Kumuka Venture, July 2007, Adveture tours and small group tours in India

We were extremely sad to hear about the recent floods in India, Nepal and Bangladesh and are supporting the UNICEF campaign to raise much needed funds for those afflicted. If you want to donate or learn more follow this link

Meanwhile in other corners of the world, Kumuka Kev is trying to work out whether to paint Vic Falls red or not? We ponder cat life and Natalie is fully sick in the Okavango Delta.

Happy Travels
Meg Hall

Take a Break

I stopped to stare at my cat this morning as I rushed around getting ready for work. She was curled up on the corner of the couch at 7am, already set for her big day of rest whilst I prepared for the battle on the motorway, the flurry on the footpath and the scrum in the lift.

I couldn’t help but feel a slight pang of envy; that couch looked so comfortable and clearly life’s comings and goings didn’t clutter her mind. She didn’t know that the stock market took a dive, that interest rates are all over the place and currencies fluctuate more than Oprah Winfrey’s weight! The weather never matters, she’s never heard or understood the word “terrorist”, “war” or “politics” and really why should she care? It doesn’t affect her.

O.K. so the truth be known, I wouldn’t make a good cat! I love to work and get bored easily but there is something therapeutic about switching the life channel off for a while.

For those of you who have travelled you would remember what it is like being so far from your every day living and the media that the “outside world” almost ceased to exist and, in turn, matter. Terrorists are other tourists sitting in the best seat at the bar, the closest thing to war are the soldier ants you saw on your jungle tour, your political leader is your tour guide and group affairs are discussed around the campfire or dinner table with a few beers at night. Traffic jams are navigated by your personal driver and you wander the footpaths in awe, taking in new cultures, scenes and smells.

The news of the day is broadcast by your tour guide as they tell you about the sites you will see: 3000 year old relics, 200 year old trees, the fastest animal on this planet, the longest river, the driest desert, the highest mountain, the deepest canyon… the list goes on.

This daily programme is concluded with a weather forecast by casting your eyes to the sky to see if it is sunny or not. No barometric measures, no wind dials or radars telling you what is coming, when travelling you largely live for the here and now.

You find yourself getting back to basics. You forget the small issues that bothered you at home, you lack care for the scandal and innuendo broadcast through the media and forget what it was like to rush, plan and be responsible. Out of sight, out of mind.

Take a break with Kumuka Worldwide

Ultimately, you relax and recharge.

So what is this life? Is it bad to be caught up in the rat race? Of course not, largely we love it, we soak up the information given to us like sponges, we discuss terrorism at dinner parties, we win and lose on the stock market and hope to be travelling when the currency fluctuation is on our side.

But to really appreciate everything there is nothing like taking a break. Whether it is renting a house 2 hours away from home for the weekend, or travelling to the other side of the world for a month? Taking a break from every day life and curling up like a cat for a while or, at the very least, turning off life’s mental clutter. Will keep you fresh.

Visit www.kumuka.com for revitalising ideas.


Are you a past Kumuka traveller? Did you know that you automatically qualify for a 5% discount over and above any published discounts! So what are you waiting for, Venture even further…

Kumuka Worldwide in conjunction with GE Creditline, are offering travellers interest free finance on travel arrangements booked through the Kumuka Worldwide Australian office. This means that you won’t need to use your credit card to make your dreams of travel come true, nor spend the next year saving when you could be travelling now! (Available to Australian clients only) Visit www.kumuka.com/interestfree for details

Fully Sick

Dear Kumuka,

You make me sick!

After an amazing trip out to the Okavango Delta, where we were chauffeured to our camp spot via dug out canoes, or mokoros as they call them, had an awesome time sleeping in the savannah with the “wild things”, we decided to view where we had been from the air.

I chose to fly via light aircraft. I belted myself in and we took off with a rush of excitement. It was surreal looking at the African homes of Maun from the air which soon lent their way to the islands and rivers that make up the Okavango delta, I was having a lovely time looking at the elephants and buffalo way below when our pilot decided to show off his skills at tight circle work and swooping to allow a better view for us. It was very kind of him and it was very exciting, but soon nausea took over and all I could think about was planet Earth and having my two feet planted firmly on it.

Our pilot was fantastic at spotting game, pointing out where we had camped, where we had canoed and even talking about certain trees. But I couldn’t concentrate, he was too good at flying and I wasn’t.

As we made our way back to Maun I took advantage of the paper bag provided and kissed the ground when we landed.

Thanks for the adventure
Natalie Browning
Sydney

Natalie travelled on Kumuka’s Okavango and Falls tour

Do you have a Postcard you wish to send us? Email Meg

Choose Kumuka Kev’s fate!

The reader's section where you choose the destiny for our valiant traveller.

Last month we asked who Kev from Australia should share a tent with. Iain from Ireland our well travelled lad who loves the great outdoors won hands down.

Denise Cauchi summed it up nicely “The Irish are all mad and fun loving. Just listening to them talk makes an enjoyable trip in it's self”

Step two – What should Kev do on his last night out?

Kev and Iain were tired yet buzzing after a big day of white water rafting on the Zambezi, the largest commercially run river in the world, when it was time to set up the tent. Sadly they didn’t pay much attention when the tour leader did the tent demonstration, as Iain was talking too much and Kev was enjoying listening to him, so they found the first assembly quite challenging. Nevertheless they managed with a lot of laughter and a little bit of help from their tour leader and were soon sitting around the camp fire swapping tales with fellow travellers and having a castle lager.

That night the tour leader chatted about the next days adventures. They would cross the border into Botswana and visit Chobe National Park, famous for its large elephant population. They were booked to cruise on the Chobe River the following evening where they would enjoy a sundowner and watch Africa at its best.

As it was the groups last night in Victoria Falls they had a free night to either go to the local restaurants and bars or stay by the camp fire. Iain was already hailing a taxi ready to paint the town red, when Kev decided to……

stay by the fire
visit a local bar or restaurant

Click on your choice and send me an email, feel free to tell me why?

The most popular vote will determine Kev’s night out in Vic Falls and set the scene for the next edition of Venture Online where we will see what happens on Kumuka Kev’s adventure?

Visit www.kumuka.com to choose your own adventure.

Our on the ground correspondent, Luke Pearsall, touches base this month.

Where are you right now? Quito, Ecuador

What is the weather like? Bright sunny, and ready for fun! Of course with a little rain to keep us cool!

What exciting activity is next on the list of highlights? Well I have just finished a tour today but that last activity we had was a shopping frenzy in Otavalo market. The passengers got all their shopping done for the entire trip in one day! Great prices, fun haggling and good quality goods. What a day.

Before that we had a full day White Water Rafting trip with River People in Tena Ecuador. The views of the jungle were amazing, we had great guides, and loads of swimming along the way. No one went home disappointed and everyone has a t-shirt.

Shopping in Otavalo Market

What did you like most about the rafting? It’s a great time to get athletic, test yourself, face some fears and have a fiercely fun adventure in the jungle.

What is your group like? I am finishing up the last section of the trip with a group of six women! We make the very best of every moment and have had some great evening meals and conversations!

Any stand out characters on tour? The most dynamic character perhaps of the entire tour was John (no offence ladies) our venomous snake catcher from the Melbourne Zoo. He made everyday interesting with his antics, light heartedness, and ability to go with the flow. He was travelling with his son Liam as well and together they made a great addition to the group. Always, willing to live a little, learn a little and have and a beverage at the dinner table, the tour would not have been the same without them.

Where did you have your last big night out? La Paz, at the Hard Rock Café we ended up dancing on the tables which became a regular thing after that night. It was loads of fun, good drinks and great company.

Bill of Rights for Cows

• Napoleon was terrified of cats.

• In Bhutan government policy is based on Gross National Happiness; thus most street advertising is banned, as are tobacco and plastic bags.

• India has a Bill of Rights for cows.

Deep in the Jungle

Dear Kumuka,

Andy & I had a fantastic Kumuka tour. We did a Thailand tailor made tour.

The Thailand jungle was one of the highlights of our trip. Anam's was an excellent guide and took such care of us and really made it a very special journey.

Jungle Trekking Thaliand

Thanks very much for your help, we now live in London and although Thailand is a distant memory, it is a very fond one that we will remember for a very long time indeed.

Thanks again to you for all your help setting up our tour - it was just spectacular!

Kind Regards,
Samantha Batchelor

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