Visas? Now needed three Visas. Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. The logistics were a nightmare with letters of invitation needed and worries about how to get the passports back and forth between the three embassies. In the end, the easiest solution was to pay a whopping surplus to let Zierer Visa Service do it.

Flights? We had already booked round-trip Lufthansa tickets from Frankfurt to Tashkent, Uzbekistan and just arranged to fly back to Frankfurt from Ashghabad, Turkmenistan. Our arrangements also required an internal flight from Tashauz to Ashghabad on Turkmenistan Airlines, cost included in the package.

Continue reading "Plannning The Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan Extensions" »

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Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Kazakstan, Pakistan and Afghanistan...so many "Stans." Mountain Travel Sobek had a trek operating in 1999 called "Lost Valleys of the Turkestan Range. The tour began and ended in Tashkent, Uzbekistan and the trek took place entirely within Kyrgyzstan.

Well, if we were going to fly this far, what about Tajikistan, Kazakstan, Turkmenistan, and Afghanistan? Forget Afghanistan. The Taliban was in power. Tajikistan? Violence and another country considered "not safe to visit." Pakistan? Been there...done it... Kazakstan? Kazakstan wasn't experiencing any problems but its geographic situation above Uzbekistan made it difficult to arrange post-trek.

Continue reading "Visit Some Amazing Countries That End in "Stan"" »

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ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and I stay loyal to United Airlines. I won't say it's because they are the best airline out there but United is the most convenient for Chicagoans with great Star Alliance partners like Lufthansa who fly everywhere in the world.

There is also another big reason. Those miles add up and if you fly a lot, it doesn't take long to move up the different Premier levels with resulting perks. Number one in our opinion is the free system-wide upgrades earned at the 100,000 mile level. Who wouldn't jump at the chance to sit in Business Class rather than Economy!

Continue reading "United Airlines Business Class" »

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When it's time for some serious shopping, browsing and pondering over "stuff" you don't need but now find that life would be unlivable with it, you can't get any better than a day spent in any one of my favorite 7 Flea Markets.

Marche Les Puces, Paris, France. The granddaddy of them all is the one at Porte de Clignancourt. This flea market dates back over two hundred years and operates Saturday, Sunday and Monday. This gigantic market covers 7 hectares/17 acres and between 120,000-180,000 visitors rub shoulders each weekend. It definitely doesn't get bigger than this. Go in the morning when it's a little less crowded and pick an area. Walk down Rue des Rosiers, the main street which leads into the separate markets. For example, Vernaison, with everything from furniture to beads; and Dauphine, everything from rare antiques, to books, prints, art and vintage clothing. Trust me...you'll never make your way through them all but it's fun trying..

Continue reading "Sheila's 7 Favorite Flea Markets" »

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Don't know if you are a "Bazaar" or "Market" person but I certainly am and even ex-Marine (husband, Steve) has been known to go into ecstasy when we've walked into one of these surreal markets. I separate markets into two categories: Those for looking at the people dressed in colorful outfits; and the ones for serious shopping.

These are my top 7 favorite "looking at people in colorful outfits" to date...you never know what's around the bend... true, "not for tourists" ethnicity and a photographer's dream:

Continue reading "Sheila's 7 Favorite Ethnic Markets" »

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I'd like to take a moment to wish all my readers and fellow travelers a healthy and enjoyable Thanksgiving. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of the year with yummy cooking (I'm a pretty good cook if I do say so myself...) and time to spend with dear family and friends. Forget about hiking, running, walking, lifting weights or doing an kind of exercise...just eat...that's what I plan to do.

Keep reading daily...for travel information on:

- Tana Toraja in Central Sulawesi;

- Northwest Vietnam;

- Trekking in Kyrgyzstan; and

- Family Cruising...

...just to name a few places...

Have a most wonderful Thanksgiving,

Sheila

Continue reading "Happy Thanksgiving Day" »

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Things are really tough financially around the world right now and everyone is hurting. This presents a major problem if you still want to continue traveling. It's difficult to justify an expenditure on what is perceived as a "luxury" rather than a "necessity" but travel has always been a necessity for me. You just have to get a little more creative.

To that end, I heartily recommend Adventure Center listed on the side-bar of this site. Take a look at what they have to offer and you won't believe the prices. If picky me has taken 16 trips with them, they must be doing something right! Another reputable organizer is G.A.P Adventures. G.A.P. is also a world leader in the adventure travel industry.

Continue reading "Cut Down Your Costs and Keep Traveling" »

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