Letter of the month
'On our most recent visit to Vietnam, we were travelling from Hanoi to Halong Bay when a flash of light---something like a fish rising and diving in a lake-caught my eye in the rice paddies that flank the road. We stopped and took a closer look, and watched a rural ritual that's become something of a dream for Vietnam travellers.
On a grassy dyke alongside irrigation stream stood two gnarled old women, each with a younger woman who was obviously her daughter. Working as two teams, they faced each other on the dyke, bending and swaying with an almost hypnotic rhythm—each couple pulling on woven bamboo ropes attached to a wide open mouthed bamboo basket. Swaying forward, the basket sank into the irrigation canal, pulling back it lifted, full of water, and with an almost imperceptible flick of the wrists they made it flip and dash its contents into an adjacent rice field. It was the water, splashing in the morning sunlight that had caught my attention on the road.
Such are the everyday rituals of rural life seen in this intriguing part of the world'. |
Dear Friends,
The question some clients are asking themselves, with turbulent times and the widely fluctuating dollar do we defer, or do we travel? Many returning from tours say 'We had such a great time, we'd happily pay twice as much for this great experience'. The dollar hasn't fallen anywhere near that low!
So don't defer, there is never a better time to get greater value than to travel now. You our clients are as determined as we are to keep focused and go with the plan. All our established tours this year are fully booked and there is keen interest in the two new escorted and one independent tour enclosed for you. They have not yet been released to the general public, only to our client base; we do however intend to generally release them later this month.
'Vietnam made Easy' Our newest tour to Vietnam takes you to an area now emerging from the shadows of its troubled past. It's worth visiting, either as an independent with our weekly departures or as a fully escorted tour leaving in September this year. Ali and I have just returned from doing the tour, and had a wonderful time. Working with our partner company in Hanoi we have established our new fully escorted tour and strengthened the existing independent one. This is a 'must see' destination allowing you still to enjoy the simple things of an age old life style. We suggest you do it sooner than later, to beat the expected tourism flush.
The most vivid memory we carry from this trip would be the 'wonderful gentle spirit and friendliness' of the local people.
'Savouring Italy France' Visits major cities as well as the small villages and markets that were home to Ali and I when we were in Europe. For us leading this exciting tour is like going home. Slightly food orientated its great if you enjoy simple local cooking and wine and really want to experience the gentle village style of life.
When we designed this tour we wanted it to be a typical 'Great Village Holidays' standard of tour, but with the added opportunity for both men and women to get involved in the food and wines of the small villages, as well as exploring the history and much admired visitor destinations.
Live like a local where food and wine are the main focus of daily life. Visit the early morning fresh produce markets, the village baker for that 'just from the oven' crusty baguette, croissant or sweet pastry, and stop of at the local café to chat on the way home. Add to that, hot air balloon rides and a vintage car rally through some of the picturesque villages of the South West of France, ending at an Armagnac Chateau. You'll live as a local in an old Italian Castle on the Tuscan border, also a French Country Chateau near Agen and explore the 'olde lanes' of San Sebastian with its intriguing Tapas bars and wonderful shopping.
Why not come with us on this very special holiday, there are still some spaces available to travel in this small group.
We are looking forward to the busy year ahead and together are debating, checking and exploring the 'new destination tour' that should evolve to Alaska and North America in the northern fall of 2010---just watch this space!
Happy New year to you all,
Ian
Ali, Brian and Bindi
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