Four Seasons Hotels & Resorts

As a preferred partner of Four Seasons Hotels  look at these specials I can offer you  - and breakfast is included!  Call for more details - 828 697 0588

and China has three new hotels   - Guangzhou.  Shanghai and Beijing.

Punta Mita, Mexico50% Savings on Specialty SuitesBook any of the Resort's specialty suites (Coral, Arena, Sol, Luna) for a minimum four night stay and receive 50% off published rates, daily full American breakfast (2 breakfasts per bedroom), USD 500 meal credit applicable once per stay for Coral and Arena suites, USD 300 for Sol and USD 200 for Luna, daily use of private cabana at the Tamai pool, and personal host for entire stay. Offer valid for new bookings made by October 31, 2012 for travel through December 19, 2012.

VailStay Longer – Third Night FreeExtend your getaway to Vail, stay one paid night and let us offer you a complimentary second night.

Gresham Palace BudapestExperience More – USD 100 Hotel CreditBook a minimum of two consecutive nights and enjoy a USD 100 credit toward your food and beverage or spa charges.

Marrakech
Stay Longer – Third Night Free
To enjoy even more of our intimate Moroccan medina, allow us to offer you a complimentary third night with every two consecutive paid nights.

Vancouver
Stay Longer - Third Night Free
Stay longer in BC and enjoy a complimentary third night with every two consecutive paid nights.

Malawi Mouse Boys

As I posted about events on the edge of Lake Niassa in Mozambique it got me thinking about the time I visited Lake Nyasa as it was then, now called Lake Malawi if you are in the country of the same name.

Back then Monkey Bay was the place to escape to, an 'unplugged' bit of heaven and in all my years of living in the United States I have only met one other person who has been there.    My husband and I had the most amazing time here on Lake Malawi where the monkeys indeed stole our clothes, but I digress; as  my purpose for this post  is about the weird foods other people eat. 

My thoughts turned to the Malawi Mouse Boys, who, as they strove to reach their own fame and fortune in the music world sold barbecued mice on sticks to passing travelers. 

...and then my thoughts turned to the Peruvian delicacy of  Guinea Pig which needs a whole 24 hours to prepare and the strange feeling I got at the thought that some nations eat other nations pets?

But maybe I'm guilty of eating the weirdest food of all  - Mopane Worms. Yes, they too are considered a delicacy throughout the whole of southern Africa. 

So I thought  I'd put together a list of  weird food that is eaten around the world and look forward to hearing from anyone about other delicacies they have eaten . 

 

Nkwichi Lodge

The local chef

 Candlelight dining on the edge of the lake  

 Snorkeling for tropical fish

Bathtub with a difference

Sleeping under the stars . 

Guludo Beach Lodge

Two sisters at Guludo Beach

 Sand Spit at Rolas Island, part of the 32 coral islands that make up the Quirimba Archipelago.

Sustainable Tourism in Mozambique

I've just opened this months' Conde Nast Traveler, and you can imagine my surprise when I found two Mozambique destinations had won the World Savers Awards 2012  designation  under 'Health' and 'Doing It All'. ....and in  the same month that I decided to concentrate on Mozambique as the newest destination. As far as I know no other country has received two awards in the same year.  

Both small resorts exist to give back to the local communities.

The trusts that have been created at both Nkwichi Lodge, on the edge of Lake Niassa, and Guludo Lodge on the Indian Ocean in Mozambique  have built schools, maternity clinics,  a boarding house for secondary-school girls, an agriculture learning center,  a corn mill,  provided clean water to tens of thousands, fed thousands of malnourished children, distributed mosquito nets and more.  ...Both lodges encourage tourism and particularly honeymooners . This is unplugged travel at it's best.   

Brittany Ferries

Yikes - approximately 8,000 people are stranded after Brittany Ferries suspended service following  a series of wildcat strikes.  News today says they don't know when service will resume . For now all service between France, Ireland, UK and Spain are affected.  In case you are one of the stranded  that is reading this blog  P&O ferries and Myferrylink will accept your BrittanyFerry tickets.  Good Luck!

Mozambique

For those of us that grew up and live in New Jersey, we all know the connotations connected to going  to the 'New Jersey' shore for the weekend.

 I grew  up in Zimbabwe  and had the pleasure of going to Mozambique as my 'shore' destination.  Over the next fews weeks I want to share this most amazing destination where the beaches are pristine, the snorkeling; world class, deep sea fishing is unsurpassed and game viewing safaris are at your doorstep. 

...and if you haven't added sandboarding to your bucket list  do so now ....     

Mahalo

Happy Honeymooners!

They started their trip on Kauai  - went to Hana Maui, then  Four Seasons Maui and ended by taking the ferry across to Four Seasons Lanai . Congratulations! Planning your trip was so much fun .

American AIrlines - Qu'est que vous pensez?

I've just flown to Paris on American Airlines, a somewhat circuitous route - Charlotte to Miami to Charles de Gaulle, returning Paris to Kennedy - La Guardia to Charlotte, but when the price is right that's what you do. I play my usual cunningly quiet game and once again secure three seats to myself.

It was a wide- body out of Miami and two hours late taking off due to something or other that fell off the plane. No matter - these days one can expect such interruptions - we take off two hours later and when I ask for a glass of wine I'm given one.. On the return flight I'm charged $7.00 . I'm told that's because they don't charge for alcohol when a flight is delayed, but neither do they tell anyone. The flight attendant also happily adds that if they were to announce free alcohol all the passengers would  be drunk. American Airlines, do you seriously think that every other international airline that offers free alcohol on every flight carries drunk passengers?

Please give your passengers better creditility than that and enjoy the mileage you would get by apologising for being late and announce that there is no charge for wine ror beer - You'll get much more credit to do so than not to do so .

Route de Lavaux - Switzerland

As a Mom in Switzerland, my young children started their lives in the little village of Lutry, just outside  Lausanne on the edge of Lake Geneva.

This year the Lavaux Express is celebrating it's 10th anniversary. We used to hike this area, stop for an apperitif, absorb the beauty, gaze across to the Aiguille du midi of the French Alps and you can too. You too can take this local train on wheels and enjoy some grand cru wine tasting along the way.  It runs from April to October till the 'vendage' is over.  

  http://www.lavauxexpress.ch/?lan=en

I'm back!

It's been far too long since I've posted; much water has flowed under the bridge while the world has kept becoming more of an exciting place to explore.

Regular tours still abound but that's not why I'm in the travel business. I'm here to help you reach the heartbeat of the people, of their land and the heartbeat of our world.

We still need to absorb the inconveniences of flying but upon arrival the journey is so worth while.

I've so many exciting ideas, tips  and destinations to share , join me as I help you escape to both near and far off lands.