Dear Kumuka Traveller

I love this time of year, we’re winding down and getting ready to indulge, it’s been a very busy year and we’re all getting ready to put the ‘paws’ up for a rest, go on holidays and have some ‘me time’.

The Kumuka product team has probably been the busiest this year and we now boast over 500 itineraries covering 7 continents. So there is plenty of dream material for you to peruse during your festive break.

I’d like to say a big thank you to everyone who reads Venture and those of you who sent in postcards and shared their stories with us throughout the year, thanks to everyone who travelled with us this year and to those booked for their adventure of a lifetime in 09.

Stay safe and happy travelling
Meg Hall

What a year!

What a year! It certainly is one that will be remembered by many and sadly not all for good reason. The media has had a field day driving the “confidence crisis” as they call it, to new levels, repeatedly reporting on the economic issues that have taken place around the world. Though sensational, fueling fear isn’t going to do any good for people’s confidence, it seems like a bitter circle to me! So, I thought in true Kumuka style it might be a good idea to end the year on a high and chat only about the good things that have happened. Perhaps you can pass this onto your friends and together we can start a ‘feel good’ revolution?

I asked the Kumuka office staff what was the best thing that happened to them this year and/or what are they looking forward to? The new recruits all responded with ‘getting a job with Kumuka’, straight to the top of the class for them!

In Europe I asked Susan one of our most experienced tour guides about the year’s highlights, I have to admit to being a little surprised by her lead in statement, “oh nothing out of the ordinary” followed by “a few engagements on the Eiffel tower, there have been lots of babies born from clients who were on last year’s trip and 2 pregnancies from early this year. A couple, who got engaged on a gondola, just went on a gondola again to reminisce. One stand out experience was a girl who started crying when we got to Tuscany because her lifelong dream had been fulfilled. It’s sort of a private emotion fest for a lot of people who travel with us, so what is ordinary for us, for others is extraordinary. It’s been a consistently good year.

”On the funny side, I did find the see-through glass walled bathroom at a hotel in Berlin particularly hilarious, what were they thinking?”

Kim in reservations is looking forward to sleeping in the Changi Airport in Singapore on Christmas night en route to her adventures in Vietnam, I kid you not, Kim is your ultimate traveller, she loves it so much that she actually looks forward to a bit of shut eye in airports, she even has a ranking system. Imagine her diary, “December 25th 2008, Changi airport: the air-conditioning was the perfect temperature, about 18 degrees and no unwanted drafts, fluorescent lighting wasn’t too bright, over the speaker announcements were softly spoken and, inbetween, elevator music was piped. Night cleaners took note of the ‘do not disturb’ sign I had slung around my neck and no vacuuming took place near my place of slumber. Changi gets 9/10.”

Rhianon res manager said “The best thing to happen to me this year was my first ever trip to Africa. I was lucky enough to visit South Africa for a week and go to Kruger National Park. It is difficult to find words to describe the amazing sensation of seeing animals in the wild. I’ve been to zoos before, I’ve seen an elephant and a lion, but this just doesn’t compare to seeing animals in the wild just doing their thing. The animals weren’t even doing much – usually just eating their breakfast, relaxing in the shade or hanging out in a puddle of mud – but it was just awesome. The most memorable part of my trip was when a beautiful leopard walked straight past us whilst on a night game drive. She was so close I could have petted her. As it was dark the pictures came out terrible, but it is an image burned into my mind.”

Nicole, who works with the reservations team via remote access in Dubai, said “The best thing that has happened to me this year is to be given the opportunity to relocate to another country. Opportunities like this don't come around very often and I am glad that having a family hasn't stopped my desire for adventure and to stretch the comfort zone. You only live once, so I truly believe you make the most of it and experience as much as you can. I am looking forward to the opportunities that living in Dubai will present - travelling to nearby destinations, meeting a whole new mix of people from all over the world, being a part of a city that is being transformed - old meets new, meeting and mixing with the locals and most of all introducing travel and culture to my kids who will tell their own stories of living in Dubai as they grow up.”

Lee in product development writes “Partying in the Sambadrome in the pouring rain at Rio Carnival in Feb 2008 was right up there, it’s a once in a lifetime experience that everyone should do. In 2009 I am looking to venture to the Arctic. A real “get-away-from-it-all” experience where the loudest thing you can hear is the Arctic silence. And to see a polar bear in its natural habitat would be fantastic.”

Some less exotic but equally exciting events Two weddings, congratulations to Richard (Australia MD) and Sam (reservations) on getting married (separate events), Emma (reservations) got a new cat and Philippa (sales) can now turn the toilet light off in the new Kumuka office (long story).

Is it time you felt good too? Well you can begin by turning off the 7’oclock news and asking friends and family, what is the best thing that happened this year and what are their plans for next? You’ll be surprised by how much fun was actually had in 08.

Then perhaps in the New Year you might want to check out the toilets in Berlin, have a snooze in Changi airport or take some awful shots of leopards in the dark in South Africa? One way or another, you can make yourself feel good and as Nicole says, you only live once.

Make 2009 a year to look forward to. Visit www.kumuka.com and start dreaming.

Back to top

Meet Doreen Grima, Operations Manager Europe

Having worked as a project manager for a defense company and travelled from one corner of the globe to the other including extensively around Europe, Doreen was the perfect choice when we recruited her for operations manager in Europe early in 08. Now she gets a buzz every time she goes to work as she has the privilege of working with people who love to travel as much as she does.

In her own words:

Favourite destination? Lamu a tiny island of the coast of Kenya.

Favourite foreign saying? ‘Pole Pole’ in Swahili, it means ‘slowly slowly’. When I climbed Mount Kilimanjaro my guide kept saying this to me over and over again. I did not need much encouragement; I do not think anyone climbed that Mountain any slower than I did!

Best restaurant abroad: A tiny curry house in Negombo - Sri Lanka - no name just curry house.

If you could invite a celebrity over for dinner who would it be, why and what would you serve? Merlyn Streep so we can talk about Mama Mia (and her other wonderful films)! I would serve all Maltese food - lampuki fish in a red wine sauce, followed by fig ice cream and some good Maltese wine.

If you could jump on any Kumuka trip tomorrow, which one would it be and why? I would like to go to Chile. I have heard so many wonderful things about this country from my partner Hub.

Right now, what are you looking forward to most? Christmas and lots of chocolates.

Do you have any quirky habits? Me, quirky habits? I am quirky full stop.

Back to top

Christmas Facts

• Christmas was first celebrated on the 25th of December in Rome in 336AD with an aim to replacing the popular pagan winter solstice celebrations.
• Fir trees have been decorated at Christmas time in Germany since the 8th century, the world followed suit in various adapted ways.
• In Mexico, wearing red underwear on New Year's Eve is said to bring new love in the upcoming year.
  

Back to top

Greetings from Kruger National Park.

I am so sorry I ever doubted you guys. When Rhiannon said everyone on her tour gained weight, I thought "Yeah, right. That won't happen to me. Like you need two or three helpings of breakfast, lunch and dinner." It's happened... everyone on tour has put on weight. And when breakfast is something divine like pancakes or French toast, why wouldn't you go back for seconds or thirds?

Send my laptop and my mobile to someone else... I am stowing away on this truck and re-emerging for the Vic Falls to Cape Town route.

Pats xx

Send your post card to Kumuka

Back to top

WOW, what a trip!

Many thanks to Palace Centro Cinema, BIFF, Korean Air and Kumuka Worldwide.

I was the lucky winner at the BIFF 2007 for a return flight with Korean Air and 10 day bus trip from London to Rome with Kumuka Worldwide. The Kumuka tour was more than we expected, even though we were the oldest on the bus, we had a great time with all of them.

Special thanks go to Martin, the bus driver, the way he handled the traffic especially in Paris and Rome, made us feel very safe. Brian, our Tour Leader has also been special to us. Brian gave us enough information about the approaching destination without getting on our nerves by talking too much. If we had extra questions, he had the right answer. We also felt the tour has been well balanced between organised time and free time. We all had great outings at the group dinners, the first night at a new destination, which gave us plenty of time to get to know all other travellers.

We recommend Korean Air and Kumuka Worldwide for travelling at any time. If age allows us to go on another Kumuka tour, we know it’s well organised. I would also like to say thank you to Katie Barden from Kumuka, she handled all our bookings and corresponded with me over the last 12 months. Katie also booked all our extra accommodations in London, Rome and Seoul.

Many thanks again, very much appreciated
Kind regards,
Marianne Prell and Partner Wolfgang Kreuzer

Marianne and Wolfgang travelled on Kumuka Worldwide’s European Escapade Tour

Back to top

Some handy Africa tips from our crew

• Bring enough sunscreen to last your entire trip, it can be hard to find in Arica and when you do it can cost USD40 for a small bottle!
• Avoid traveller’s cheques or master card, if you can, as you will be met with no end of strife. VISA and cash are king, bank notes must be printed in the year 2000 or later.
• Bring things to barter with, Bonds T-shirts, football t-shirts, anything with our foreign countries' name is highly sought after, caps, shorts etc.
• For the Aussies, bring tubes of vegemite if you don't like marmite.
• Leave your travel towel at home, and buy a real towel and a pillow when you get into your city of departure, it makes life more comfy on the road.
• Bring a power board with your adaptor if you have more than one battery to recharge.
• Bring spare memory cards for your camera's as it can be hard to find places to download pictures onto DVD.

Back to top