Your "Must See" places...

[Magician]

Re: Your "Must See" places...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Seveen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">and Mombassa Kenya reminded me of a bigger Negril - just down the road a bit from Egypt
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Seveen have you been to Nairobi as well? Going there twice this month need some tips! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70384-praying.gif[/img]

Nina, your son looks like one of them Beduins fi true! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/704555_dwl.gif[/img]
He should really think about working as a spy. He can 'infiltrate' into just about anyplace on Earth, no problems!

Both_Mo's China is one of those places that you just have to return to it on many occasions. Egypt's been tempting me for a long time. Everything in due time.

[mo_fire]

Re: Your "Must See" places...

A tru dat Magic... both, and many many more places fe see. I just wish I could be a lady of leisure with tons of cash so that I didn't have to plan and wait in between treks!! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70394-bawlout.gif[/img]

[BND1999]

Re: Your "Must See" places...

Moefire.. i never been to egypt.. those are my sons photos and his gf.. tons more.. .. beautiful landscape.. sacred place.. great people... but I understand not going now in this climate..

when my son arrived in Cairo.. not to scare anyone... he walked out of his hotel with his gf.. they got about a block and heard and felt a huge explosion.. so ran back into their hotel.... literally one block further there was a suicide bomber.. and he exploded himself with foreigners and egyptions right near the infamous Egyptioan museum where my son was headed... another 5 minutes and dan would have been right there... a day later an egyptian woman exploded herself on a tourist bus....

these two events shook my son so much... that he actually considered leaving egypt before he even started to travel there.. he spent a day in his hotel.. afraid to venture.. and just shaken.. moved by what was going on in the world... the feel people have for americans.. and other intl events... changed him .... we even looked to reschedule his flight pattern to ethiopia on the way to kenya.. but he ended up staying.. and it turned out to be so fantastic.. i mean really fantastic....

ive been to israel.. but i have no desire to go back now.. jordan i think id go to.... but the middle east no doubt will always have its quiet and turbulent times...

my sil sent me this link..her daugter is going on a trip to senegal.. read these just to be stimulate.. man oh man....

http://www.wheretherebedragons.com

love to read other itineraries to get ideas

[Seveen]

Re: Your "Must See" places...

Island paradises where you don't need a passport
POSTED: 1:32 p.m. EST, January 15, 2007
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(AP) -- You'll soon need a passport to fly just about anywhere outside the U.S., but even if you haven't gotten around to getting one, there are still ways to enjoy a winter escape to a sunny tropical island. You just have to be a little selective.

What's the trick? Visit the State Department -- http://travel.state.gov/external link -- and look for "Traveling to the Caribbean, Bermuda, Panama, Mexico or Canada." Yes, it says that as of January 23 you need a passport to go to those places. But if you look down the page you'll find that the requirement does not apply to U.S. territories, including Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa and the Northern Marianas.

Tropical enough for you? And, they all take U.S. dollars.

The intro to the Virgin Islands tourism agency -- http://www.usvitourism.vi/external link -- welcomes you with the sound of gentle surf and a "Multimedia Gallery" full of photos, videos and panoramas. The three islands offer a little bit of everything, from beaches for swimming and reefs for diving, to music and great food. They're also a duty-free shopper's paradise. You can get there on a half-dozen airlines or on cruise ships; click on "Travel &amp; Transportation" for details. And if you don't want to stay in the usual posh resorts, hotels, inns or guest houses, you can even go camping on St. John; look for information on Cinnamon Bay -- http://www.cinnamonbay.com/external link.

The USVI Hotel &amp; Tourism Association -- http://www.virgin-islands-hotels.com/external link -- offers more details on places to stay, plus guides to scuba diving, nightlife and spas. And click on "Shopping" for more information on places to spend your money without paying duty.

Puerto Rico -- http://www.gotopuertorico.com/external link -- is less than a 3-hour flight from Miami, or less than five hours from Chicago. Explore historic Old San Juan and the city's huge Fort San Felipe del Morro, or take in the lush tropical greenery of El Yunque Rainforest. Look under "Attractions" for details on these and other unique places, and for directions for your own walking tour of Old San Juan. Next, go to "Beaches &amp; Activities" for descriptions of sunny shoreline spots including Luquillo on the eastern end of the island, or Flamenco on the nearby island of Culebra. Warm up your taste buds at Welcome to Puerto Rico -- http://welcome.topuertorico.org/index.shtmlexternal link -- by clicking on "Recipes." And consult the "Where to Stay" directory at Escape to Puerto Rico -- http://www.topuertorico.com/external link -- especially the category called paradores or country inns.

You might not have thought about the Northern Marianas -- http://www.mymarianas.com/external link -- but the diving is spectacular, with everything from coral reefs to World War II wrecks to explore. And if you don't dive, there are golf courses and acres of sandy beach to relax on. Consult "Trip Essentials" for airlines to the islands, plus other essentials like the type of food available (more than 200 restaurants on the islands).

At the southern end of the Marianas chain, Guam -- http://visitguam.org/external link -- also has a wide variety of diving spots, including coral reefs and shipwrecks from both world wars. Click on "Activities" for guides to local attractions, tours, water sports and "Boonie Stomps" or hikes.

The American Samoa visitors' Web site -- http://www.amsamoa.com/external link -- is up one day and "down for reconstruction" the next, but give it a try. An alternative is TravelMaxia -- http://www.travelmaxia.com/american_...ex.cfmexternal link -- for hotel information. Then glance at American Samoa Photography -- http://www.pagopago.com/external link -- for a look at what you're missing. And see what there is to see and do at National Park of American Samoa -- http://www.nps.gov/archive/npsa/visiting.htmexternal link -- including tropical jungles and coral reefs. The Park Service also has more photos.

Wait. Don't forget Hawaii -- http://www.gohawaii.com/external link -- a whole state full of islands where you can do everything from watching whales and surfers to exploring volcanoes, lush jungles and fabulous beaches.

And if you want to stay a little closer to home, remember that the Florida Keys -- http://www.fla-keys.com/external link -- are islands, too, with their own selection of diving, fishing, sailing and generally taking it easy. And unlike these other islands, you can drive to the Keys.

Copyright 2007 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

[Seveen]

Re: Your "Must See" places...

magic - i did not visit Nairobi - but i hear it's wonderful to take the train from there to Mombassa and watch the terrain change - one of the Tsavo reserves is there - i did a one day safari - saw most of the big animals and had lunch at a lodge - interesting - but i don't think i could do a week of safari

[Magician]

Re: Your "Must See" places...

I heard the train ride is pretty exciting. Was considering doing a short safari at the Nairobi National Park (which is right next to the city), but when I called they said that since it rained at night it's too muddy to go.

We went to this nice restaurant though on the edge of the park where they roast different meats on a huge stone roasting pit and then bring it to you on what looks like a sword and slide a chunk of meat onto your plate. They say you used to be able to try all kinds of game meats there, but now with the conservation and thing the 'exotic' meats were narrowed down to ostrich, crocodile, and gazelle. It was a nice experience though.

In a couple of weeks when I return I'm going to go to a Massai market, which they only hold once a week, and look for some Massai crafts to hang on my wall. A spear would be nice. [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70384-praying.gif[/img]

[Seveen]

Re: Your "Must See" places...

you'll find plenty of Masai stuff

also try some roast goat while you are there - it's not done like in jamaica - but i loved it - just chunks of roasted meat and they don't cut the bones the same way - less bone

and the "greens" suma wiki (???) remembered me of callaloo and that white doughy bread they make in a bowl will make you forget a dumpling [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

you can tell i travel on my stomach [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70392-silly.gif[/img]

[ackeepod]

Re: Your "Must See" places...

http://www.gapadventures.com/tour/DPAE

ck out thiis link as a possible source for an itinerary ...

[Magician]

Re: Your "Must See" places...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Seveen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">you'll find plenty of Masai stuff

also try some roast goat while you are there - it's not done like in jamaica - but i loved it - just chunks of roasted meat and they don't cut the bones the same way - less bone

and the "greens" suma wiki (???) remembered me of callaloo and that white doughy bread they make in a bowl will make you forget a dumpling [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70409-waytogo.gif[/img]

you can tell i travel on my stomach [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70392-silly.gif[/img] </div></div>

Nyama Choma I think they call it. It was pretty good. Not sure about the greens and the bread though. I gotta check it when I go back in two weeks.

[Seveen]

Re: Your "Must See" places...

the bread . .

Ugali

Eastern Africa's Ugali (similar to Southern Africa's Mealie-meal, Nshima, and Sadza) is usually made from maize (corn) which was brought from the Americas to Africa by Europeans; previously it was made from millet. These starchy Fufu-like "foundations" are the Eastern African versions of Western African staples like Fufu (which is generally made from yams, plantains, or cassava tubers) and Banku, Kenkey, or Tô. -- They are all starchy accompaniments for the African soup or stew or sauce, or other dishes with sauce or gravy. They are generally made by boiling and vigorously stirring a starchy ingredient into a thick, smooth mush. Many Africans feel they haven't had a meal unless they have eaten Fufu or Ugali with a sauce or stew (see quotation from Richard F. Burton, below).

[Seveen]

Re: Your "Must See" places...

Sukuma Wiki

The Swahili phrase Sukuma Wiki means push the week -- what's really being pushed is the family food budget. This is a great way to use up leftover meat (like Nyama Choma ) by combining it with greens and a few other ingredients to make a savory dish. In Africa this dish might be made with greens similar to kale or collards, but it can also be made with cassava leaves, sweet potato leaves, or pumpkin leaves. It is also tasty without any meat.



i can taste it [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/70377-loveeyes.gif[/img]

[Magician]

Re: Your "Must See" places...

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Seveen</div><div class="ubbcode-body">the bread . .

(similar to Southern Africa's [...] Sadza) is usually made from maize (corn) which was brought from the </div></div>

So do Kenyans eat something similar to Sadza? Cause I have a few friends here from Zimbabwe and everytime we have dinner at their place there's sadza. But it's not bread. It's more like cornmeal I guess. Instead of rice or potatoes they have Sadza. It's pretty good and it comes in handy when you eat with your hands and then can use the sadza to soak up any juices leftover on your plate. And Zim cuisine is very good so I always clean up my plate! [img]/forums/images/%%GRAEMLIN_URL%%/grin.gif[/img]