Travel Blog
China & Yangtze River cruise, October 2010
WOW -- what a changed country! I was last in China the summer of 1990 the summer after the Tiananmen Square incident, and the years have brought massive changes to this country! My 15-day trip was with Viking Cruise Lines, which offered a seamless operation handled by well-trained and eager-to-please personnel – something that is very challenging in a country that is still defining its service capabilities to meet the demands of the western mentality. The Yangtze cruise is a wonderful way to see China’s interior. The Lesser Gorge journey was incredible -- such dramatic beauty -- jutting mountains in the mist arising from the river -- monkeys playing in the tree -- ancient coffins built into the cliff still visible today. The Yangtze is the second longest river in the world and a treasure for the Chinese people.
In Beijing I really enjoyed our rickshaw ride through the Hutongs, neighborhoods made up of alleys lined with traditional courtyard residences. We also got to see pandas in a great zoo located in the largest city in China - Chongqing (33 million people -- amazing!). Set in natural surroundings these pandas charmed us as they ate their morning bamboo.
Shopping in China’s open markets is an experience to treasure only if you like to bargain. My experience in the Beijing pearl market (they sell everything there - not just pearls) was one for "the books". The gal actually cried telling us that she was going to lose money on our deal -- but somehow she would not let us walk away. Every time we did she would come after us to beg us to make the purchase. Such drama got to me -- but my traveling companion kept up the front and we got the items at a price we thought fair. Just be prepared to know what you are willing to pay and then stick with it. This is the culture. Makes you appreciate going into a store here and purchasing items at a set price. Lots to shop for, and lots of bargains, so have fun!
The day we were at the Great Wall was a national holiday. So many Chinese families, couples, and young people were there enjoying this national treasure. As I was people-watching and taking pictures, I suddenly realized that I too was an attraction! My 6-foot stature attracted these folks and the little Chinese gals (and some men) wanted to stand next to me for a photo. We had blast taking pictures of each other and using sign language often to communicate. Such warmth and graciousness as we shared the experience of "walking the wall" together!
China is HUGE and there is much more I want to experience there. Guess I need to get going before this ole body is too old to enjoy!
~ Kathy Evitts, Dehoney Travel President
Hawaii Cruise, January 13-23, 2007
Hawaii – truly PARADISE! What incredible beauty, what wonderful weather, what a fun destination!
Our cruise on NCL’s Pride of Hawaii was a fantastic vacation experience. One evening as we sailed past the rugged coastline of Kauai we were able to watch humpback whales frolicking in the water behind our ship from the balcony of our cabin – later as we sailed past the Haleakala Volcano on Maui we were amazed to see the molten lava flow down the mountainside and crash into the ocean as we relaxed on our balcony chairs. We so enjoyed our balcony suite -- the butler and concierge services are superb! Another highlight onboard was the option of dining at a specialty restaurant. At Cagney’s Steakhouse and Jasmine Garden Asian the dinners were fantastic and well worth the minimal surcharge that is required.
Visiting Pearl Harbor Memorial is unforgettable – we so appreciated the commentary so that as we moved through the museum we heard the stories of the men and women who were there. It is a very moving experience. And of course, Hawaii’s temperate climate makes this a great destination any time of the year.
~ Kathy Evitts, Dehoney Travel President
Israel/Holy Land Seminar, December 26, 2006-January 4, 2007
My third trip to Israel was fantastic – I love it more every time I go. It was colder than I expected – several days found me in 4 or 5 layers of t-shirts, sweatshirts, jackets, and so on. It was mostly clear, though, with lots of sunshine and a brisk breeze most days. We had just one afternoon of poor weather – it rained some on the day we visited the Dead Sea. That area typically has about 330 days of sunshine per year, so we were “lucky” enough to experience the unusual! It was pretty chilly that day as well, but several of us in the group didn’t want to miss the opportunity to swim (or more accurately, float) in the Dead Sea, so we dove in anyway. I say “dove” in the figurative sense only – the salinity of Dead Sea water is 30-some percent, about 8 times more salty than ocean water, so you definitely don’t want your head to go under. Our guide warned us that the water in the Dead Sea is such that we’d feel like we were floating in chicken soup. It wasn’t quite that greasy, but it did feel a little bit oily.
Jerusalem was magnificent. We were fortunate to visit the Western Wall on a bar mitzvah day and thus got to see a number of processions and ceremonies of celebrating Jewish families. People dressed in colorful and elaborate outfits, blowing horns and beating drums – I’m not sure that some of them weren’t “playing it up” a little for the benefit of us tourists. If I closed my eyes, I could almost believe that I was listening to a high school marching band’s drum corps… but ONLY if I closed my eyes. The multitude of conservatively dressed Jews, males wearing yarmulkes, the distinctive white flag with its bright blue Star of David waving nearby, and the golden Dome of the Rock gleaming up on the Temple Mount made it clear as to where I was.
Our hotel was not far from the Garden Tomb, about a 10 or 15 minute walk to the Old City’s Damascus Gate – one of the busiest and most colorful entrances to the Old City. Anyone who is claustrophobic would have a hard time inside Damascus Gate. The crush of people bumping and shuffling along the walkways with tiny stalls and shops on either side, along with the bits of Arabic and Hebrew being constantly shouted around you, truly provide an up close & personal experience of the Old City.
Our group wasn’t the only one in Israel this winter. In fact, one morning in Jerusalem, I counted 19 tour buses parked outside our hotel. We met groups from across the U.S., but also many international groups – from South Africa, Nigeria, Colombia, South Korea, among other places. People are literally coming from all over the world to visit Israel, which is exciting to see and to be a part of.
~ Melissa Williamson, Dehoney Travel Staff
