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April 2010 issue

Tasty thali

In the first of the letters compiled for “What to Eat Where” (Jan. ’10, pg. 42), there was an error in the conversion of the price of a thali; 150 to 250 rupees does not equal $1 but is more like $3.25-$5.50.

R150-R250 might be the price of a thali at a more upscale restaurant or for a special thali. On our trip to northern India and the Gangetic plain in November-December ’09, my husband, Clyde, and I found thalis in Delhi at fast-food chain restaurants for R100-R200, which we thought were expensive. A simple thali at an outdoor terrace restaurant above the ghats in Varanasi cost...

March 2004 issue

For travelers to northeast India

In fall 2003 I led a group through the Himalayas on our “Jewels of the Himalayas” program, Sept. 23-Oct. 17. Among places we visited in India were Darjeeling, west and east Sikkim and Kalimpong, then we entered Bhutan at the southern border town of Phuntsholing.

The road conditions in western Sikkim were particularly bad, with potholes and eroded roads that added much time to our road journeys from Darjeeling to Gangtok, the capital of the state of Sikkim. The worst stretch was from Darjeeling to Pelling. In late September the Indian road crews were busy repairing damaged roads on...

July 2005 issue

Peregrine Voyager to Antarctica

My wife and I took an extensive cruise in February-March ’05 that included Easter Island, northern Chile, Argentina (Buenos Aires) and finally Antarctica. Much has been written about Antarctica, and we reiterate what almost everyone reports: it’s magical!

In meeting other people who have cruised to Antarctica or around South America, we have found there is a huge difference in the experience depending on the type of ship chosen. Over 100 ships enter Antarctic waters each year, carrying fewer than 15,000 passengers total.

The range of choices starts with large cruise-tour...

April 2004 issue

The cruise that wasn’t

In mid-December ’03, 759 people — most from the U.S., Canada and Europe — gathered in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, to board a ship going 1,000 miles down the mightiest river in the world, the exotic Amazon. They looked forward to stopping en route at several Caribbean islands, including Devil’s Island.

As required, each had obtained a yellow fever inoculation and a Brazilian visa. Most had also purchased antimalaria pills. Many had done extensive research on the Amazon and its indigenous people as well as the various ports of call.

The ship was the award-winning Olympia Voyager...

May 2004 issue

Loved Shongololo Express trip

I read with interest Vern Lewis’ article of his train trip with Shongololo Express (March ’04, pg. 84). My husband, Joseph, and I took a Shongololo Express trip in October ’03 but chose to go only through South Africa, hence we took the 16-day “Good Hope” trip. The price was $2,300 each, excluding air. We, too, booked through Wild African Ventures (Shadow Hills, CA; phone 800/358-8530 or visit www.wild africanventures.com).

We started in Cape Town (magnifcent) and ended in Johannesburg. In between we toured the Garden Route, the mountains, Kruger National Park, Swaziland, Durban...

October 2010 issue

US line’s overseas bank fee

Reading Patricia Russell’s letter about a foreign-transaction fee (May ’10, pg. 14; also see July ’10, pg. 11) triggered my writing about my experience.

My wife, Ofelia, and I booked a 27-day cruise on Oceania’s Insignia from Valparaiso, Chile, to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, for March 7-April 3, 2010. We booked through Bob’s Cruises (162 - 3105 Dayanee Springs Blvd., Coquitlam, BC, V3E 0C2, Canada; 866/682-2627, www.bobscruises.com).

Although we live in Canada now, we have a USA credit card in US dollars through Citibank, so whenever we charge items in US dollars we use this card...

February 2004 issue

Barcelona-Andorra day trip

The small country of Andorra lies in the Pyrenees between France and Spain. Because of its location, methods of getting there are limited.

If driving, you can enter from either France or Spain. However, an easy and economical way to enter is to take the public bus; frequent trips are offered between Barcelona and Andorra la Vella, the capital.

The bus company to use is Alsina Graells (phone 93 2656866), which leaves Barcelona several times a day from Estacio del Nord (North Station), near the Arc de Triomf. Departures begin at 6:30 a.m.; however, this may vary depending upon...

March 2011 issue

Comparing Africa trips offered by OAT

I read Wanda Bahde’s article “Ultimate Africa — Going Beyond the Simple Safari in Botswana, Namibia and Zimbabwe” (Oct. ’10, pg. 44), about the trip she and her husband took with Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) in September-October 2009, and I could not concur more with their recommendation of this trip. My wife and I took the “Ultimate Africa” trip with OAT in July ’09 and had a superlative experience.

I have a few comments on Ms. Bahde’s assessment.

She wrote that they were advised by friends not to take the pre-trip extension to Kruger National Park in South Africa because...