to commemorate King George V and Queen Mary visit in December 1911. For tranquility, Mumbai has many religious sites, lakes and parks.
Yes, I saw poverty, pollution, dirty streets, people sleeping on the streets, hunger, beggars, no sewerage or clean water, but I also saw determined people helping and planning projects and trying to make a difference in the society in which they live.
As a tourist, I will also always remember the distinct smells, the architecture, the food, the kindness shown to me by complete strangers, the warm welcome we received from the children and their families, the vibrant colours, the ladies carriage on the train, the culture, the shopping, the transport, the cows, the elephants, the taxis oh and for certain the chocolate bomb dessert at the coffee shop.

I will always remember the friendships, the curries, the shopping and the chocolate bomb desserts, but most of all I will always, always remember the faces of the children we met!

Oh, how I LOVED it and yes It was an amazing experience in so many ways and one that will stay with me forever! The Golden Question would I go back? – DEFINITELY

Europe with Mannuela

Ever thought there must be more to life than just working? If so consider Europe as your next holiday destination, it’s packed full of things to see, do and you will absolutely love it!
My husband and I recently returned from our long awaited European holiday. We started our trip with a stopover in Dubai, with enough time to take in a city tour, desert safari, the Atlantis Hotel on the Jameriah Palm and the water slides at Aquaventure Park.
After our stopover we set off to visit 17 countries in 8 weeks, these included England, France, Switzerland, Monaco, Italy, Vatican City, Austria, Germany, Czech Republic, Netherlands, Belgium, San Marino, Greece, Turkey, Egypt, Ireland and Scotland. It seems as though we covered most of Europe and considering the amount of time we had, we really captured all the highlights of these countries and had some amazing experiences!
We spent the first 3 weeks on tour with Contiki and then we travelled independently through southern Italy taking in all the sights, we used local trains, and hired a car through Sicily. We then welcomed our Royal Caribbean- Mediterranean, 12 day cruise, it was a great way to relax and unwind after our hectic travels. After our cruise we flew to Ireland and Scotland to visit family and friends before our long flight home. I’d love to share all my experiences with you, so if you are thinking of travelling to Europe let me know and I can certainly put together a great itinerary for you.
As for my favourite places I would say that my favourite beach was Taormina in Sicily. Prague, London and Paris were definitely my favourite cities, with so much history and things to see and do. Switzerland was my favourite country and boasts landscaped mountains and scenery that just takes your breath away, and of course the best place to have a drink is at the the Temple Bar in Dublin.
Europe has so much to offer every traveler, if you have not been, put it on you’re to do list in 2010!

China

In China everything is different to what we are used to, you need a good sense of humour and adventure to accept history, culture and attitudes so unlike ours. You will certainly see sites and experience smells which you will not see in Australia so don’t be too surprised. Although China is booming and developing it still lacks some international standards of infrastructure, toilets can be very basic. I would highly recommend an escorted tour, Wendy Wu Tours employ English speaking guides and local guides at every city who are very professional, knowledgeable and helpful.
In November I was invited to attend the Wendy Wu Mega Famil alongside Agents from all over Australia and South Africa. We flew into Shanghai via Hong Kong with Cathay Pacific. Shanghai is a bustling, contemporary city with history, style and culture. There we saw the Yu Garden, Yuan Bazaar, Nanjing Road, (the world’s longest shopping street attracting 1 million visitors per day), Jin Mao Tower, China’s third tallest skyscraper. On the eastern side of Huangpu River, Pudong is full of skyscrapers and the financial hub of Shanghai. Shanghai is also the hometown of Jackie Chan and this year will host a world expo from May through to October. Before our flight to Xian we took the Maglev train to Pudong airport, the journey takes 7 minutes and 20 seconds to complete the distance of 30km, the train reached 431 km an hour ( I have the photo to prove it).
Xian is located on the banks of the Yellow River and has a history dating back to 1000BC, it was also the starting point of the Silk Road. Xian’s ancient city wall is the best persevered in all of China and has one of the largest military defensive systems in the world. One of the highlights of the trip was going to see the Terracotta Warriors and Horses, Emperor Qin Shi Huang’s tomb had an army to protect him in the afterlife. Thousands of workers worked for more than a decade to create the life sized army. Altogether over 7 000 pottery soldiers, horses, chariots and weapons have been unearthed from the pits.
As the saying goes “you have not been to China until you have climbed the Great Wall”. A must do when in Beijing, China’s capital, the panoramic views from the wall are amazing and then you imagine all the hard work that went into the construction of the wall. After the exhausting walk on a section of the 5000km wall, we visited the 2008 Olympic Stadium and Aquatic Centre.
China a must do on your travel list!