1
LOVE BOAT
If you’re going to take a cruise, I say why not a river cruise? Just picture it: you’re floating along from river port to river port, stopping at ancient sites, with entertainment, cool breezes (not too cool), and great local food. Dare I say the ultimate romantic getaway? How enticing does this list of the top river cruises put together from The Telegraph sound? “The Irrawaddy links the highest Himalayan glaciers with the tropical waters of the Indian Ocean, via the wide plains of Myanmar. The best cruising weather is November to February, when days are warm and humidity levels are lower. From Mandalay, ships head south to the world heritage site of Bagan with its temples and monasteries. Excursions include the hill town of Maymyo and the Buddhist temple of Ananda.”
And if the word “cruise” on its own makes you feel a little queasy, or if you want to do something a little more adventurous, OR, if it sounds good but you’re trying to save some funds, why don’t you consider paddling down some of the most famous rivers: paddle down the Nile, Colorado, Danube, or Mississippi anyone?
2
O’ER LAND, O’ER THE SEA?
And, for those of you who prefer to spend your time traveling on more solid ground but you like being close to the sea, Abu Dhabi (full disclosure, I once called Abu Dhabi home in a previous life) could be just the answer. I never really considered Abu Dhabi as a place to go island hopping, but, as described in this article by CNN, it actually sounds quite enticing! Hunny, shall we move back? “On these islands one can find eco-retreats, high-end safaris, Maldivian escapes, dolphin snorkeling and so much more.”
3
BALI BROTHERS AND SISTERS
“Overtourism on the island [Bali] has led to severe traffic, heaps of litter, price gouging, constant construction and even a water crisis. Fortunately, if you’re dying to visit a pristine beach in Indonesia, Bali is hardly the only option. Indonesia has approximately 17,000 islands (6,000 of which are inhabited).” There is no doubt, Bali is a unique place, but, let’s spread the wealth. So many of these islands are unique in their own way. Here’s a list of a few Bali alternatives worth looking into.
4
AIR GREENLAND
I’ll spare you the airline ranking in my newsletters, they seem like a dime a dozen these days. And, I lied. I won’t spare you, but, I actually found this one to be interesting. In this day and age when we’re very conscious of what is happening to our environment (seriously, don’t just say “what can I do?”, a little goes a long way!), here’s a list, from Departures, of the greenest airlines out there: “The report by German non-profit, Atmosfair, said in their findings that airlines which achieve the best results are those using modern equipment, having high seating density and high rates of passenger occupancy and load utilization.” I know what you’re thinking – I need my leg space. I understand. But anyhow, it’ll at least make you think:
1. TUI Airways, UK
2. LATAM Airlines, Brazil
3. China West Air, China
4. TUIfly, Germany
5. Transavia.com, France
5
WE’RE HOLIDAY CHEERING FOR YA!
As the end of year holidays near, we tend to focus a lot on the gifts and treats we share (and more importantly, receive!) with loved ones (I’ll get to this in a bit). Recently, a dear friend of mine asked: “have you ever done a good deed anonymously and what was it?” I thought I would have decent examples to share, but, I found myself struggling to find a major one. I resolved to keep an eye out to help people without seeking some sort of gratitude in return. Well, here’s one way to do it if you’re traveling: “How strangers made travel easier for two moms.”
Now back to the holiday shopping part I promised, the Guardian put out the 10 coolest holiday shopping districts. I can vouch for three of them.
Thanks,
Joe Naaman
Managing Editor, Waywinds
Keep Exploring!