Exquisite Safaris

Thimpu Tsechu Festival Bhutan

David — Mon, 11 Jul 2011 19:34:37 +0000

Bhutan, the ancient; Land of the Thunder Dragon’ in the eastern Himalayas is a veritable Shangri-La of snowy mountains wooded hills and fast flowing rivers, of temples, shrines and awesome dzong architecture (monastic fortresses), of a simple pastoral way of life based on Buddhist spiritual beliefs. Instead of measuring his country’s success in terms of economic expansion, the King has declared that ‘Gross National Happiness is more important than Gross National Product,’ and through adept political skills has managed successfully to secure a unique place for this extraordinary culture in the globalized world, preserving the country’s distinctive Tantric Buddhist cultural heritage, at the same time as introducing the benefits of Western technology and healthcare.

The religious tsechu festivals are compelling spectacles held in the local dzong of each district, the biggest in the capital of Thimpu. The annual tsechu is a time for riotous celebration when people come home to their families, dress up in their finest silk clothes and congregate in the dzong for the traditional Cham dance-dramas-morality tales in which the performers wearing outlandish costumes and grotesque masks whirl and leap and contort themselves in a wild, atavistic display designed to exorcize evil spirits, bring spiritual merit to observers and celebrate the triumph of good. The crowd of thousands responds rapturously by chanting incantations until the tsechu reaches it’s climax with the ritual unfurling of a huge and exquisite silk throngdrel (sacred embroidered or painted cloth banner) depicting Guru Rinpoche, the founder of Tantric Buddhism.

Any visitor attending the tsechu cannot help but feel an overwhelming sense of awe at witnessing the marvel of this ancient religious festival, so full of colorful ritual and so utterly alien to Western culture.

When: September

Best for: Incredible costumes, Buddhist culture

In the know: Bhutan is the only country in the world to have made the sale of tobacco illegal. The government has been cautious about encouraging tourism, fearful of the effects it may have on the environment and tourists are only allowed in with special permits and not allowed to travel without a guide.

Delhi to Agra India

David — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 21:56:01 +0000

The Taj Mahal, wonder of the world and shrine to undying love provides the climax to a journey through India’s throbbing heart. India, its myriad sensations and abrupt contrasts of poverty and beauty -that is what you encounter at close range from Delhi to Agra. Leaving behind the spice filled, noise riven air of Delhi, you wind south through farmland dotted with mud huts and farmers plowing with oxen. Vivid snapshots flash into view: women washing clothes, men eating from steaming bowls at roadside stalls. You pass a number of dilapidated stores, collapsing but still in business. Then, suddenly, a gleaming garlanded Hindu statue appears, tenderly cared for. All along the way cows, oxen, water buffalo wander across the road or stand still in the middle as the traffic veers around them. Anything that can be ridden or driven is on the highway: camels, tractors, old bicycles, patched up cars, trucks lurching under impossible loads. Sometimes, they topple over completely leaving their driver sitting, stranded on the roadside. Jewels from India’s Mogol past adorn this road from the Red Fort above Delhi to the deserted city of Fatepur Sikri along the way, and in its end, the shimmering Taj Mahal, a monument to human skill as well as an emperor’s love. Visit it at sunrise to watch the white marble change color with the light.

When to go:

September to March to avoid the hot summer and rainy monsoon months of July and August.

Highlights:

The Gandhi Memorial in Delhi is a moving and tranquil spot, dedicated to India’s spiritual leader, who is still considered the father of the nation. India Gate in Delhi was originally erected to honor Indian soldiers killed fighting for the allies during World War i. It has become a symbol of the city and of independence. The city of Fatehpur Sikri is a collection of palaces and pavilions in red sandstone and a prime example of classic architecture. The Mogul emperors built the Agra Fort Complex, embellishing it with marble, gemstones and pretty landscaped gardens.

Le Riviera Corniches Provence France

David — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 15:35:06 +0000

Impossibly glamorous, photogenic as a movie star and thrilling to drive (ask about our exotic car rentals), three coast roads symbolize the romance of the French Riviera. Everyone knows the coast between Nice and Menton. Even if you’ve never been there, its lavendar scented cliffs, hilltop villages and views of the Mediterranean have been hard wired into you by countless films and paintings. Three corniches (coast roads) themselves familiar from many a movie star chase allow you to explore these fabled scenes for yourself: the Grande Corniche, the highest, built under Napolean; the Moyenne Corniche; and the Corniche Inferieure, hugging the coast. To combine the best of all three, follow the Moyenne Corniche east from Nice as it twists past Monaco and below the Castle of Roquebrune, before merging with the Corniche Inferieure at Cap-Martin. Return along the Grande Corniche for the most spectacular stretch of all three roads, the 11miles from La Turbie to Nice. Or take the longer route along the Corniche Inferieure for stops in Monaco and Beaulieu-sur-Mer.

When to go: All year

Highlights:
The medieval village of Eze is a labyrinth of narrow lanes wrapped around a rocky pinnacle high above the Mediterranean, It is crammed with restaurants, art and antique shops and cafes. The Trophee des Alpes, a 115 foot high stone plinth, near La Turbie on the Grande Corniche is a great spot for a picture. It was built in 6 BC to support a collossal statue of the Emperor Augustus, now long gone. Stop at the fortress like crag above Monaco and get an eagle’s eye view of the ministate and it’s harbor crammed with sleek yachts and motor cruisers. Have a walk along the coastal path on Cap-Martin and take in the shoreline of white rocks and green pines.

Dalmatian Coast Croatia

David — Thu, 07 Jul 2011 00:00:13 +0000

Sprinkled with some of the prettiest islands in the Adriatic; the Dalmation Coast is pure magic. From the Zadar archipeligo in the north and the Elaphite Islands at the southern tip, the countless islets and shallows of the Dalmation coast retain an untouched feel that sets them apart from Europe’s most popular island-hopping routes. The scenery is characterized by jagged mountains for much of the way and a meandering, often deeply indented coastline, where uniform red and white villages nestled in pine groves and flawless white pebble beaches shine with reflected sunlight. Croatia claims over 1,000 islands altogether and those along it’s Dalmation coast take an amazing variety of shapes and sizes: some long and thin, others perfectly circular; some mere rocks bristling out of a turquoise sea, others lush, inhabited islands dotted with quiet resorts and marinas. The assorted collection of sailboats bobbing up and down in almost every port along the coast will whet your appetite for an ocean adventure; this trip is a sailors dream, with fine breezes to bear you from islet to islet. On the islands themselves, you can continue to enjoy the sea with kayaking, snorkeling and windsurfing. Be sure to spend some time in Dubrovnik, Pearl of the Adriatic -stroll its high city walls for splendid views over city and sea alike.

When to go:

May to September, but avoid August if you don’t like crowds.

Highlights:

Listen to the sounds of the sea organ of Zadar, a gigantic pipe organ played by the movements of the surf. See Brac, famous for it’s stone (used in the White House in Washington, DC) and the Golden Cape, a haven for sun worshipers and windsurfers. On Havar, the island of lavendar and pine covered hills, explore the quaint town of Jelsa, with Venetian style buildings mirrored in the harbor and fishing nets drying along the lanes. Visit Vis, an island known for it’s scenery, quality wines, and diving sites and Mljet, an island popular for it’s national park.

Italian Lake District

David — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 20:10:06 +0000

The calm blue waters, snow capped mountains highlight this beautiful journey along the Italian Swiss border. Known as the Italian lake district, these three lakes -Como, Lugano and Maggiore have attracted tourists since the days of the Grand Tour, when they became playgrounds for wealthy Europeans during the 17th and 18th centuries. Towns and villages hug the shoreline, their delicately colored terracotta-roofed houses reflected in the sparkling navy blue water. Some areas, such as Bellagio on Lake Como, boasts impossibly elegant villas, shrouded by rhododendrons and azaleas, built by affluent Italians over the centuries – a tradition lasting from the time of the Roman Empire, when the region first became popular for a summer sojourn. All year round, passenger boats and ferries share the waters with wading ducks and swans. Breathing in the crisp, alpine air on deck and looking out across a shimmering expanse of blue water with snow capped mountains rising in the distance, the noisy bustle of nearby Milan seems a million miles away. Back on dry land the terrain is ideal for cycle tours along the banks or hiking in the valleys and mountains surrounding the lakes. Less energetic travelers can take a peaceful stroll through the villages.

When to go: Although the weather is best in spring and summer, fall can be mild and is less crowded with tourists. In winter the snowy caps on the mountains provide an alternative attraction.

Highlights: Visit the classical villas and gardens that were home to the Dukes of Lombardy. Make sure you include a trip to Villa Carlotta outside Tremezzo, where you can see the sculptor Canova’s masterpiece, “Cupid and Psyche.” Pay a short visit to Switzerland by boat on Lago Maggiore or Lake Lugano. Explore the medieval old town of Como, with it’s narrow streets and the peaceful Basilica St. Fedele. Venture to the mountains for hiking and horse riding and skiing.

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PATTERB — Thu, 30 Jun 2011 14:10:42 +0000

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Avignon Festival Vaucluse, France

David — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 21:20:22 +0000

One of the most beguiling cities in the South of France, Avignon has a long and fascinating history -and hosts the thoroughly modern Festival d’ Avignon (Avignon Festival), one of the world’s most prestigious arts gatherings. Founded by Jean Vilar in 1947, it has gone from strength to strength ever since. As with the Edinburgh Festival a month later, there is both an official program and an avant-garde fringe. In Avignon, the first is called the ‘Festival In’ and the second is called ‘Festival out.’

It all began with heavyweight theater performances in the grandiose setting of the main courtyard of Avignon’s Palais des Papes (Pope’s Palace). From the 1960′s this basic element was augmented by the introduction of new venues and additional theatrical productions, music and dance. This was swiftly followed by film, literary readings, arts workshops, debates and children’s theater. The end result is a wonderful all-around take on contemporary culture that is enjoyed by a discerning audience of well over 100,000 people every year.

The fringe is altogether more anarchic, vibrant and exciting. Every wall is covered in gaudy posters extolling shows put on in any venue, however small or unlikely, that can hold anything from one performer and an audience of five, on upwards. Those who cannot find (or afford) houseroom perform for free in streets and parks. Hundreds of established performers and talented amateurs converge on the city, determined to gain public recognition for their work and go on to greater things. This surge of passionate, creative energy supercharges the atmosphere and makes Avignon a stimulating place to visit at any time during July.

The official festival may provide the serious artistic claret, but the fringe supplies the fizzling champagne. Together they create a wonderful summer high point in the cultural life of France.

When: July

Where: Avignon, Vaucluse

Best for: A heady overdose of culture in the sun.

You should know: The world famous song Sur le pont d’ Avignon refers to the medieval Pont St-Benezet. Of huge importance as a Rhone crossing in it’s day, only four of the old bridge’s original 22 spans now remain.

Festival dei Due Monde Spoleto, Italy

David — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 01:44:41 +0000

Spoleto is a gem of an ancient Umbrian hill town. Medieval buildings are visibly melded to Roman remains: the Rocca Albornoziana on the hilltop is a 14th century castle built on the Roman acropolis; the Casa Romana was once lived in by Emperor Vespasians’s mother; the Roman Theater really was built in the 1st century AD; and the nearby Piazza del Duomo and the cathedral itself are 12th century additions to buildings 1,000 years older, along with one of Italy’s very first theaters, the Teatro Caio Melissa. All of these are venues for the Festival dei Due Mondi, a two to three week program of music, opera, theater, art and sculpture that fills the town with some of the world’s most illustrious artistes.

Spoleto’s most dramatic sight is the Ponte della Torri (Bridge of Towers), spanning the steep gorge beside the Rocca like the Roman aqueduct it replace. Its grandeur emphasizes the intimacy of the old town, clustered on the hilltop. Intimacy is Spoleto’s trump card. From dawn to dusk, every open space is liable to exude beautiful music, or reveal a new aesthetic delight; and the magnificent churches and old theaters enable you to hear first class orchestras and soloists in informal proximity unparalleled in modern festivals. Since 1958, when the late composer Gian Carlo Menotti first realized his dream, the festival has sought to bring the ‘Due Mondi’ (Two Worlds) of European and American culture closer together. Menotti was canny enough to forsee that continual expansion can wreck a good idea, and chose Spoleto because it is beautiful, and can’t get any bigger.

Menotti lived to see his inspiration threatened by competitive managements, as music festivals like his proliferated; but Spoleto’s quality remains unrivaled -it’s one of the most joyous musical occasions in the world.

When: June and July, for two to three weeks

Where: Spoleto, southeast of Perugia, Umbria

Best for: Music, art, culture, cuisine and history

You should know: The Ponte delle Torri links the castle to the once-untamed woods of Monteluco beyond the gorge. Goethe crossed the bridge in the 1780′s, ‘declaring that the awesome vistas he encountered reminded him of the importance also of our inner spirit and life.’ Spoleto inspires both musing and the Muse.

Booking advice: Minimum 6 months in advance, preferably more, to secure outstanding seats for performances, a wide range of accommodation choices and restaurant reservations during the festival.

Wengen, Switzerland

David — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 22:55:35 +0000

The Swiss holiday resort of Wengen, Nestled at the foot of the imposing peaks of Eiger, Monch and jungfrau is a stunning area of natural beauty. A completely car free area, this pretty village in the Bernese Oberland is part of the Jungfrau region as well as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Jungfrau.

Tourists first came to Wengen by rail during the nineteenth century en route from Lauterbrunnen to the Wengernalp, Keine Scheidegg and Grindelwald. The first guest house appeared in the 1890′s and proved to be so popular following the development of the Wengernalp Mountain Railway, that a further 30 resorts were built over the next two decades. Once a sleepy farming village, Wengen has become a stunning chalet style resort town that has managed to retain its quaint charms and character including its beautiful reformed church.

Wengen, the ideal place to relax, walk, ski, and mountain climb, is home to the most difficult marathon in the world, the International Jungfrau Marathon. Every September thousands of runners from many countries scramble around the high elevations attempting to make the best time over this difficult terrain.

Ideally located in the ski center of Kleine Scheidegg-Mannlichen with it’s famed Lauberhorn and Eigergletscher runs, Wengen is not just a summer destination, it is one of the most attractive and popular winter sports villages in Switzerland. The most challenging and exciting downhill races in the World Cup circuit take place every January in the Lauberhorn Downhill Ski Race.

Whether you are a skier, an apres skier, a hiker or someone who just enjoys taking in scenic landscapes for a breathe of fresh mountain air, Wengen is a beautiful place to visit at any time of year.

Alaska

PATTERB — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:28:11 +0000

From the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge to the Kenai Peninsula and everything in between.