Travel plan idea blog

Pictures of Plantation Bay

I still have another article on Plantation Bay coming, but I thought that I should add some pictures. This first picture shows a Plantation Bay pool. In the back, you can see the darker blue of the ocean and a cool-looking cloud.

Note how the pool is empty. I was constantly impressed by the atmosphere at Plantation Bay. You weren't all alone, but it did seem like there were almost as many employees as visitors.

This pool, the elevated pool at Mogambo Falls, was a fun one. The waterfall makes tons of bubbles. The resort says they look like milk and feel like champagne. Maybe, maybe not - all I can say is that my wife and I had the pool all to ourselves and the bubbles were a lot of fun. It was definitely one of the more memorable parts of my trip to Cebu.

There was algae or something on the bottom of this pool so I went in with my sandals on.

If you haven't seen my reviews of Plantation Bay yet, there's an overview / description of my first night, and a description of my first full day.

Go somewhere exotic to find a model for your garden

Here's an interesting article on expensive tours (2 week tours in the $8,000 range not including airfare) to places like Papua New Guinea, Bhutan, and the Maldives (over $10,000 but your bungalow comes with a sailboat). There are also spots in Europe, including Slovenia. Interestingly I was just talking to some friends about going to Slovenia because it's cheap. But I guess some people are willing to pay big bucks anyway.

When go to these exotic destinations, make sure to check out some gardens so that you can make your neighbors jealous. Here's an article about modeling your garden after what would be found wherever you travel. After all, a "garden can recreate the excitement of stepping onto foreign lands every day."

Thanks for making mine a popular travel blog - upcoming review of Liberty of the Seas

This is a reader appreciation thread since having a popular travel blog has some cool rewards I wasn't expecting.

Many of you will remember all the trouble I had a few months ago finding a web host that could handle this blog now that we're getting thousands of readers a day. Then I found a web host and complained about the cost.

Well I paid (I'm still paying obviously), and now it's time for my reward. Royal Caribbean has invited me on a 2 night cruise on their newest ship, Liberty of the Seas. This ship is brand new - it's on its way to America from Europe (where they're having quite a party it seems). So on this blog you'll get a review and some pictures of the new ship. The free cruise includes all drinks and entertainment while on board.

I'm fairly sure that Royal Caribbean wouldn't have made this offer if they didn't consider this blog fairly influential so thank you for coming here and reading! This offer is very exciting for me and I hope you'll enjoy the review of Liberty of the Seas as much as I expect my parents will enjoy the free cruise. Yes, my parents will be taking the free cruise, taking pictures, and collecting information for my review.

First full day Plantation Bay experience and review

If you missed my first night at Plantation Bay experience, you may want to read that first before continuing here with my first full day Plantation Bay experience and review.

Our first full day in Plantation Bay started quite late. I think we woke up around 1:00 after about 10 hours of sleep. Some reviews I read online complained about the hard beds. I personally prefer hard beds – My mattress is right on the floor with no box spring or anything. Anyway, every morning my wife and I woke up with sore backs. A little stretching helped tremendously (as did floating around the pools all day I bet).

We called someone (our butler, guest services, or something like that) with a question about which restaurants were open but got hung up on. I called three more times to test their service and had no more trouble. On the third call we asked for a golf cart to come pick us up and we went to the Kilimanjaro Café for lunch (or breakfast or whatever).

The freshly squeezed mango juice continued to thrill us even though it was no longer free. I think it was around 260 pesos which is about $5.50. We thought it was well worth it, but I understand why some people complain about the prices online. In a nice restaurant outside the resort you’re looking at about $1.25. Like I said in my overview, if you’re not willing to spend money then don’t go to a resort. I don’t think Plantation Bay is for bargain hunters. No 5 star resort is.

There are bargains to be found however. My lunch was one of them; for about $10 I got a Filipino beef stew, Pochero Cebuano style. The serving was huge – easily enough for two people. My wife got some shrimp in a salty Filipino marinade which she loved.

After eating way too much (and not coming close to finishing my meal) we figured we'd do something to help us digest. You can borrow a bike for 1 hour/day at Plantation Bay (or longer if you pay) so we got a golf cart ride to the game room and signed out a pair of bikes. The bikes are only available until 6:00 PM though.

We rode our bikes around Plantation Bay, stopping at the store where my wife bought an inflatable tube to help keep her from sinking in the water that is almost never deep enough to reach your neck anyway (there are two well-marked deep areas in the lagoon). We also met a rude security guard when we entered some kind of parking lot on our bikes.
The guard wasn’t exactly shouting, but he certainly wasn't smiling or being remotely polite when he said, “Just go.” I hate being told what to do, and I really hate paying for people to boss me around so this bothered me. I rode my bike over to him and asked him why. "Just go!"

I asked, "So bikes aren’t allowed here?"
"Just go!"
"So bikes aren’t allowed here?"
"Right."

So I left. I managed not to let that experience bother me but you’d think that they could train these guys to be polite.

After the bike ride, we went to the fresh water pool by the Kilimanjaro café and spent a couple of hours there. They have a few hot-tub like areas in the pool and there was always one available. One great thing about Plantation Bay is that it’s really not crowded.

Then we went for a free archery lesson (every Friday). There was no actual lesson, but you did get to shoot a bow and arrow. We did this for a few minutes and it seems that there’s only one bow since other people had to wait for us to feel like we were done. If we hadn’t gotten bored so easily those folks could have been forced to wait a while.

Then we went to the dive shop and rented snorkeling stuff for $7 / hour. The snorkeling at Plantation Bay was neat. The water is mostly quite shallow so the fish are very close. They also arrange diving and snorkeling 2 hour excursions but my wife learned that she was not comfortable snorkeling even with a guy from the dive shop holding her hand and trying to teach her.

I had to send back my first set of equipment to get stuff in better condition. I also managed to cut my finger on something but they didn’t have a band aid for me at the dive shop. They offered me a role of gauze but I passed.

Then we went back to the freshwater pool by the Kilimanjaro. We were thirsty and had to wait a long time (maybe 15 minutes) for someone to come serves us at the swim-up bar. A good mango shake cost us around $5.50 again, 264 pesos. At the bar I met a Filipino guy who said it was his third trip to Plantation Bay. This guy actually lived near Boracay where he said the beaches are much nicer. He comes to Plantation Bay because it’s exclusive. I have to say I was very pleasantly surprised that there were relatively few people there. It helps that the place is huge.

He did give us a tip for bargain hunters. He likes to get the number of a call taxi at Cebu’s airport when he flies in. When it’s time to eat he calls up the taxi (which meets him outside the main gate) and then gets the Plantation Bay golf cart to drive him to the main gate. He eats outside the resort to save money.

He recommended a Filipino restaurant named Gerry’s Grill in the Ayala Mall. The hotel car cost us 670 pesos one way for the 45 minute trip. It was a small Toyota but clean and comfortable. However my seatbelt was broken; you expect better when you’re paying extra (the taxi back was under 200 pesos). The rest of that experience isn’t exactly part of my Plantation Bay review so I’ll save it for later.

When we got back to the resort we spent a half hour in the PC room (half an hour is free – any more than that and you pay). There are only 3 or 4 computers there, but I never saw anyone waiting. It’s open from 8:00 AM until 6:00 PM.

We spent the next few hours swimming. I loved swimming in the warm water at night. There were a few other people but we felt pretty much alone. Plantation bay says to request a lifeguard if you want to go swimming after 8:00 PM but I don’t think anyone actually did that.

All in all it was a wonderful day.

Plantation Bay review: overview + first night experience

Plantation Bay resort in Cebu, the Philippines (Lapu Lapu City on Mactan Island to be exact) is great for couples and families that want an exclusive resort experience. Singles who want to unwind will enjoy not being bothered but are unlikely to meet any other singles. People looking to really experience Filipino culture won’t find much on the resort (though you can learn something from talking to employees and trying Filipino food). People looking for bargains should stay in a cheap hotel and eat on the street with Filipinos. To enjoy a stay at Plantation Bay you have to be willing to spend money.

That was the short version of my Plantation Bay review. The long version is included in the following Plantation Bay experience story. This is part 1, our first night:

I’ll write about Cebu Pacific Airways and Cebu’s airport in the future; for now we’ll just say that we passed through immigration and had our bags at 11:45. There was a fellow there holding a Plantation Bay sign and we went over to a little Plantation Bay gathering area to wait for other people from our flight who would also be taking the Plantation Bay shuttle.

The waiting area was pleasant enough. It was still in the restricted part of the airport so there were no crowds and the chairs were fairly comfortable although I didn’t feel like sitting (having just gotten off the plane).

We saw that we might have a long wait so we thought we’d look for an ATM (Plantation Bay doesn’t have an ATM although they can exchange currency at the resort). I suppose the rest of that story will be told later in my piece on Cebu’s airport.

By 12:15 they decided to leave without the others as they must have missed the flight. When we got in the van, however, we saw that they were already there. Apparently poor communication between the driver and the greeter meant that while we were waiting for them in the airport, they were waiting for us in the van. I’m sure the airport was more comfortable although the van was OK.

At 12:24 we found ourselves back at the airport to pick up some late arrivals. During the 17 minute ride to Plantation Bay, we saw a relatively impoverished Cebu. A few images that have stuck in my mind are the “buses” that look more like trucks. When room runs out inside people hang onto the back. We saw people selling cigarettes on the street. It looked like you could buy them one at a time which reminded me of my grandfather (when he was a kid in 1930s New York City his older brother would send him to buy cigarettes but not whole packs if I remember the story correctly). We saw many Korean restaurants (with signs written in Korean characters) and several KGVs (expensive bars where female companionship is available). We noticed that drivers turn their headlights on and off while they drive and that handmade signs on trees were common ads. We saw some dogs that might have been strays and my wife is certain she saw yellow goats.

Then at 12:41 we entered Plantation Bay. The first impression was an impressive one as everything went pretty smoothly. At check-in they went over a map of the resort with us and gave us a welcome mango juice (free). This was freshly squeezed mango juice, not the cheap stuff that comes out of a plastic bottle.

We went to pick up our bags but bell service insisted and I was glad for the no-tipping policy. Call me cheap, but I hate tipping someone for carrying a light bag that I'd prefer to carry myself anyway. We got in a little golf cart (where the no tipping policy was clearly stated on a large sign) kind of thing and they drove us all around the resort pointing out where things were. After getting a virtual tour with the map and then a real tour on the golf cart we felt fairly comfortable finding our way around the resort. It's very big but you can’t really get lost (and I’m a master at getting lost).

As the guide / cart driver unlocked our door and brought our bags in, my wife asked if there were many mosquitoes. We were a bit worried when he said yes. Then he quickly added that they spray regularly. I hate mosquitoes, and they love me and my wife so I was expecting to be fighting them off all weekend. We each came home with one or two mosquito bites and no complaints on that account.

Our first impression of the Water's Edge room was very positive. The room was clean and spacious, the balcony was a nice size and had steps descending into the very large salt water lagoon. I heard that this lagoon is the largest salt water pool in Asia; it certainly seemed huge to me.

The small, old TV looked out of place but I didn’t come to Plantation Bay to watch Filipino TV so I didn’t care. I did care about the bugs; we saw 3 in the first 5 minutes in our room. First my wife killed a mosquito. Then she called me to kill a cockroach on the bathroom wall and a millipede-type bug in our bathroom sink. Despite getting off to a bad start, we didn’t see another bug in our room until our last day so I actually have no complaints and seeing a few at the beginning of our stay.

We spent a few more minutes taking stock of the room. The lights and AC only come on when they key is in its little place by the door and it took us a minute to get that thing inserted properly. It also took us a minute to unlock the door leading to the balcony. Then I found a mosquito-repellent thing which I was desperate to plug in. It took me a minute to find the right kind of outlet – it was behind the TV. They give you flip-flops (tongs), an umbrella, a bit of dried mango candy, and 2 small bottles of water. My wife was hoping for a bathrobe but no luck there.

At 1:00 AM we walked into the water from our balcony. The water was warm, there were stars in the sky, and the bottom of the lagoon was slimy in parts. Some of the complaints I read online mentioned how "filthy" the lagoons were. While there was some moss on the bottom in parts, it didn’t bother me much. I figure people at Plantation Bay can do any of the following:

1. step on the moss. It's not that bad.
2. swim past the moss. There are only a few areas where the bottom is slimy.
3. wear sandals in the water.
4. not go in the water, stay in your room, and dream about how much you can complain to people who don't want to listen to you.

I chose options 1 through 3 at different points during my stay. Also not that the fresh water pools have no moss issues so if you can't handle it just head for a different pool; stay out of the lagoon. One thing I liked about the lagoon was the wooden platform with hammock not far from our room. My favorite part was floating on my back looking up at the stars. Plantation Bay turns most of the lights out after midnight.

One thing about leaving your water’s edge room through the back door is that you won’t be locking it behind you. Make sure your valuables are in the safe. We left our room like this for hours and never worried about anyone swimming up to our back door, entering our room, and stealing our towels or whatever. All the good stuff was locked up. Also remember that the lagoon is salt water so if you kiss your wife on the shoulder, it's going to taste pretty awful.

That's it for our first night in Plantation Bay. Everything I talked about here happened in about 2-3 hours. After our 1:00 AM swim (which might have lasted an hour) we went to bed.

Getting ready for vacations and going on divorcemmons

This article covers 2 pretty different topics. First it talks about getting ready for vacation. This can include cleaning before vacation, or buying a special perfume before vacation (you wear it on vacation and then whenever you smell that scent again you remember your vacation).

Then they talk about divorcemoons:

The Ultimate Divorcee Vacation package is being offered by the deluxe, all-inclusive Grand Velas All Suites and Spa Resort in Nuevo Vallarta, Mexico. The package includes an ocean-view suite, a four-hour "Diamond Divorce" spa experience (body exfoliation, massage, facial, manicure and pedicure) - and a private consultation with a jeweler to explore what the hotel's public relations folks call "the ultimate challenge - what to do with the 'bling' (wedding and engagement rings) from a marriage."

You know how they say getting divorced is expensive? Well this divorcee vacation costs over $1,000/night.

Hyatt Resort reality TV show: The Ultimate Adventure Challenge

Hyatt Resort's The Ultimate Adventure Challenge has a lame name but is a brilliant marketing idea.

Families with at least one child between 9 and 12 can try to participate by uploading 90 second videos (of the entire family) on the official site. The first 1,000 entrants by May 30 will be eligible to compete. Hyatt Hotels Corp. says family video entries should "convey their passion for adventure and exploration while noting why their family should be selected for the competition."

Eventually, 5 families will participate in this reality show by staying in a Hyatt property (and getting filmed a lot). Then people who watch the "webisodes" vote for who should win the free 50 night stay in a Hyatt resort.

They also explain the theory behind the idea: "The idea came about because we know a lot of travelers are online researching, and our research indicated they wanted even more content online that's both entertaining and also informative; this also lets us go beyond traditional media."

I think it's brilliant. Hyatt will get a ton of publicity from this. They already had good brand awareness, but now people, lots of people, are talking about Hyatt. That has to be good for business, especially when they start talking about the webisodes - all the fun activities people can do on vacation while staying at a Hyatt.

Vermont blog from someone in the tourism industry

Before I went to Cebu, I heard about a Vermont travel blog that I've been meaning to share with you. Those of you who have been with me since before August 2006 and have good memories may recall that I was a camp counselor in Burlington Vermont in the summer of 2000.

The other blog was able to give me a few updates. The information should be pretty accurate since the blogger runs a B&B in Vermont... Actually the B&B looks so good that I'm about to email them about possibly going there for a little anniversary thing this August...

Hotel experiences in Rome & Venice

After yesterday's entry, Lin asked:

Does anyone have any suggestions for a nice hotel in Rome? I am planning 3 or 4 days in Rome, and then possibly take a train to Venice. Any suggestions as to a hotel in Venice? Thanks

I stayed at an expensive hotel in Rome (it was a wedding gift) and a cheap hotel in Venice (which I paid for myself).

The hotel in Rome was excellent, but very expensive. Grand Hotel Plaza on Via del Corso starts at about 400 Euros/night. I don't think it was that bad in 2001 because we didn't have to worry about Euros or the weak dollar back then. Then again, things just don't get real cheap in Rome.

Even Express by Holiday Inn San Giovanni is close to $300/night. They boast good customer satisfaction and great location but this is a 3 star hotel. Express By Holiday Inn Rome East is about half that but the location is not what most tourists are looking for - it's on the outskirts or Rome in an ugly area and you need a shuttle to get to the subway.

Next time I'm in Rome I'm going to find an apartment - these are often less expensive than hotels in comparable locations even if you have to pay the higher rate for a short stay discounts are for stays over 1 week or 1 month).

The hotel in Venice was fine. Hotel Bernardi-Semenzato is around $115/night now. We paid 95,000 lira which was about $50 back in 2001 (for a double with no bathroom). There is a curfew.

Maria recommended "Forum Hotel. And try asking for a room overlooking the Forum/Palatine Hills" in the comments for yesterday's post.

Rome, Istanbul, Canary Islands travel plan

Warmer European travel spots like Greece, Cyprus, Turkey and the Canary Islands are popular tourist destinations for good reason. This travel plan will try to incorporate some popular and warm European destinations for the next time you need to escape the cold. This is not really a summer travel plan - places like Rome and Istanbul are a little too hot and too crowded in the summer - it's better to visit them some other time.

Travel days are left empty - fill them up of you can depending on when flights leave and arrive. Personally I prefer to stay in one place a while longer so this vacation plan, while written by me, is not one that I'd actually try. There's just too large a percentage of time taken up traveling between destinations.

Day 1: Rome

We fly into Rome because it has the biggest airport of the countries we'll be dealing with. Tonight you'll want to visit some of the famous piazzas and fountains. Piazza di Spagna is where a lot of expats hang out at night, some with guitars. Fontana di Trevi is a must-see as is Piazza Navona.

Day 2: Rome

You have to see the Vatican although I somehow spent 4 weeks in Rome without visiting it. Clearly, I could never go into enough detail here, but you want to see Piazza San Pietro, Basilica di San Pietro, the Vatican Museum, and the Sistine Chapel.

Day 3: Rome / Istanbul

Day 4: Istanbul

Visit Topkapi Palace (museum and harem). Get there when the harem opens at 9:30 Am and go there first - tours begin every half hour. (in the summer this place is so full of tour groups that you may not get one of the tours). You'll probably spend the rest of your day (at least until 5:00 when the palace closes) exploring the rest of Topkapi.

However, you want to save some time for the Aya Sofya (Hagia Sophia, Sancta Sophia). The mosaic galleries close at 4:00 and the site itself closes at 4:30. It opens at 9:30 so you could always do this one first.

Day 5: Istanbul

Start with the Hippodrome and Blue Mosque since these are right next to each other. The Blue Mosque includes the Carpet Museum and Great Palace Mosaics Museum.

Then head to Kapali Carsi or the Grand Bazaar. Parts are quite touristy, but you can still find authentic shops that cater to Turkish people. Be wary of pick pockets and purse snatchers. The Bazaar closes at 6:30.

Day 6: Istanbul / Tenerife

Playa de las Americas, Los Christianos, Golf del Sur, Los Gigantes, Playa Paraiso, Las Caletillas, and quieter hotels in Puerto del la Cruz are popular spots for Tenerife holidays. Tourists mostly visit the south part of the island (this is the largest Canary island) while the north side allows you to see more local culture.

We'll go to the university town of La Laguna. Thanks to its historical city centre (with old churches and manor houses), it was named a World Heritage Site in 1999.

Day 7: Tenerife

Getting to Santa Cruz by bus or rental car is fairly easy. Enjoy the enormous futuristically Auditorio de Teneriffe on the ocean front which hosts regular concerts, operas, jazz shows and ballet performances.

Day 8: Tenerife / Lanzarote

Costa Teguise, Puerto del Carmen or Playa Blanca are popular spots for Lanzarote holidays.

We want to see Timanfaya National Park. Admission includes a narrated bus tour of this volcanic landscape.

Day 9: Lanzarote

Visit the black sand beaches in El Golfo on the west coast.

Day 10: Lanzarote / Rome

Get from Lanzarote to Rome and from Rome back to wherever home is.

Plantation Bay club rooms vs. poolside rooms

I had an excellent little vacation in Cebu at Plantation Bay, but the review will take me a few more days to get together. For now I'll try to answer Paul's questions from my Plantation Bay entry a couple of days ago:

If you can, can you peek at the other rooms, specially the Club room (which ironically is the cheapest as per their website, which leaves me wondering why).

If you can, it'll also be nice to hear some reviews on the new Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa which should be right around the same island. A comment, even from a walk-in guest's point of view will be very intersting (like how well it is appointed, beachfront quality, etc)It's relatively new and not much reliable and objective info can be found on the web. These two hotels, along with the Shangri-la Mactan are the places to stay in Cebu. And like you said, Plantation Bay always has had mixed reviews, and the Hilton is still a question mark.

I was able to get a look at some club rooms but I've only seen pictures of the inside. At first I thought that the two drawbacks (no balcony and limited view) were pretty serious. Let's look at each one individually:

1. Club rooms have no balcony

We had a water's edge room and didn't use our balcony as much as I thought we would. During the day we were in the water, only hanging out on the balcony for a few seconds on our way into the water. At night we did spend a little time on the balcony chatting, but we had a much nicer time at night chatting on the beach, in lounge chairs, looking up at the stars. What we used our balcony for most was drying bathing suits or sandals or whathaveyou.

I really don't think you'll miss having a balcony much. Other than drying stuff, everything you can do on a balcony can be done better somewhere else on the resort.

2. Club rooms don't have great views

I liked looking out the window of my room, but it didn't make or break my stay at Plantation Bay. We had a view of the lagoon from our room - it was nice but the scenes I saw from my window don't rank among the most memorable from my time at Plantation Bay.

Once again, I see only a minor drawback.

What about poolside rooms?

When you consider that the poolside rooms are the same price if you're putting 4 people in each, you have to consider these rooms instead. If you're bringing 8 people, the club room will cost you an extra $80/night ($20 each for the 5th, 6th, 7th, and 8th people) while a second poolside room is an extra $118/night (off peak). If you're bringing 6 people, the club room savings are more substantial.

I saw poolside rooms around Piazza Palermo, which has a shallow pool and an Italian restaurant (and a jewelry store which I found even more boring than most but at least smaller). The pool seemed popular with young kids during the day and older kids at night. In the evenings they had some live music there (keyboards, singer, and saxophone). The music was fine, but it could be a drawback for people in those rooms if they weren't in the mood. Then again, when you're in your room, you're not getting the most of your Plantation Bay experience so if the music got on your nerves and drove you out so you explores the rest of the resort, that would be a good thing.

The verdict

The room doesn't much matter. Your best memories of Plantation Bay will be had outside the room anyway (there is a possible exception with the suites - I saw at least one that has its own little pool). The club rooms seem fine to me and my wife and I even talked about the possibility of bringing the family and staying in a club room. If 8 people in a room seems too crazy then two poolside rooms is another possibility.

Hilton Cebu Resort and Spa or the Shangri-la Mactan?

I didn't see either of these resorts with my own eyes, so I can only pass on what I've heard. Just a few things really:

I was told that the Shangri-la has the best spa.

Both of these resorts are smaller than Plantation Bay but that doesn't necessarily mean fewer guests. I'm not saying that they are crowded (especially since I've never been to either), just that Plantation Bay is very big and really not crowded.

Shangri-la has the better beach and is the only true 5-star hotel in Cebu. I bet the beach part is true (the Plantation Bay beach is certainly not its main attraction). I'll discuss whether Plantation Bay deserves 5 stars or not in my upcoming review.

Also, this blog entry will seem too positive for those looking forward to a critical review of Plantation Bay. I suppose I should warn you now that while there are some things to criticize, my wife and I were very happy overall while at Plantation Bay.

Quick update on my Cebu vacation

This will be a quick update as I have to go back to my vacation / review of Plantation Bay. I do want everyone to know that my wife and I are having an excellent time. Plantation Bay is a large resort and if you count trying out all the different swimming pools, there's a lot to do here.

I mentioned in my previous post that I felt a review was necessary because there were a good number of negative reviews mixed in with the positive online. I can see both sides of the assessment fairly clearly now. The resort is beautiful and the staff is friendly. The rooms are very nice and there is more than enough to keep you busy if you don't like relaxing on vacation. There were a few issues with both the room and with the staff but nothing too serious. I'll describe them in detail when I write my review.

Many of the complaints involved price and I'll be giving lists of what we did and how much it cost. Certainly, if you're used to all inclusives and you plan on coming to Plantation Bay and not spending any money beyond the room rate you are going to leave unhappy.

I knew that we would spend money while we were here and while some people call me cheap, I am willing to spend money when it means having more fun. So we're spending a good bit of money - I don't know if I can give you much of an estimate now but in one full day we might $75 (beside the cost of the room obviously). This includes lunch, renting snorkeling stuff, a mango shake at the swim-up bar (I love swim-up bars), and a car ride to the Ayall shopping mall. We ate dinner in the mall and took a taxi back and that was a lot less expensive than the resort.

No surprise there. Please excuse any typos - I'm not using a word processor.

Plantation Bay resort in Cebu: review coming soon

I'll be reviewing Plantation Bay resort in Cebu on a working vacation for the next few days. My blog entries will probably be brief and irregular but know that I will be doing something that I think will be helpful for a lot of travelers.

Here's how it all happened. About a year ago, I heard some good things about Plantation Bay. This is a resort in Cebu, which is one of the two very popular beach vacation spots in the Philippines (the other is Boracay).

When I looked at the Plantation Bay web site, I saw a great concept in the "water's edge room... located right at the edge of our lagoon. From your balcony you can be in the water in 0-2 seconds. (Not suitable for children and infants)." I immediately put Plantation Bay on my list of places to stay.

And I went looking for independent reviews online. I found some positive ones and some negative ones, each with a snippet of information. Some of the information was useful (for example one said that it can be hard to get a taxi and that the hotel car service is overpriced so you can take a tricycle ride in to the "taxi stand" which is near the first main intersection on your way to the bridge, from the hotel - the tricycle cost should be 50 pesos and then the taxi should be NO more than 300-350 pesos to the city center, Fuente Circle).

Now that's a great tip, but the mixture of positive and negative reviews that all focus on a few specific things leave travelers with nothing really definitive. How good is is Plantation Bay and who is it good for?

That's where I come in. I'm going to write the definitive review of Plantation Bay, particularly the water's edge rooms. So I booked a room, got a flight, and leave in about 12 hours. I don't sell anything on this blog, so my review will be more objective that any of the hotel booking sites are likely to be. And travelers will be able to get fairly objective information on all aspects of Plantation Bay in one place. I plan to check out the room (obviously), the pool, the beach, the restaurants, the spa, the service, the activities, and anything else I notice.

If you have a question about Plantation Bay, leave a comment below and I'll see what I can find out for you.

This means that over the next few days I won't have much to say here - I'll try to give you short updates but that's about all I can hope for. When I return, I'll put together a comprehensive and objective article about why people should or should not stay at Plantation Bay.

Volunteering and studying Spanish in Guatemala

When I wrote a quick blog about learning something on vacation, Issert asked "Does anyone know volunteering abroad programs with language classes or language immersion programs within Spanish speaking countries?" in the comments section.

Joe replied that he has been going to Guatemala for 15 years to study Spanish and volunteer. He also mentioned Antigua.

I know I've gotten requests for more articles for single travelers - this would be perfect for single travelers. The school makes sure you meet people and homestays probably work better for singles than for families anyway.

Anyway, I contacted one school in Guatemala to get some more information for everyone. If this reads like an ad for the school, sorry but what you're about to read was written by them - I won't take nay credit and I don't want any blame.

We have included information below about the school so that you may read over it and get to know us and our works. We are very open to working inside your parameters and needs. We would very much like to start this relationship and will welcome any more questions that you
have.

Guate Spanish Language School is a young, small, self-sustainable cooperative of host families, language instructors and volunteer organizations managed by Guatemalan Maya Spanish Association, a Guatemalan NGO. Our mission is to "Give socioeconomic support to our members by offering genuine Guatemalan cultural experience to help our participants reconnect with their authentic selves."

We would like to invite you to immerse yourself in:
* Authentic homestay
* 1-on-1 Spanish lesson
* Volunteering opportunity
* Cultural activity/excursion

AUTHENTIC HOMESTAY

Your host families are the primary and integral part of the immersion experience. They will open their homes, their hearts and their lives to you. You will see how children are raised, marriages are celebrated and slangs are used in daily life of middle class Guatemalans. Your room
will not be extravagant but will be clean and comfortable with sufficient privacy. When you are at their dining table, you will enjoy the authentic Guatemalan food which will be a learning experience in itself. And of course, your host can fix you a wonderful vegetarian meal as well. A life-long friendship will be built as you would sit after dinner and talk for hours or go out to a Sunday mass, shopping and fiesta with kids/adults your age. If you have a special diet and/or medical need, please feel free to let us know. Your host family will accommodate your needs as much as possible. It's completely OK and we encourage you to communicate your preference on foods, time to be woken up, etc. There is no need for you to eat something you do not like. Just leave it aside and your host will understand. But if you can let them know what you like and do not like to eat beforehand, your host will appreciate that greatly. If you would like to change your host family for any reason, please feel free to let us know at anytime. We will have a new arrangement ready for you right away.

1-ON-1 SPANISH LESSON (We also teach various indigenous languages.)

Your personal Spanish / indigenous language instructors are talented men and women who possess a deep knowledge of the languages and Guatemalan culture in which they live. Our instructors have a unique understanding of foreign students and how they learn best. They teach not with prepackaged curricula, but with passion, creativity and responsiveness to student interests and needs. All of our instructors are certified with diplomas in the teaching of Spanish as a second language. In addition to theoretical training on methodologies of immersion instruction, the instructors have practical experience in teaching for between 3 and 12 years. They have worked with students of a variety of learning styles and levels of previous experience (total beginners to advanced students). The lesson can be customized to accommodate each student's need in oral and written proficiency, special interests / needs of the student (according to his/her major, learning disability, etc). Let us know what interests you. Mayan cosmo-vision, natural medicine and nutrition, history, anthropology, law... Whatever it may be, we will work to pair you with an instructor who has similar interests. Our normal class schedule is 8am-1pm or 2pm-7pm, Mon-Fri. Each session lasts 5 days. You may start your class on any Monday of the year. If you prefer to start on another day or time, special scheduling can be arranged upon your request. Starting from no knowledge of Spanish, majority of our students reach advanced level of proficiency in 10-12 weeks of study. We encourage you to offer suggestions in terms of what materials you would like to use, grammatical topics you wish to cover, or what percentage of each class you would like to devote to conversation versus drills and exercises etc. If you have special learning needs, or a learning disability please inform us or your instructor so appropriate accommodations can be made.

VOLUNTEERING OPPORTUNITY

It will be a truly humbling experience to witness the poverty and hardship of the students, teachers and families in Chiquilaja. The grassroots effort to support the school is led by our volunteer coordinator, Leticia Sacalxot. The school structure and curriculum are continually evolving, thanks to the support we receive from program participants. The Chiquilaj?school and the girls' orphanage are in need of your help. School supplies that are so carelessly used (and wasted) in your home country will be great gifts for them. They are enduring familial and community poverty and face a general lack of parental support to attend the school. More than anything else, your generosity helps these children realize that someone cares.

EXCURSION & FIESTA

Panajachel at the shore of lake Atitlan: 1 day trip 530-1900. We will be crossing the one of the most scenic lakes in the world to visit 2 indigenous villages. We will stop by a hotspring and natural reserves. Guides, boat, entrance fee to the natural reserve, breakfast, lunch, bus are included.

Takalik abaj: 1 day trip 800-1900 We will visit the spectacular Mayan ruin. Bus, guide, lunch and entrance fee are included. We will have fun at nearby pool too!

Irtra Xocomil: 1 day trip 800-1800 A wonderful break at the Guatemala's largest aquatic amusement park! Bus, entrance fee and lunch are included.

Fiesta ind?ena: In Quetzaltenango, we always have various celebrations such as engagement, godfathership, marriage, "a post-hangover" party, etc. Dress up yourself in tradicional dresses and dance with the rhythm of marimba. Join us to become a part of the Mayan culture! Meals,
drinks and good time are included. These are just a few examples and if you have a specific destination of your interest, please let us know.

Well they sent me more, but that's enough for this blog. If you're serious about volunteering in Guatemala, Guate Spanish School provided me with the information above.

Wat Pho travel essay: Reclining Buddha, Thai massage, and scams

Wat Phra Chetuphon Vimolmangklararm Rajwaramahaviharn is Bangkok’s oldest and largest wat. Commonly referred to as Wat Pho, this Buddhist temple covers 80,000 square meters with mosaic spires, armed stone guardians, over 1,000 images of Buddha, a museum, and a massage school. Nearly every tourist in Bangkok comes to Wat Pho, which offers travelers the 46-meter-long Reclining Buddha, traditional Thai massage, and challenging encounters with scammers.

The first thing most visitors to Wat Pho seek out is the famous Reclining Buddha. The average tourist is probably about the same size as this Giant Buddha’s big toe. This means that even though the figure is lying down, tourists still crane their necks in order to see as much of the 15-meter-high face of the Reclining Buddha as they can. Despite the many tourists, the large hall, called The Vihara of the Reclining Buddha or Phra Buddhasaiyas, is oddly quiet. People from any religion seem to recognize that the huge image of Buddha surrounded by mural paintings and the smell of incense is a place for quiet reflection. By the time travelers slowly walk the length of the 46-meter-long Reclining Buddha they are ready to focus their eyes on something smaller. The inlaid mother-of-pearl depictions of 108 auspicious signs of the Buddha cater to those with an eye for detail. Seeing the huge Reclining Buddha as well as the intricate mother-of-pearl decorated feet and the mural paintings on the walls coupled with the smell of incense leads to a surprisingly quiet retreat at this popular tourist spot.

Traditional Thai massage is a real treat for most tourists in Thailand. In Wat Pho, the massage room holds about 20 people and the air is thick and hot without air conditioning. I chose the hot herbal massage where the masseuse begin the massage with hot packs tinted yellow from aromatic ginger, lemongrass, turmeric, and other herbs. Feeling the hot herb poultice on your skin relaxes you and leaves your skin yellow before the masseuse begins the surprisingly painful massage. Tourists rarely expect the masseuse to use her knees and elbows more than here hands and fingers. This leads to a fairly noisy experience; it’s not uncommon to hear people moaning or even gasping. However, the most memorable is sound is that of your own bones popping as the masseuse bends your body into some yoga-like poses not unlike getting a chiropractic adjustment in America. The hot air, the hot herbal poultice, the yellow-stained skin, the battered muscles, the gasps of pain, and the realigned bones make for a memorable experience.

Another memorable experience that’s almost as common as Thai massage is encountering Thai scam-artists. Since Wat Pho and the Grand Palace are literally next to each other all tourists need to do is exit Wat Pho, turn toward the palace, and walk. Just don’t expect much help if you’re not sure which way to turn. When I asked a Thai guard at one of the Wat Pho exits, he waved me away to a tuk-tuk driver, who told me that the Palace was closed due to a Buddhist holiday. He recommended I take a ride with him to some tourist area that he showed me on a map. I called the tuk-tuk driver on his lie since there was no Buddhist holiday and turned to the guard for help. No help came, and I left Wat Pho outraged that the guard would let scammers try to cheat people right in front of him. Part of becoming a worldly traveler is encountering these sorts of challenging situations and not letting them ruin your vacation.

In conclusion, while there is much to see and do in Wat Pho, tourists should be certain not to miss the Reclining Buddha and Thai massage. In addition, tourists may have no choice but to deal with a scam-artist and must remain wary. Wat Pho opens daily at 8:00 AM and closes at 5:00 PM. Admission is 50 baht. Thai massage is 250 baht / hour (regular or foot massage) while herbal massage is 350 baht / hour. Encountering a scammer is free as long as you avoid being scammed. You can reach Wat Pho on Air-conditioned bus 1, 6, 7, 8, 12, or 44. You can also take the Chao phraya Express boat and get off at Tha Chang pier, Tha Tien Pier or Pak Klong Talad Pier, then walk to the Thai Wang Road entrance.

Trevi Fountain picture: travel to Rome & see Fontana di Trevi

Look at this Fontana di Trevi (Trevi Fountain) picture and see why I took my honeymoon and want to retire in Rome:

This Trevi fountain photo is another of those awesome pictures that makes you realize you have to travel more to see all the beautiful places in the world. If you've never been to Rome it has to be near the top of your list.

You've seen the 85-foot-high and 65-foot-wide Trevi fountain in Roman Holiday (Gregory Peck, Audrey Hepburn, and Eddie Albert) and in Federico Fellini's La Dolce Vita (the scene where Anita Ekberg gets drenched).

If you were less fortunate you might add The Lizzie McGuire Movie (Hillary Duff), Sabrina Goes to Rome (I had to sit through this one), or When in Rome (Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen).

When you see it, look past the scenes from movies to really know what it's about. Started in 1732, when Pope Clement XII commissioned Nicola Salvi to design a fountain for Trevi square, Trevi Fountain is actually a tribute to the old Greek & Roman mythology. It was finished in 1762

Neptune, god of the sea, is the central figure. He rides a shell-shaped chariot pulled by two hippocamps (sea horses), one calm and one agitated. These horses both symbolize the sea - sometimes calm and sometimes violent. Each sea horse is guided by a Triton.

On Neptune's left is Abundance, on the right Salubrity. The bas-reliefs (carved stone pictures) show the origin of the aqueducts, one of them shows Agrippa, the girl after whom the aqueduct was named.

The backdrop for the fountain is Palazzo Poli, a palace. You must be talking about a special fountain when it's the main attraction and the beautiful palace is just background.

Like most other tourists, I turned my back to Fontana di Trevi and tossed a coin over my shoulder. Hopefully it landed in the fountain, but how do you know? Anyway, when you visit you'll want to go in the morning to beat the crowds and at night to see the lights.

Fontana di Trevi is part of this Rome walking tour. When you need a break I recommend Pizza Re.

Where do you honeymoon after an outerspace wedding?

Sorry for yesterday's weak entry - after 12 hours of sleep with no taxes to worry about I feel like blogging again!

According to this article, couples are planning space destination weddings and companies like Rocketplane Limited in Oklahoma and Virgin Galactic (the world's first spaceline founded by Virgin Airlines founder Richard Branson) are there to charge help (and collect half a million bucks per wedding).

I didn't think you honeymoon in space but I was wrong. Sapce weddings are still a few years away so "For George and Loretta Whitesides, three years was too long of a wait to get married, but they had no problem deciding to wait that long to be the world's first couple to honeymoon in space." The honeymoon in space lasts longer than the wedding (2.5 hours) and costs less ($400,000). Is that a space travel bargain?

For real people with less money, we have other stories. Here's one about a guy who gets out of the navy, gets a job, books a honeymoon, and then gets reactivated (for the third time in 5 years). Orbitz and Alitalia refuse to give him a refund until the newspapers and the treat of bad press get involved.

I say it's too late for Orbitz and Alitalia to avoid the bad press. Shame on both companies but especially Orbitz. Alitlaia serves Americans, but Orbitz is actually an American company. For an American company to show such disregard for our troops (the guy is already in a tough spot getting reactivated for the third time in 5 years) is disgusting.

We also have an article on honeymoons in Costa Rica and Belize. Apparently eco-tourism honeymoons are becoming more popular and couples want to do more than just lie on a beach. They go surfing, zipline through jungle, swim under waterfalls, and explore ancient Mayan ruins.

This is one of those best 10 articles so you can also read about Turks and Caicos, Croatia, St Lucia, Bora Bora, Thailand, New Zealand, Africa, Scotland, and Marrakesh. I've blogged about only a few of these but I would choose New Zealand if I had to choose right now. You could take a cruise, hike on glaciers, or do some movie tourism (Lord of the Rings or Chronicles of Narnia).

Actually though I went to Italy for my honeymoon, which was recently voted the most romantic destination:

Valerio Scoyni, Managing Director of The Italian Tourist Board says: "We are thrilled that Italy has been voted number one. Italy is country of extremes, with something to offer everyone: from snow-iced mountains to hot lazy Mediterranean beaches, from unspoilt fishing villages to cities that have bustled for thousands of years. The rich cultural heritage, stunning natural landscapes, unique architecture, stylish people, beautiful food and exquisite wines means that it would be difficult for anyone not to find some romance here."

This survey is part of a Holiday movie promotion. Actually in Korea they called it Romantic Holiday.

Studying language on vacation

Well I am many hours behind on sleep thanks to taxes (finally finished) so let me leave you with only this article on mother daughter spa vacations.

It starts off by talking about a mother and daughter who were planning a trip to Guatemala to study Spanish but ended up at spas in Mexico instead.

Now spas are great, but I just want to point out how awesome it could be to head to Italy for a month and include three weeks of Italian classes. You'll still have nights and weekends free for whatever trips you want to make to other cities. During the week you'll have friends to eat out with and visit that city’s tourist spots with.

So you could leave Rome after a month having learned a little Italian, having made some friends, and having explored lots of the city with good company.

the French West Indies island of Saint Barthélemy, better known as St. Barts or St. Barths

Here's a fairly short article about a 4-day trip to St. Barts that the author says felt like a 7 day vacation. Luckily it wasn't actually 7 days because St. Barts is an expensive vacation destination. There are exclusive resorts (the author paid 340 Euros a night), expensive French restaurants and fancy designer shops.

To get to St. Barts, you fly into Juliana Airport in St. Maarten and then get a "puddle jumper flight" or take a ferry to St. Barts.

They said some interesting things about St. Maarten: "There’s a mountain and a steep drop to the short runway that stops just shy of the sunbathers on the adjacent beach. (One could literally hop off the plane, strip down to their swimsuit and have a refreshing Ricard in hand on the sand in a matter of minutes.)" I used to have a video of that, but YouTube removed it for a terms of use violation - I guess it was copyrighted somewhere.

I found a couple of more for you. I don't know why, but I never get tired of watching these planes so close to people on the beach. These videos do make some noise - just so you know if you're at work or something and have your speakers on.

Traveling around California

We already have quite a few entries on traveling in California, but I found a few decent articles and feel like sharing a few old blog entries so here we go: traveling in California.

Actually before I start, a note to the people who complain that they don't have enough money or time to go on vacation: being a servant in California can be more lucrative than you might think. I can't seriously recommend a job over starting your own business if you want to be rich, but for someone who wants nothing more than a good job.

During your three weeks paid vacation, there are lots of things to do without even leaving the state of California. This site has some good California travel itineraries. I spent a lot of time reading these vacation outlines.

This article recommends a few luxury hotels in California: "Northern California offers scores of places to vacation like a queen or software CEO. We found these ultimate luxury inns in the wine country, San Francisco and along the Pacific Coast."

I recently wrote about the lone cypress. When I wrote about Catalina Island, we got some very useful comments. This San Diego travel itinerary can really help someone plan their own trip. You can also go panning for gold (I've always wanted to do this) or go whale watching. We also have some useful information on places to eat in San Diego.

There's also Mexico's California including Cabo San Lucas. I'm not sure what's going on with their jazz festival, but there are some high-priced adventure vacations in the Baja. Check out the cheaper one:

MARQUIS LOS CABOS

"Sense of Adventure on Land"

$6,950 per couple.

Season: June 1-Oct. 10.

Includes: five nights in a Private Pool Casita; round-trip VIP airport transfers; welcome drink; buffet breakfast each morning; three-day rental of a 4WD Jeep, with insurance; Hummer trip to Canyon of La Zorra with picnic lunch; East Cape tour by Hummer with picnic lunch; Hummer trip to Los Todos Santos; one-hour horseback ride in the desert; one-hour horseback ride on the beach; taxes, service fees.

Cost per night: $1,390

Doesn't include: transportation to the destination.

Island vacations: Caribbean, Floridian, Hawaiian, Seychellian

There's a pretty good article here on various Caribbean islands. Of course if you read the one a few days ago, this might not excite you. They do recommend some particular resorts and this could be useful if you're planning a Caribbean trip. They also recommend a few adventure vacation all-inclusives.

If you're looking for an American island, try Florida's Amelia Island. This article makes it sound like a good place for families and nature-loving kayakers (like myself). They also mention golf, tennis, and shopping but I didn't actually read those parts (although I do like tennis a little).

For a more famous American island, consider a Hawaiian vacation. I just learned that they have a steam train excursion which features some nice views and some history lessons. You might also try to reach America's best beach or you can consider working with this vacation plan. Or you could find a nice condo on Kauai or Kauai's Hanalei bay Resort.

If you need to spend $3,000 or more/night, try Banyan Tree Seychelles on the island of Mahe, off Africa's Tanzanian coast. This article talks about that one and a few other vacations I can't afford. Sir Paul McCartney and Janet Jackson stayed there and we can only imagine what they saw:

The Seychelles have been called a modern-day Garden of Eden, with UNESCO World Heritage sites such as the VallŽe de Mai, home to the legendary coco-de-mer double nut, orchids the size of basketballs, and extraordinary bird and tortoise colonies. You can be whisked away there or to neighboring islands Praslin and La Digue, courtesy of the Banyan Tree's newest perk: a private helicopter pad making it easy to arrange for inter-island transport.

Kayak travel sweepstakes - 2 minute survey required

If you think you need a vacation to relax after doing your taxes, you might want to enter this Kayak.com contest. You have to fill out a 2 minute survey.

Hotel Reservations.com website review

The following is a paid web site review:

Hotel Reservations says they can save you up to 70%. I decided that the best way to review this site would be to check out a few hotels and see what the prices are.

I think I mentioned that later in the month I'll be reviewing Plantation Bay in Cebu. I've heard that Plantation bay is great, but I've never been there and I've also read some poor reviews so I need to see it with my own eyes. Plus, ever since I read about their poolside rooms where you jump out your backdoor into the water I've been dreaming about experiencing this for myself. Plantation bay is technically in Lapu Lapu City (not Cebu City). They didn't have a listing for Plantation bay so I can't judge them on this one. I tried linking directly to their Lapu Lapu hotel search results, but the link didn't work. You'll have to visit their homepage and do the search from there. Or you can start from their advanced search.

I started wondering what other hotels I know about and the Hotel @ MIT in Boston (technically Cambridge) came to mind. When my sister gets married in Boston later this year I'll have to stay somewhere so it might as well be a hotel worth talking about. Here, the rates seem comparable to what I've seen elsewhere.

I decided to try one more search before drawing any conclusions so I looked at Philadelphia hotels (for the first leg of my Elizabethtown roadtrip). Here I saw some hotels that were 10% off or 15% off. I compared these discounts to what I'd find on say Yahoo travel. For the Latham Hotel, Hotel Reservations.com was 5 cents cheaper than the "guaranteed" low price on Yahoo travel (powered by Travelocity who are not always reliable).

In conclusion, this is a site to check once you've chosen your hotel and you're searching for the best price. If the site added reviews, then it would also be a resource for choosing a hotel but I didn't see any reviews. If anyone has some experience with Hotel Reservations.com, please let us know.

Andrew Jackson's Hermitage plantation: museum and wedding receptions

The Hermitage was Andrew Jackson's (7th president of the US) plantation near Nashville Tennessee. Opened as a museum In 1889, the Hermitage shows visitors Andrew Jackson's life and the antebellum South in general.

You can rent the Hermitage property for private gatherings (not the home itself, but his property). I know someone who had his wedding reception at the Hermitage in Nashville. They say that Andrew Jackson loved weddings and was a great host. According to the Hermitage website, that tradition continues today:

As you plan your wedding, reception, corporate function, business meeting, or family reunion, The Hermitage will help you create a historic occasion that will be long remembered. Our friendly staff will assist in helping make your event truly one-of-a-kind. Just 20 minutes from downtown Nashville and 15 minutes from the Nashville International Airport, The Hermitage offers a diverse selection of facilities with endless possibilities. From an elegant mansion to quaint cabins or formal gardens to expansive lawns, and even a historic church there is something for everyone at The Hermitage!

They say that prices are reasonable.

If you're not getting married, you may want to just visit. In addition to Andrew Jackson's house and museum, Andrew and Rachel Jackson's tombs are located in the Hermitage garden. I'll list standard hours and prices below - for an additional fee, you can get a wagon tour.

Hours

The Hermitage is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. from April 1 - October 15, and 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p. m. from October 16 - March 31. The Hermitage is closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, and the third week in January.

Admission:

Adults $14.00
Seniors $12.00
Students (13-18) $10.00
Children (6-12) $ 6.00
Children (5 & under) Free
Family Pass $38.00
(2 Adults and 2 Children; Each Additional
Child $6.00)

On Apirl 12, 2007 there is a free event for the Spirit of Nashville Exhibit Reception - April 12th is a Thursday, and the event is from 5:00pm to 7:00pm. The exhibit features 26 prints, artist notes, original sketches, and reference photos from the award-winning collection.

I'll miss the free stuff, but I think a stop at the Hermitage can easily be incorporated into my Elizabethtown road trip.

Whitewater rafting: Chattooga River and Deliverance movie tourism + Ocoee olympic rafting + more US rivers

The Chattooga River was in the movie Deliverance. Its lesser claim to fame was being the Chattooga was being the first river in the Southeast to be designated "Wild & Scenic" by Congress. The Chattooga is wild and beautiful - as you raft, the Sumter and Chattahoochee National Forests provide a great setting for your whitewater experience.

Cherokee National Forest has several whitewater rivers including the Nolichucky, the French Broad, the Tellico, the Conasauga, and the Hiwassee. However, the most famous is the Ocoee River, where the 1996 Olympic Canoe and Kayak Slalom events were held. Start at the Ocoee Whitewater Center.

Browns Canyon on the Arkansas River from Buena Vista, CO to Salida, CO is another nice run. Expect a full day trip with a lunch stop included. Some of the best water in the country, when the levels are right. The flows usually peak between the 1st and 3rd week of June Its a definite fun day, the most popular commercially run river in the United States.

I have some friends who are doing the Lehigh in PA for the 2nd time this summer. Last time they stopped halfway down in the mountains for a big BBQ picnic, then kept going. It was great. In the spring and fall they do a release on the Lehigh and you can get class 4 and 5 rapids. The various operations only bring out the 10 man rafts for such events. During the summer, you probably go on the 6 person rafts.

I have another friend who recommends the Nolichucky River near Erwin, Tennessee. The Nolichucky is a clean river that winds through North Carolina and Tennessee. There is a variety of whitewater rapids that cut their way through an awesome gorge.

Not far from Erwin, TN is Nantahala Gorge near Bryson City in the NC Smokies. It is good for beginners with a #3 rated difficulty. The water trip takes about 2 hours in a raft. It's a great introduction to whitewater rafting. It's said to be the most popular River in the Southeast - no surprise considering the beauty of Nantahala National Forest and the Great Smoky Mountains.

Happy Easter everyone! If you're looking for some conversation ideas while you spend time with the family, ask them about a rafting trip one spring or summer weekend. It could be a nice family outing.

Inspiring photo of Petra Treasury in Jordan

The photo shown here is the Petra treasury. After entering Petra through a sandstone canyon, this is what you’ll see.

Petra is a UNESCO World Heritage site in Jordan where travelers can see buildings carved out of stone mountains. Most everyone has seen it already, even if they didn’t know that Petra is the Holy Temple where Indy finds the Holy Grail in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

This picture shows the area unusually empty; I understand that this is where you’d find camel and donkey owners. If you like to haggle, this is your chance. Even if you do hire a camel or donkey, you should still be in pretty good shape (and hope for good weather) when you visit Petra because you’ll be outdoors in the heat and possibly doing a lot of walking.

Before even entering Petra, you’ll need a ticket. You can buy a ticket and hire a Bedouin guide in the Visitor’s Center. They say not to buy tickets from anywhere else (you can’t trust the scalpers).

There are lots of other awesome sights in Petra that I don’t have photos of. Like Madrid, Petra is someplace I’ve never been but the beauty I see in this photo inspires me to keep writing and traveling.

The importance of taking vacations

Here's an article strongly recommending a "girls' trip" (that's what the author calls it - not being sexist I would have to say "a trip for women only" or something) because mother's regular lives are so tough:

Mothers rarely have time to truly recharge. Sure, we work out, we sit down, sometimes we even go out with our friends for an evening. But when the break is over, we are back to the 24/7 duties that don't end. Motherhood is a project that is never finished.

Not to say that mother's don't work hard, but the writing here has me a bit confused. They take breaks but still have 24/7 duties? It just doesn't make sense. 24/7 means always on duty - no breaks.

But I do get it. Mothers need time away from their normal responsibilities. I'd say that's true for everyone. We all need some vacation time. Using vacation time helps your health and doesn't hurt your career. It could be Las Vegas like the author of our "girls' trip" experienced. Or it could be something more exotic, maybe Ratha Jatra, the Festival of Chariots of Lord Jagannatha celebrated every summer (July 16, 2007) in Puri. Puri is a temple town in Orissa, India (on the east coast).

Your vacation doesn't have to cost a fortune either. That trip to India would probably cost a few bucks (at least the airfare). Soon I'll be taking a lon