Adventures in Nepal - 2023

After touring India for eight days, I flew from Delhi to Kathmandu. As the flight neared Nepal, the Himalayan Mountains could be seen in the distance. The mountains were created when India crashed into the Asian mainland. When we left the airport, I noticed immediately that Nepal was a Buddhist country, whereas India was mainly Hindu - there were Buddhist temples located throughout Kathmandu. The temples have prayer wheels that the faithful are to rotate as they walk around the building. As you look at the photo of the temple below, you will notice that at the top, the eye of Buddha, is omnipresent and no matter which side of the temple you are on it is always there: A reminder that in the living of your life, someone is watching. 

The highest point on earth is Mount Everest (29,029’) and it was a site that I always wanted to see, so I signed up for a plane ride that flies by the mountain. The plane is set up so that every passenger has a window seat and flies one direction and then turns to come back giving the other side their view. It was a spectacular view of both Mount Everest and the Himalayan Mountains. The video below gives you the view. 

When I was eating at a local restaurant in Kathmandu, I saw a sign which I think has a lot of meaning- “Life is like riding a bike, to keep your balance, you need to keep moving.” In Kathmandu you have no choice but to keep moving whether it is up and down hills or trying to cross busy streets. 

The people of Nepal are so nice and very welcoming, and there are many unique customs and traditions that add so much to their lives. I was walking down a street and heard a band. I stopped and coming toward me was a procession with numerous band members playing the drums, cymbals, and fifes. Following the band was a group of 25 women dressed in white and red who were throwing out rice, and behind them in a golden cart was the reason for the todo: a woman who just turned 100 years old. In addition, the rest of her family numbering around 75 all wearing the same style hat followed behind the procession. It is all about family in Nepal. 

I learned so much in India and Nepal and I hope that you will join me next year on GVG Tours’ Mysteries of India and Nepal.

Adventures in India - 2023

I purchased a guide book for India with the hope that it would prepare me for my trip, but in all honesty it did not- in short, India is amazing and no book could relate the many aspects of its culture.

In Old Delhi we took a rickshaw ride through the narrow streets filled with souks (markets). The sights, sounds and smells were beyond description. The attached video will give you my view from the rickshaw. The vibrancy was palpable- as if one were in a stream with thousands of people going one way or another.

There is a palate of colors in the dress, in the food, even in the foreheads of the people. India is now the most populated nation on earth with 1.4 billion and it is a young nation with a high percentage of the people under 30 years old. 

We were able to see historical sights in our time in India as well. Gandhi spent the last 144 days of his life at a house in Delhi and unfortunately this man of nonviolence was assassinated by an extremist on the grounds of the complex. A touching memorial has been created with steps leading from the house to the spot of his murder. In the garden a small stone monument has been erected marking the spot of the shooting. 

The Sikh Temple prepares food everyday for over 40,000 people at no cost. Can you imagine feeding 40,000 people a day? It doesn’t matter your religion or circumstances, you may eat for free at the temple. I went through the kitchen where they prepare the food and there is an army of people involved. 

The city of Jaipur is known as “the pink city” and home to the famous Amber Fort. It is an immense area with a moat, huge wall, turrets, and filled with places and temples. It is a popular place for wedding couples to have their picture taken. It is at the top of a large hill, so you can either ride an elephant or take a jeep. 

Culturally, the family structure is very strong with extended families sharing a home. Several generations often live together and provide care to the young and old. In the Hindu tradition, it is all about the family. 

On the itinerary there was a stop at a step well and I really didn’t understand it until we arrived. The well is a huge area that goes down about 200 feet with over 3,000 steps that allow people to get water no mater what the level of water in the well is at. The water in the well comes from the monsoon rains. 

Finally, of course we saw the Taj Mahal - the most amazing building on earth! It was built by Shah Jahan as a tomb to honor his wife who died in childbirth. It is a massive structure made of white marble with inlaid gemstones throughout. It was a real highlight of the trip- I had always heard about it, but to see it was most inspiring. 

I have mentioned only a few of my Indian experiences and hope to share more in the future. In a campaign ad for tourism in India they use the phrase INDIA IS INCREDIBLE and I have to agree!

Cabo San Lucas - Winter Getaway 2023

I just returned from the GVG Tours Winter Getaway to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico. It was a great trip with great people, many of whom have been going on the winter getaway for many years. It is interesting to note that many people have heard of Cabo but have no idea where it is-It is located at the tip of the Baja Peninsula in the Mexican state of Baja California Sur. It has gone from a sleepy resort town to a major tourist destination. I was amazed at the number of new resorts that seem to pop up every year. It is also a place where the rich and famous like to come. At the Cabo airport, there were over twenty private jets- each time I see one I can only imagine-no TSA, luxury seats, great food, and on my schedule.

Some yachts were complete with a helicopter and every comfort known to man. I guess if I had my own jet that I really should also have my own yacht (I believe that the prices of GVG trips would have to go up significantly).

Life is difficult at an all inclusive resort on the ocean with four swimming pools, multiple restaurants, and nightly entertainment- What to do all day? Which restaurant to eat at? Swim in the ocean or a pool? Shall I play cards at 5:00? Go into Cabo to do some shopping? Isn’t life difficult? Somehow everyone managed to make it through in fine fashion. One great aspect of the getaway is that it breaks up winter- in fact while we were gone there was a major snowstorm and ice storm back in Wisconsin. I would call that good planning by Christina of GVG Tours.

Without a doubt the best part of the getaway is the fellowship among the people- newbies and vets. We talk about our families, solve world problems, share memories, tell stories and jokes. In many ways, we are like a family - looking out for each other and enjoying the company. Next year our Winter Getaway (February 7-15) will be at the all-inclusive RIU Palace Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Why don’t you join us?

The Tooth - Part Two

        I returned home from Morocco with my wayward tooth in place and my smile good to go. My time at home was short and soon I was flying to Croatia to board a yacht. We started out in Dubrovnik, which is one of the most picturesque cities in the world - sitting high above the Adriatic with a wall built in the 16th century that surrounds it. It is a city of 50,000 that has become a major tourist destination and the location where many TV programs and movies are shot. No stay in Dubrovnik would be complete without a cable car ride to the high lookout points over the Adriatic. 

      Once back on the yacht, it was time to settle into my home away from home, complete with all the extras. We started in Dubrovnik and started to cruise north and stop in many small, quaint towns filled with history, beauty, and local arts. In the afternoon, we would often release the anchor to stay in one spot for swimming. I was on the edge of the back of the boat about to dive in when my tooth fell out and I just managed to grab it as it was heading into the Adriatic! Needless to say it was a close call with disaster considering how I would look without a tooth in the front of my mouth. 

     I mentioned my tooth problem to the guide and she said that there is a dentist not far from where we are. Off I went to a small town with a rather unimpressive dentist office. The waiting rooms was filled with people of all ages. The dentist was around 30 years old and the nicest man. He had no problem figuring out what the problem was and cemented it. I tried repeatedly to pay him, but he would not take it. I was back- smiling whenever I wanted to!

    We reached Split which is a major port and tourist destination. It is most famous for Diocletian’s Palace. Diocletian (245-305 AD) was a Roman emperor who divided up the empire - with he ruling the East from Split and Maximian ruling in Rome. It is an amazing city on many levels. I happened to be there when the Croatian soccer team returned after placing second in the FIFA World Cup Soccer Tournament (An unbelievable achievement considering Croatia has only 4 million people- less than the state of Wisconsin). The people were going wild and what a party!

     It was time to leave fabulous Croatia with my tooth in place and all was well with the world. This euphoria lasted two weeks before I went to Italy and to have another tooth challenge. The final installment on the tooth will be forthcoming (amen).

     I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that GVG Tours is partnering with Collette in offering a small ship cruising of Croatia and it’s islands April 16-27, 2024. It is a beautiful ship and the itinerary is outstanding. It is a popular tour, so now is the time to sign up!

The Tooth - Part One

I was at JFK Airport about to leave for Morocco when I took a bite of a sandwich and suddenly my front tooth with a cap came off. I had the cap in one hand and the sandwich in the other. I went into the bathroom to assess the damage and let me tell you my smile was not a good look.

Where my tooth had been was a small triangular piece of an incisor tooth. I looked like I was the child of a lesser god. I was flying out to a country not exactly famous for its dental practices, and I realized that my only options were: (1.) Not to smile for the rest of the trip. (2.) Insert the cap and hope that it doesn’t fall out. (3.) Cancel the trip and return home for a dental repair. (4.) Fly to Morocco with the hope that I could get a temporary fix. Anyone who has met me before knows I decided on options two and four.

On the second day of the trip we were in Casablanca, a large city, so I embarked on my quest to find a dentist. I had an address, but trust me the streets are not laid out in a grid system. A kind woman used up much of her lunch hour to get me to the dental office, only to discover that the dentist had moved… Finally I made it. The dentist was a very nice gentleman who said that he could make it better but could not guarantee that the cap would hold. I tried to pay him, but he wouldn’t take any money. Tooth reconstructed, my self-esteem immediately rose; only to be deflated at dinner when the cap came loose and was once again in my hand rather than my mouth.

The trip continued and in Marrakesh, I had another opportunity to see a dentist. She was a young French dentist who managed to get the cap set correctly. I paid $90 and felt like it was one of the best bargains of my life.

The tour continued and all went well. We went over the Atlas Mountains covered in snow to the Sahara Desert, filled with nothing but dunes. I climbed up a dune which was 400’ and I was afforded an amazing view of the desert landscape and sunset. At night we gathered around a fire with the guides and sang traditional Moroccan songs. With no ambient light, I will never forget the sky filled with more stars than I have ever seen! The image of the night sky in the Sahara Desert is burned into my memory. As we left the desert, there was a race of ATV’s across the desert complete with TV coverage, helicopters, and drones. I left Morocco with my teeth intact but that lasted only until I got on a yacht in Croatia. The tooth story is to be continued………

Winter in Yellowstone 2023

This past week, I took a group on our Winter in Yellowstone trip. We left Chicago and just over two hours later we landed in Jackson WY: Apparently, someone forgot to turn up the thermostat because it was minus 27 degrees. Stepping off the plane, the bright sky and backdrop of the Teton Range served as a portent of what was to come. We went to the National Elk Refuge and saw thousands of elk. The refuge was started to keep the elk herd numbers consistent because so much of their normal range was now taken by man. We got in in a sleigh drawn by two large Belgium horses and went out into the refuge. The elk may not have been cold but we certainly were! The next day we went into the Tetons and saw a moose, Big-Horn Sheep, and amazing views of the mountain range. We departed Jackson, drove over the Teton Pass and on to Yellowstone National Park.

Yellowstone National Park is amazing in every season of the year, but winter is my favorite. The snow defines the landscape – lodgepole pole pines appear to be flocked, trumpeter swans swimming in the Madison River, bison with hoary frost on their coat, the upper and lower falls covered in ice as water continues to flow over, Old Faithful erupting against a bright blue sky, coyotes loping across the snow pack, otters frolicking in the water, mud-pots surrounded by snow, and sundog rainbows that light up the sky. It is truly a winter wonderland. The park allows only authorized snow-coaches and snowmobiles to enter the park in winter. Our snow-coach had oversized tires (5 feet in diameter) and unlike the snowmobiles it was heated. Our guides were outstanding and each so different- from a 1960’s style hippie (everything was “insane”) to a bearded, personable thirty-year-old, to a traditional voiced expert on everything park related. In West Yellowstone, we ate delicious meals at the Slippery Otter, Bullwinkle’s, and the Three Bears. It was a wonderful group that shared so much laughter.

If this sounds like a trip you would like, we are offering it again in January 2024. There are already four people registered and I will take only four more. I would love to have you join me on this fabulous trip to America’s first national park.