BillT

Carol- Syd or BKK-its a close call- I think I like BKK because of the culture/food.

Hey Carol- you seem to be globetrotter- how do you manage to be able to travel so much?????

sandi

Roccco -

>>Glad to see another Africa buff lost on the Asia board! <<

Sorry to disappoint but there are a few other Africa buffs who get lost in Asia - hi there!

>>The first year, 2002, .....I visited Singita for the very topic of this thread...it had just been voted #1 in the world by Conde Nast Traveler.<<

2002 was not the first year to be voted #1 by CN, rather, I believe it was either 1999 or 2000, we visited in '01 and I believe with the appearance of Singita as #1 was the first year South Africa even appeared at the top of the charts and long overdue, at that. While Londolozi had appeared prevously, never at the top. It was about time and refreshing, though a few lodgings in Kenya had appeared in previous years somewhere on these lists.

Giving Chichele it's due, if you send enough folks here, it too will get enough votes to appear on these lists soon enough. Do you really want everyone to know about your "special place." Just pulling your leg.

Now onto the Europe threads... will see you later in Africa!

simpsonc510

BillT re: all my globetrotting!
I guess I'm just lucky! As a teacher (now retired though) I always had time to travel in the summer and at Christmas and spring break. It helps that I had many years of service and also many hours beyond my masters degree, so salary wasn't all that bad. Now, if I lived somewhere on the east or west coast, I wouldn't be able to afford this lifestyle.

It also helps that my DH and I have a very successful business that REQUIRES a lot of travel! And now that I'm a retired teacher, I'll be going along on all those European trips with DH. Otherwise, my experience in Europe has always been a week (9 days) at Easter break when he would be over there and I would join him.

Travel has always been a passion of mine. And now that I also write about it for my local newspaper, it makes it more fun to see new places and be able to "tell" folks at home about it!

There were other teachers in my school building that said they lived vicariously through me, since I've seen so many countries (32 and counting). I promised to stop by and bring pictures and tell them about all my new adventures.

The SYD trip in Aug/Sept will include Ayres Rock, the GBR, SYD and also some island hopping... Rarotonga, Tahiti, and Bora Bora! I can't wait!

Roccco

Sandi,

Hey there!

I guess even the most passionate Africaphile, Afrodite, or whatever term you wish to choose, needs a break even from Africa every now and then.

Now that I am on this India thing, it is all so confusing, but the last thing I would ever do is a group tour.

Really, the whole South Asia thing has me wishing I could spend about eight weeks there right now. I would love to also visit Sri Lanka, Borneo and Nepal, but there just isn't any time to do so.

As it is, I think I would need a minimum of four weeks just to see the parts of India I want to see most. I mean there is New Delhi, Jaipur, Udaipur, Ranthambhore, Agra, Jaisalmer, Varanasi, Goa, just to name a few.

Regarding Singita, I got lazy in my speech...I meant to imply that the Conde Nast Traveler "Best Of" issue had just hit the newstands and it was at that time that I first learned about Singita. That was really my first luxury trip, and I think it remains my most luxurious trip to date...cannot believe that I paid full prices for everything but due to exchange rates it still wasn't bad. I can only imagine the bargains that the experienced travelers were getting back in 2002!

BrianD

I spent a total of 10 nights last week in Bangkok, 8 at the Oriental and 2 at the Peninsula. I would have to say that the of the 2 hotels the Peninsula is more beautiful, but the service at the Oriental is not to be believed!Truly outstanding. Price wise I was able to get a better deal via the web at the Peninsula.

CFW

BrianD, we're crying out for a trip report from you! Please post.