We arrived to the port of Tasucu as one of the only tourist ships to visit the semi-remote area. The mayor greeted our ship with a large welcome sign, sweets, and flowers for the ship. He also brought a newspaper photographer and shook hands with the tour managers, urging us to return (and bring larger ships).
We boarded the buses for a drive into the Turkey mountains to the ancient site of Diacaesarea. We saw the intact Hellenistic Tower from the 4th Century BC. We then walked down to the Temple of Zeus. Here the locals turned out in traditional dress and performed a few folk dances. We walked around the site, significant for being one of the first sites to use Corinthian capitals on their columns.
After touring the site, the mayor of the village welcomed us. They had arranged for the traveling loom operators to bring an art historian to the dusty village and give us a presentation about Turkish rug making. The loom operator travels across the mountains to these nomad villages with a government grant to provide them with the means of creating handicrafts for sale. They had, of course, brought dozens of rugs for sale. Apparantly (according to the guides and even a few fellow travelers who had bought rugs in the past), the rugs were all handmade and excellent quality. The art historian showed us how to tell a handmade rug from a machine made rug (the pile on the handmade rugs all lies the same direction creating a different shade and sheen when viewed from one side to the other).
The rugs were all laid out in the dirt and our chairs had been placed on top of some of them. They handed out Turkish snacks and apricot juice. One traveler spilled some juice on the rug beneath us, but the rug sellers did not seem even slightly concerned. Another traveler asked the price of that rug ($32,000!). The other rugs were similarly priced with the least expensive one I heard quoted at $9000. Of course, all rates are negotiable and bartering is expected. Several travelers purchased rugs at moderate discounts from these quoted rates. One traveler (who had two Turkish rugs already at home including one that cost him $16,000 and was rolled up under the bed because he didn't have space for it) said that the rates were a good deal because you could easily sell them for twice the price back in the US.
I was most amused that several travelers stopped to use the very basic toilet facilities (standard Asian design with two molded food pedals on either side of a dirty hole) after spending $30,000 on a rug - such an interesting group of travelers!
Back on the ship that night, Gabor surprised us with a glorious chocolate cake with colorful fresh fruit, chocolate fences, golden almond bark, and even a large sparkler all sticking out a various angles. The kitchen and hotel staf onboard sang "Won't You Be My Sweetheart?" and played instruments to celebrate our honeymoon.
The response from Adventure Life to my first inquiry was prompt and promising. I worked with Jamie Broeckel, Trip Planner, via text, email, and phone calls- always extremely responsive and thorough with information and explaining the process to arrange a private tour for me to Malaysia Borneo. Within about week, the booking was complete and I made decisions because of Jamie's great customer service , friendly manner, and overall competence on behalf of the company's travel expertise. Now I have an itinerary, additional Trip Planner Assistants, several links for vital information for traveling to Maylasia, etc. Still many details for Sept. trip, but now the heavy lifting is done and I can enjoy the rest of the anticipation and research!! Thanks Jamie- you are amazing!!!!
Susan Campo
2 days ago
The trip was not only memorable for the amount of animals we saw but also for the people and accommodations at the two camps where we stayed. Our first guide, BK, was a wealth of information about the animals, landscape and down to the plants and what they were used for. Everyday out was a learning experience with him. All the people at the camps were gracious and the food was excellent.
Our second camp in the Okavanga was just as good as the first as far as the staff, accommodations, food and animals. After our experience at the first camp we amazed that the high quality remained the same. Our guide, G, made sure we were able to enjoy every experience including a rush through the bush to witness a cheetah and an ensuing hunt that he heard over his radio.
In both camps there were enough guides out that if they saw something the other guides were informed which helped in seeing as much as possible. It was also nice that the concessions were large enough that we did not have vehicles following each other throughout the day.
Normally there is always something in a trip of this length that we think could be improved upon but this is the rare case where we cannot think of anything. From the time we left the States to when we returned it was one of the most hassle free vacations we took.
Perhaps emphasizing the use of the laundry facilities at the camps would be useful because of the luggage restrictions would be the only thing I can think of as an improvement to future clients.
Kenneth Dropek
3 days ago
Mary was so pleasant and professional. She made sure all of our questions were answered.