ARAVA (Aqaba Jordan) BORDER CLOSED

Please note that the Arava border between Aqaba Jordan, and Eilat Israel is closed indefinitely. If you are traveling and planning to go into Israel from Aqaba, you will need to make other arrangements. At this time the other border crossings are open, but if we hear any change to this, we will post it immediately. Be sure to pass this on to friends and family that may be traveling between Jordan and Israel.

Hawaiian Adventure - Day 2 & 3

On the second day, we went Wai'anae boat harbor to start our ocean adventure.we got on a boat and enjoyed sailing for a while till we got to our destination which was a "Turtle wash" where sea turtles go and get their backs cleaned on rocks, we went snorkeling to see them and got to watch their behavior. It was a really nice and enjoyable experience. Then we got on the boat again, our next destination was dolphins!

We kept on sailing till we spotted dolphins, they were swimming net to us and jumping in the water and spinning in the air. It was fantastic!


That was not all, things got even better when we stopped the boat and went snorkeling for the second time, but this time swimming with the dolphins. There were so many of them and you could see the baby dolphins swimming next to their mommies and practicing their jumps spinning in the air... That was the highlight of the day!

Day three was a very nice day as we started it off by heading to Hanauma bay for another different experience of snorkeling. Here it was the opposite of what we did the previous day as the water was very shallow and there is more fish. It was very relaxed and calm, all we had to do is float and enjoy the reef and the various kinds of fish and eel swimming with you, not even bothering to move away as if you are one of them.

After that we went to a nice restaurant for lunch and dessert, and then we got ready for the second adventure for the day which was hiking the Le'ahi (Diamond head) crater.

It was a very nice moderate hike. We stopped a few times on the way up to take some pictures of the gorgeous panoramic views of the ocean, the island and Coco head crater. The hike down was very easy and breezy, the wind was very refreshing as we came to the end of the adventures of our day.

Hawaii Adventure - Day 1

Zena, our Jordan specialist, is in Hawaii learning about Hawaiian adventure vacations. She is from our office in Jordan. These are her reports from Oahu.


Day 1:
It was a really beautiful morning at the Waikiki beach, we had breakfast and we started our adventure by heading to Pu'u Ohi'a for a 5 mile downhill bike ride which was really amazing as the views and the scenery we got to experience were absolutely fantastic! We took a break before reaching the bottom of the hill where we got to have lunch with a fantastic view of the city and Waikiki Beach.

After that we went to hike in the O'ahu volcanic rain forest which is on private property and is leased to the hike and bike company. On this hike we got to see many kinds of tropical plants and flowers, huge veins hanging down from trees, a poison dart frog and much more... then, we finally reached the amazing waterfall we were supposed to see which is 200 feet high, so we took a break and had some fresh passion fruit and started off on the way back. But we took a different trail, It was the Bamboo trail which was mostly thousands and thousands of bamboo trees which we were walking through. It was so much fun going through that trail as we started suggesting names for it, I called it "The ape trail" as some of us got in touch with the inner child within us as we were leaning and grabbing on to the bamboo trees for support in order not to slide in the mud while hiking down, so we felt like apes or Tarzan. A woman suggested the name "The Hula skirt trail" as the bamboo tree roots look like a Hula skirt and there were so many exposed so it looked like Hula skirts everywhere!

We finally reached the end of our adventure for the day, went back to the hotel to get some rest and charge up for the next adventure.

Airline Baggage Policy Changes

We received this notice from Alaska Airlines about their new baggage policy and baggage fees. It has always made more sense to get your flights all on one ticket, this is just another reason why. Sometimes online ticketing sites won't let you get to your ultimate destination on one ticket. If that is the case, before purchasing separate tickets for the various legs of your trip, call us and see if we can't get your trip on one ticket - sometimes we can! It will save you a lot of hassle. If you can't get your air travels on one ticket, be sure to follow the guidelines below for allowing time to collect and recheck bags for each segment.

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Due to the Department of Transportation's Enhanced Passenger Protection ruling, many air carriers including Alaska have made policy to promote single ticket itineraries to avoid the inconsistency of checked baggage fees.

Single Ticket Itinerary Policy

Alaska Airlines will check bags through to a passenger's final destination, or first stopover, for tickets booked as a single ticket.

This policy is effective for tickets purchased on/after November 15, 2012 and for travel on/after January 15, 2013.

Alaska will no longer check bags through to a destination purchased on a separate ticket.

Booking a customer's itinerary on a single ticket helps ensure a hassle-free travel experience and the following benefits:

  * Only one bag fee applies from departure to destination (or stopover).
  * Customer can take advantage of the shortest possible connection times.

If it is necessary to book an itinerary using multiple carriers on multiple tickets, ensure that the passenger has enough time to claim, re-check their baggage and pay the applicable baggage fees. A connection time of two hour or more to claim and re-check a bag is generally acceptable; however, it is the booking entity's responsibility to also consider the specific airport terminal, domestic versus international travel or the passenger's specific travel needs.

Published minimum connection times should not be used for this calculation as these times are used for calculating baggage that is checked through.

Exception: Customers connecting and using two Alaska Airlines tickets where travel is wholly on Alaska Airlines with flights operated by Horizon Air, SkyWest or Pen Air (between DUT and ANC only) may check their baggage through to a stopover point or the final destination if the baggage transfer rules are met.

Caspian Saga

This was written by one of our tour participants on the Caucasus Tour Oct 27 - Nov 9, 2012. We had a great time, excellent food, amazing sites, and wonderful people. Thanks for sharing this fun poem, Dona!

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In October of 2012 our group set out
To discover what the Caucasus were all about
We started out in Azerbaijan on the Caspian Sea
In Baku an amazing great city to see

Baku is really a mix of the old and the new
With lots of buildings for us to view
Old Town is really a delight
And the designer shops were quite the sight

In Baku we saw old paintings on rock
We saw the Caspian Sea without a dock
We watched the flames on the buildings tall
Saw the fireworks  over the water fall

We dined outside in places without sound
In private places with greenery around
We tried all the new foods with great delight
Some of the dishes were quite a sight.

The fresh bread was way too good
Causing us to eat more than we really should
The appetizers were really a full meal
But we did not stop there which was a bad deal

We visited markets with produce and meat
It was so fresh but didn’t want animal feet
The spices and nuts and honey to sell
At least the people here can eat well

Our guide, Yasim, in Azerbaijan was  pleasing
We laughed and joked and he took our teasing
But at the border we had to leave him
Our view of him will not soon grow dim

Then  we met up with Tamara  our guide
In Georgia she has lots of pride
She knows  so much and she tried to share it
But into some of our minds - it surely does not fit

The first night in Georgia  at a guest house we did stay
They were delightful to introduce us to their way
Our hosts there showered us with food and toasts galore
Our time there  showed us what was in store

We visited  old houses and museums along the way
Keeping up was hard so we did not stray
There are walls and museums of all kinds of things
Fashions, statues  and even some rings

We ate our way around the city
If our stomachs were only larger- what a pity
Our group is getting to know one another
And only in the churches our heads we did cover

Tbilisi is a very interesting city
Too bad it is poor which is a pity
But they have only been a country for 20 years
They are so proud of their freedom with no Russian fears

Lastly to Armenia we finally went
Now Laura was the guide that heaven sent
Seems the whole country is full of heritage sites
Monasteries and churches with no lights

We saw frescoes in  churches and monastaries
We saw walls that must have been  built  by fairies
We saw carvings most everywhere
And statues at which we often did  stare

We  drove on curvy roads that were bumpy
Seeing small towns and buildings that were frumpy
We stayed in a place way too small
About all  there was to do is look at wall

A lake was seen along the way
Lunch was from many a full tray
Then 290 steps to see the view
It was done by the real tough few

We have all eaten way too much food
But it seems to keep us in a good mood
The tomatoes and cukes were devine
The many breads were really fine

We had great fruit and lots of cheese
Eggplant dishes went in the breeze
Trying new foods is really fun
We ate until we were finally done

Lunch in a cave was a real hit
The lavash was bigger by quite a bit
The Grand Candy store was too much fun
Some of us will hit it again on the run

Yerevan is full of churches and museums
Laura set out to have us all see um
There is just way too much to learn and see
Not possible  in a short time where to be.

Our last day together was great
The Pagan temple had nothing we could hate
The singers there were a great surprise
For them they really had our ears and eyes

The museum of history was out last stop
It helped us to learn a lot
This journey  has been quite an experience
At times it took lots of endurance!

Now this group is an amazing  bunch
We talked constantly over lunch
All  have traveled to many places
Bringing us new dimension to our faces

Stacey is the one to go to for hats
Sloan is the one who seems to likes dogs and cats
These east coast sisters seem like a team
Having wine together for them is a dream

Terry is the lone male on the trip
His sense of humor is  often quite hip
Brenda  and her mom Bobbi are lots of fun
Taking lots of pictures and collecting junk until they are done

Nora is busy learning lots of stuff
With roots to this area she never has enough
Kelly is busy smiling and never sad
Dressing up for dinner trying to making us all look bad

Linda has to put up with me on this trip
I do what I can to keep her hip
I spent my time looking for chocolate and ice cream
In Tbilisi  & Yerevan I really found my dream

Thanks to everyone for making many days with great trips
I am sure  forever it will be on everyones lips
May our paths cross again real soon
Traveling is for us the real tune!

Between a rock and a hard place

After my visit today to the National History Museum, this statement seems at once to be appropriate for Armenia as well as a gross understatement. I have been hearing about the history of the region and Armenia for almost 2 weeks now but it really came together today how Armenia fits in with our other Caravan-Serai destinations.

Armenia has been in the path of clashing empires for centuries. In the 1700's they were in between the Ottoman and Persian empires, and became part of the Persian empire for a while. Then the Russian empire and the Ottoman were at war in the late 1800's with Armenia caught in the middle again.

The legacy of all these wars has most definitely left their mark on this tiny country, but none more so than the Russian-Ottoman war and the results of the final resolution of the war that not only kept Armenia split in two, but led to the genocide of Armenians in Turkey. The issue of what to do about the Armenians left in Turkey, issues about ensuring they were to be respected, were answered in a brutally  simple manner by the Turks- "No Armenians, no Armenian issues."

The genocide was the first of many in the 20th century and is named along with the Holocaust, Rwanda, and several others as part of the genocide century.

Other aspects of these clashes and Armenia being taken over by the Persian and Russian empires can still be seen today. I see subtle Persian elements in the artwork we have seen and of course the Russian influence turned into Soviet domination which has left its mark physically on the cities that are filled with abandoned Soviet era factories and buildings.

Armenia, as well as Azerbaijan and Georgia, have much to offer as a compliment to other Caravan-Serai destinations. Visiting these countries will definitely give you a much, much broader perspective on the region as a whole. It will fill in some gaps ad well as open your eyes to another side of history here.

Armenia! We Have Arrived!

Yesterday we said our farewell to Georgia and crossed the border in to Armenia. A little heads up on the procedure: you have to walk through the neutral zone over a bridge with a little river below. There are cables to keep people and big items from falling over the side, but it would not stop a purse or a passport from falling into the water below! That was all I could think of as I walked through the no man's land- don't drop your purse! Don't drop your purse! It could just drop on the pavement or it could fall a little to the side and then down to the river!

We all made it without incident and got onto our Armenia bus with our new guide and driver. We then made our way to see two UNESCO World Heritage sites Haghpat Monastery on the edge of the Debed River canyon and Sanahin Monastery, on a mountaintop. Here we learned a bit about the vast history of the monasteries and Christianity in Armenia. It is quite a long history withany influences from surrounding kingdoms and empires over the centuries.

One thing I noticed is that Armenia is very proud of their wine and brandy industry. You can find these products on sale just about anywhere- even at the kiosks outside the monasteries. I tried a taste of red wine last night and would have had more but I was feeling a bit under the weather. I can't wait to try more! The little I did have was very tasty.

We stayed at a hotel designed a bit like castle on the River Debed called the Tufenkian. It had a lodge-like feel with a big open lobby and lots of comfy seating to just sit and relax. You could go out on the patio and enjoy the rushing river and steep canyon walls when its warmer out. Really a very nice setting. Tonight we are in Tzakhadzor at the Kecharis Hotel. This is a winter resort area with a ski hill nearby.

Our lunch was on the shores of Lake Sevan. It reminded me a bit of Lake Chelan back home. Mountains and dry hills surrounding this huge fresh water lake. The trout at lunch was from the lake and was excellent.

Well, its time to get some rest. Tomorrow we go to Yerevan with sightseeing along the way.

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King Tamara

Today we visited a monastary out in the middle of nowhere near the border with Azerbaijan. This is the place where David Gareji, a Syrian Christian came after he was run out of Tbilisi as he was trying to preach the Christian faith to the people of Georgia. At the time, Georgia was controled by the Persians, who were Zoroastrians at the time. They didn't take to well to David preaching, so the decided to frame him to disgrace him so people wouldn't listed to him anymore. They paid a pregnant woman to publicly claim that David Gareji was the father of her child. People believed her and David was in disgrace. So he cursed her and then left the city for the wilderness where he could just focus on his faith. He ended up in a remote area with lots of lime and sand stone and caves, and this is where the monastery was formed. Back in Tbilisi, the woman gave birth to a stone, instead of a baby, and the people realized they had been fooled and they began following David Gareji's teachings again.

Georgian history is quite diverse and really interesting. The country has been a crossroads and prominant and rich kingdom for a very long time. On the way back to Tbilisi from David Gareji monastery, we heard the story of King Tamara. She was crowned king, by her father who didn't want to marry her to another prince and have his kingdom be in another family's hands. The line of Tamara is the only royal dynasty in Georgian history. So at the age of 19, Tamara was named King while her father was still alive so that they could rule together and she could learn the business of running the kingdom. Then when her father died, she was coronated king, but not without some opposition. There were some nobles, who didn't think a woman should rule their country. This is in the late 12th century, so this is not hard to imagine she met with difficulty in assuming the throne. She ended up facing a parliament who tried to curb her power, but then was able to get rid of the opposition and she ruled the kingdom as the absolute monarch.

Another problem she faced was that of marriage. She wanted to bring a husband in who could lead her armies, but who wouldn't have any other power. The first match was with a Russian prince, but it didn't work out - he was rude, an alcoholic, and apparently infertile. So after two years, Tamara divorced him and sent him away. A few years later, another match was made, and by all accounts this one was much better. The husband was competent, led the armies, and they had two children - a boy and a girl.

King Tamara is credited with so many accomplishments - building things, increasing the kingdom's wealth, and much more. It was considered a golden age for the country.

Tamara died when she was 48 years old, and her son became king, followed by her daughter. It was during her daughter's reign that the Mongol hoards swept through and plunged the kingdom into the dark ages. The golden age of King Tamara was over.

Welcome to Georgia!

We have been in the Republic of Georgia for just 2 days and it has been an information and sight filled experience so far. I never knew there were so many layers to the Georgia history and culture. From the earliest civilizations on the Eurasian continent to the many invaders to a history of wine making that goes back thousands of years, Georgia is really an amazing little country.

We are at the Georgian National Museum which is worth a visit. It covers the earliest Georgia civilization through to the Russian invasion and Soviet occupation.

Here are just a few bullet points of interest that I haven't had time to flesh out:

The Radisson Blu Hotel is the former Soviet Intourist Hotel.

As in Azerbaijan there are old Soviet apartment blocks that they have tried to clean up and paint different colors.

1.5 million people live in Tbilisi

In the former Georgia capitol of Mskheta we visited the cathedral where Christianity was first observed in Georgia. Kings and queens were coronated there and buried there. More on the legend of what happened later.

Georgians love to make toasts about all kinds of things when having a dinner party. Caution: its not one and done! Numerous toasts will be made and you wine glass will be refilled many times!

Ok, more to come later.
Brenda