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Galapagos
Islands
So
we are dedicating this year to travel, but there
are so many places on the list, where to start? Why not
the Galapagos Islands? A stunning combination of relaxation,
education and adventure, what more could you ask for?
The
Galapagos Islands tend to give people as much of a surprise
as when I unleash my awesome moves on the dance floor. Arriving from the lush green scenery of mainland Ecuador,
it is an unexpected contrast to be greeted by the prominently
desert like terrain of the islands. The reasoning I am told,
is because they are situated in the Pacific Dry Belt, and
only the highest altitudes of the larger islands receive
enough rainfall to support tropical plant life.
The Galapagos could be easily likened to a living museum
and are in fact a UNESCO site! They were officially discovered
in 1535 by a ship that went off course. Some 300 years later,
via a message that must’ve been sent snail mail, Charles
Darwin rocked up. Personally I reckon this was a result
of him confusing the message “un-inhabited island
full of chicks” with slang terminology! Nevertheless,
whether or not you chose to believe my theory, great things
came from his visit.
On
noticing that the birds inhabiting different islands had
slight differences in their features, he divulged
into an intricate study, and came up with a book called
“The Origin of Species” which introduced the
scientific theory that populations evolve over the course
of generations, through a process of natural selection.
The
Galapagos Islands continue to be an important study ground,
and are home to some of the highest levels of endemic species
on earth! About 80% of the land birds, 97% of the reptiles
and land mammals, 20% of the marine species and more than
30% of the plants are endemic! Favourites include:
Giant Galapagos tortoise – one of
the most famous residents of the Galapagos. It grows up
to 5 feet and can live for around 150 years. Imagine all
the secrets he could tell if you spoke “tortish”!
Marine iguana – the planet’s
only sea-going lizard. This species is thought to be nine
million years old, and I am more than sure they were used
as extras in the making of “Jurassic Park”!
Flightless cormorant – swims like
a torpedo in the water! Perhaps I could have convinced Charles
Darwin that they were once the Tasmanian Devils close cousin?
Galapagos
Penguin - or the “compassless” penguins
who lost their way. They are said to be the only penguin
species to be found in the Northern Hemisphere.
Best time of year to go?
April
- May. The water is still warm, seas are calm, rainfall
is diminishing and the high season tourist crush has yet
to begin.
Cruise
or Hotel?
The principle difference is that if you stay in
hotels, you visit fewer islands but spend more in-depth
time at each place that you do visit. Hotel/land accommodation
uses small boat transportation to hop between the islands.
In my personal opinion, if you have sea-legs, do the cruise
option! On the cruise you see a lot more of what the islands
have to offer, and you can visit the very best of tourist
sites available. It is a bit more expensive than the hotel
option but if you don’t get sea sick, it’s worth
it!
How long should I go for?
The 8-day trips are most popular as obviously
you get to see a greater variety of wildlife, but the 4
and 5 day trips also give a great introduction to the islands
and are more affordable.
To
check out Kumuka tours to the Galapagos Islands.
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Flavours
of Vietnam - Vicki Whyte
My
first experience with Kumuka and I couldn't be happier. Luki
our leader was brilliant. Nothing was a bother to him. When floods
stopped our train trip he re-organised everything with a minimum
of fuss and great efficiency. The group size and makeup was really
good and everyone got along famously. I will definately travel
with Kumuka again.
This was
my first experience travelling with Kumuka an Ihave thoroughly
enjoyed it. The small group with a nice age mix of ages worked
well. I would recommend this particular trip to anyone.
Vicki
Whyte
Vicki
travelled to Vietnam with Kumuka on The Flavours of Vietnam tour
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New
Tour to Thailand and Cambodia
Kumuka
releases a new tour in South East Asia, the
AST24 - Royal Road to Angkor
This
14 day tour runs from Bangkok to Bangkok, taking in Thailand
and Cambodia. The tour includes Bangkok, the old Siamese capital
of Ayutthaya and Khao Yaoi Park before following the Royal Road
from Isan to Angkor Wat in Cambodia. An international flight is
included back to Thailand where the tour heads south to the ancient
rainforest of Khao Sok, and then to the pristine beaches of Koh
Ra Island.
For
further information please check out the following link
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Take
an iPod or MP3 player
When
travelling around large continents/countries, there may
be a few long drive days so having some tunes to listen to somehow
makes the journey shorter. Also, if your neighbour tells really
boring stories, like “this one time at band camp”
you can politely turn your tunes up and pretend you don’t
know they are speaking to you anymore!
A lot of
iPods and MP3 players can also be used as additional storage space
or to back up your photos and movies.
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Tango
As I walked into the bar a stout man with fluffy black hair forming
a perimeter around his shining bald dome greeted me with his eyes
as if he knew me. With confidence he walked up and saluted me
the formal Argentine handshake and kiss on the check.
“Are you here to learn tango?” He asked me
as if the answer was predetermined.
“No, I am here to meet some friends,” I replied
in fear of having to learn anything at all. “I’m on
a permanent vacation in hopes of learning as little as possible,”
I thought to myself.
“Well, you are here now, so you might as well learn. I will
teach you!”
Without further warning he grasped the concave region
opposite my elbows and whisked me away on the dance floor as my
face glowed an embarrassment coloured red. He said to me in a
stern voice, “just walk! Walk as to the rhythm of the music
playing on the loud speaker.”
To
read the rest of this article click here
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LATE
DEALS - up to 25% OFF
Check out
the fantastic late deals on the following departures:
ASIA:
ASC3
Cycle Cambodia
11 Days - Departs: 27 Mar 11
Countries Visited: Cambodia
ASC1
Hidden Dynasties
6 Days - Departs: 19 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Cambodia
ASV8
Highlights of Vietnam
10 Days - Departs: 19 Mar 11
Countries Visited: Vietnam
AST5
Hill Tribes and River Rides
14 Days - Departs: 20 Mar 11
Countries Visited: Thailand - Laos
ASV9
Northern Vietnam Trek
8 Days - Departs: 29 Mar 11
Countries Visited: Vietnam
ASB5
Sabah Highlights
7 Days - Departs: 13 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Borneo
AFRICA:
AF20
Africa in Focus
29 Days - Departs: 13 Mar 11
Countries Visited: South Africa - Botswana - Zimbabwe -
Zambia - Malawi - Tanzania - Kenya
AF1
African Drums
21 Days - Departs: 19 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Kenya - Tanzania
AF41
Cape, Canyons & Dunes
9 Days - Departs: 06 Mar 11
Countries Visited: South Africa - Namibia
AF42
Desert, Delta & Falls
15 Days - Departs: 12 Mar 11
Countries Visited: Namibia - Botswana - Zimbabwe
AF508
East Africa in Depth
34 Days - Departs: 06 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Kenya - Uganda - Tanzania
AF608
East African Highlights
26 Days - Departs: 06 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Kenya - Uganda - Tanzania
AF408
Gorilla Express
14 Days - Departs: 06 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Kenya - Uganda
AF508
East Africa in Depth
34 Days - Departs: 06 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Kenya - Uganda - Tanzania
AF4GG
Gorillas and Game
18 Days - Departs: 06 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Kenya - Uganda
AF10
Livingstones Africa
28 Days - Departs: 20 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Kenya - Tanzania - Malawi - Zambia -
Zimbabwe
AF8
Okavango and Falls
7 Days - Departs: 13 Mar 11
Countries Visited: South Africa - Zimbabwe - Botswana
AF8R
Okavango Express
7 Days - Departs: 20 Mar 11
Countries Visited: Botswana - Zimbabwe - South Africa
AF1808
Pride of Africa
49 Days - Departs: 06 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Kenya - Uganda - Tanzania - Malawi -
Zambia - Zimbabwe - Botswana - South Africa
AF2
Rift Valley Wildlife
13 Days - Departs: 19 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Kenya - Tanzania
AF3
Serengeti, Crater and Zanzibar
14 Days - Departs: 26 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Kenya - Tanzania
AF11
The East Africa Express
22 Days - Departs: 20 Mar 11
Countries Visited: Zimbabwe - Zambia - Malawi - Tanzania
- Kenya
AF1307
The Southern Star
21 Days - Departs: 06 Mar 11
Countries Visited: South Africa - Namibia - Botswana - Zimbabwe
AF13R
Victoria Falls to The Cape
21 Days - Departs: 06 Feb 11, 27 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Zimbabwe - Botswana - Namibia - South
Africa
AF1708
Wildlife and Falls
42 Days - Departs: 06 Feb 11,
Countries Visited: Kenya - Uganda - Tanzania - Malawi -
Zambia - Zimbabwe |
SOUTH
AMERICA:
SA06
Iguazu Discoverer
21 Days - Departs: 18 Mar 11
Countries Visited: Peru - Brazil - Uruguay - Arentina
SA3
Inca Heights
21 Days - Departs: 15 Jan 11
Countries Visited: Peru - Bolivia
SA013
Northern Adventure
42 Days - Departs: 30 Jan 11
Countries Visited: Bolivia - Peru - Ecuador
SA030
Patagonian Horizons
21 Days - Departs: 14 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Argentina - Chile
SA07
South American Highlights
28 Days - Departs: 09 Mar 11
Countries Visited: Brazil - Argentina - Bolivia
SA054
Toucans, Jungle and Incas
49 Days - Departs: 09 Mar 11
Countries Visited: Brazil - Argentina - Bolivia - Peru
EUROPE:
EU20WL
European Winter
21 Days - Departs: 28 Jan 11, 18 Feb 11
Countries Visited: England - France - Switzerland - Italy
- Austria - Czech Republic - Germany - Netherlands
EU20WP
European Winter
21 Days - Departs: 28 Jan 11, 18 Feb 11
Countries Visited: France - Switzerland - Italy - Austria
- Czech Republic - Germany - Netherlands
EU21WL
Winter Escapade
7 Days - Departs: 28 Jan 11, 18 Feb 11
Countries Visited: England - France - Switzerland - Italy
EU21WP
Winter Escapade
7 Days - Departs: 28 Jan 11, 18 Feb 11
Countries Visited: France - Switzerland - Italy
EU24WL
Winter Rhapsody
10 Days - Departs: 08 Feb 11, 01 Mar 11
Countries Visited: Austria - Czech Republic - Germany
- Netherlands - France - England
EU24WP
Winter Rhapsody
10 Days - Departs: 08 Feb 11, 01 Mar 11
Countries Visited: Austria - Czech Republic - Germany
- Netherlands - France
EU23WL
Winter Symphony
12 Days - Departs: 28 Jan 11, 18 Feb 11
Countries Visited: England - France - Switzerland - Italy
- Austria
EU23WP
Winter Symphony
12 Days - Departs: 28 Jan 11, 18 Feb 11
Countries Visited: France - Switzerland - Italy - Austria
EU22WL
Winter Waltz
15 Days - Departs: 03 Feb 11, 24 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Italy - Austria - Czech Republic -
Germany - Netherlands - France - England
EU22WP
Winter Waltz
15 Days - Departs: 03 Feb 11, 24 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Italy - Austria - Czech Republic -
Germany - Netherlands - France
THE
MIDDLE EAST:
ME2R
Cairo to Amman Explorer
21 Days - Departs: 27 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Egypt - Jordan
ME4R
Cairo to Amman Express
14 Days - Departs: 13 Mar 11
Countries Visited: Egypt - Syria - Jordan
ME6
Kingdoms and Crusades
28 Days - Departs: 13 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Jordan - Syria - Egypt
ME6R
Middle East Revealed
28 Days - Departs: 27 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Egypt - Syria - Jordan
ME4
The Road to Damascus
14 Days - Departs: 13 Feb 11
Countries Visited: Jordan - Syria - Egypt
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For
more great special offers and late deals click here >
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 He who would travel
happily must travel light
Antoine
de Saint-Exupery - French writer and aviator
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Contact
Us:
AUSTRALIA
1300
667 277
CANADA
1-888-358-6852
GERMANY,
AUSTRIA & SWITZERLAND
0800
7767790 |
NEW
ZEALAND
0800
440 499
REPUBLIC
OF IRELAND
1800
946 843
SOUTH
AFRICA
0800
991 503 |
UNITED
ARAB EMIRATES
8
000 441 1741
UNITED
KINGDOM
08000
92 9595
U.S.A.
1-800-517-0867
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email: adventuretours@kumuka.com website: www.kumuka.com
 
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