Dear Kumuka Traveller

The thing I like best about my job, after all these years in travel, is sharing my travel experiences with clients. Recently I shared dialogue with a client going trekking in the Himalayas for the first time, I managed to dispel some fears and share experiences of what was a life changing journey for me. It seemed she had spent a lot of time on forums trying to get information about her up and coming journey when all she had to do is go straight to the one stop answer shop, Kumuka.

If you have booked through a travel agent, on the net, by snail mail, or sent a carrier pigeon. It doesn’t mean we don’t want to hear from you in person, we are here to help you on your journey from the minute you book your tour until the time when you stop travelling altogether (we have a lot of repeat clients) no matter how you came to book on a tour. So don’t waste your time trying to find answers in www land get on the phone, email, chat, sms to Kumuka and we’ll answer your questions immediately.
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Happy travels
Meg Hall

Feeling Olympic?

I hope you have all enjoyed the Olympic Games? I’ve been tied to the television furiously watching everything from ping pong, to archery, to the hammer throw and synchronized swimming! It only happens once every 4 years, any other time I wouldn’t be seen dead switching on the television for a good dose of ping pong, but it was strangely enticing watching Ryu Seung-min defeat Wang Hao in the finals. You get wrapped up in the competitiveness as you chose a player to back (whom you have never heard of before this event) and become emotionally attached to their battle. These athletes are extremely talented, it’s near impossible to see the ball it is moving so fast, it’s more like watching two men/women wave their paddles at each other in a bizarre war like ritual but is very entertaining.

So why now, why tune in? Do you really care that Ryu Seung-min won gold? Perhaps it’s because it’s better than watching repeats of the Simpsons night after night? Perhaps it’s because everyone else is doing it? Perhaps you have always had a secret penchant for ping pong and this offers you a chance to indulge? Perhaps it’s because it’s nice to get away from normality for a while, and get a bit of adrenalin back into the system, even if it is achieved by jumping up and down on the couch in celebration after the last “ping” has been played and the gold medal has been won.

It’s not dissimilar to travel, if you really think about it, why do it? It only lasts for a few days to a few weeks (ok to a few months, some of us are known for extended trips) admittedly it is fun but it costs money and you come away with nothing to show apart from a tan (which will fade) and maybe an ornamental mask which when you put it on the wall looks strangely grotesque, you wonder what possessed you to buy it in the first place?

Entertainment is the underlying similarity here, both watching ping pong at the Olympics and travel offer entertainment which, as human species, we need, it releases endorphins into our systems which produce a sense of well being. The differences are that the game of ping pong is short lived. When travelling you are releasing endorphins into your body all day every day, so it’s almost like constant therapy, while the journey may last few weeks, the goodness you do to your system may last for months, and let’s not forget, memories last forever even if your tan doesn’t. Travel can offer life altering experiences which cannot be touched by anyone else other than you.

So what about the travel blues? When we get home we all feel a bit down, a little flat and empty, we miss life on the road, cultures, history, trying new food, learning new languages and we feel miserable at the prospect of going back to work. It’s a little like we felt when the Olympics ended, we despair at the prospect of watching the home improvement show again and find ourselves pining for Ryu Seung-min and jumping on the couch.

Could it be that our bodies and minds suffer from endorphin withdrawals? Perhaps, after all, they do seem to replicate opiate properties. The good news is there is a cure for this moment of gloom so it doesn’t have to last. The best thing you can do when you return from your journey is to start planning your next one, the endorphins will soon kick back in and life will take on a whole new meaning. You’ll revel in your recent experiences while day dreaming about a new adventure, the journey need never end.

As for the Olympics well, why not plan your own journey to China and see where it all happened, imagine standing in the same stadium where Ryu Seung-min min stood in his moment of glory when he won his gold medal.

[foot note: ping pong is referred to as table tennis on the Olympic arena but in my heart it will always be ping pong]

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Meet Philippa Webb – Sales Executive Australia.

Boasting a long history in the travel industry both in Australia and abroad, Philippa has been extremely lucky with her travels the fact that she lived overseas for ten years meant travelling became a part Life. “I know people say it’s the travel bug, I think it is in my blood and deep within my soul. I have travelled through parts of south East Asia including, Thailand, Malaysia, Cambodia and Laos. Europe, including extended time in Turkey and Greece, North America, Egypt, Morocco, South Africa and the Caribbean”.

What is your favorite destination? So many places for so many reasons but Morocco was pretty amazing, the people the smells the tastes the amazing mountains, deserts beaches, cities ….and the shopping.

Best Bar Abroad? Oh gee so many (no I’m not an alcoholic)… I have to say Belushis in Edinburgh, many drinks had and many friends made.

Best Restaurant when Roaming? I would have to say the food markets in Marrakech, the atmosphere is amazing.

Quirky habits? There are a few but … we have toilets at work that we share with the whole floor and I turn the light off every time I leave. I have even turned them off when people are in there... oops.

If you could invite a celebrity over for dinner who would it be, why and what would you serve? It would be a comedian called Stephen K Amos, a very funny English comedian and a lovely person, I think that when you are away from home it’s nice to have a meal that’s not in a hotel, I’d serve him a good ole Aussie BBQ.

What do you like about your job? Selling a great product and talking all day about travelling.

If you could jump on any Kumuka trip tomorrow, which one would it be and why? Any of them because I love to travel can I go now….. pleeease?

Right now, what are you looking forward to most? That trip you have said I can go on tomorrow...

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• Special Offers - fantastic discounts available.
• Late Deals - last minute offers.
• Early Deals - the early bird gets the worm.

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This Month's Facts

• In China tree hugging is forbidden.
• Ice cream was invented in China around 2000BC when the Chinese packed a soft milk and rice mixture in the snow.
• Some people in China work as apologisers.

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Dear Kumuka

The ostrich farm is in South Africa is a fabulous experience. Are Ostriches the funniest birds or WHAT! Long legs and flappy wings. Their eggs are the largest of all eggs. 6 inches long and 5 inches wide with an average weight of 1.4kg. Why do I remember all this? Because my 98kg brother stood on it and nothing happened to it. Definitely made him feel lighter. One of the ostriches was so amused by the buttons on my mother’s jacket that it was continuously pecking it.

We had brunch at the farm too… the poor boys… couldn’t even finish their omelets. They forgot that 1 ostrich egg is equal to 13 chicken eggs! What a sight. It was great. That afternoon we were faced with a challenge. The challenge was to ride the ostrich. It’s the funniest thing, you have to sit on its back and place your legs under the wings. Then hold on to the top of the wings to stay on board, that is, of course if you can. You’re guaranteed to fall on your hinny in under ten seconds!!

To close off the afternoon there was a race… An ostrich race... Mum and Dad were barracking for “Not so fast” and the kids were barracking for “Speedy Gonzales” . With names like that you can only imagine who the winner was. What an afternoon.

Thank you Kumuka
Nathan Wallace

Nathan travelled with his parents and brother on the family Elephants, Ostriches and Caves adventure.

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Hi. I completed the Mediterranean express tour from Madrid to Rome about a week ago and felt I should provide some feed back. I have completed a few tours now and have to say that I would have no hesitation recommending this tour to anyone. I had a great time and will not hesitate to do further tours with you. I would really like to thank you for providing such an excellent guide.

Peta was extremely knowledgeable and had a way of making the information she provided interesting and fun, so I actually listened to it.

Our driver Mike was great as well and between the two of then I don't think anyone on the bus could complain. the trip was planned perfectly so that just before you would get bored on the bus or feel like it was taking for ever we would stop and refresh. I do not like buses, but I had no problem with the drive. I would like to pass on one last special thanks to the two of them.

Regards
Courtney Brown

Courtney Travelled on the Mediterranean Express

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Tips for living in hotel rooms when travelling

• 1. Check the room before you unpack in case of any discomforts, plus check that the air con and television works (if you are provided with them) it saves moving in then having to move out again.
• 2. Set up home, put your toiletries in the bathroom, your pj's under the pillow and book by the bed, it will make the room feel more personal.
• 3. Avoid using the mini bar, purchase beverages and snacks from a nearby shop, use the bar fridge to keep them cool and save a small fortune.
• 4. Save on laundromat costs and wash your clothes whilst you have a shower, then hang in the bathroom with a portable washing line, if you have an air-conditioner on, your clothes will dry in no time.
• 5. Use the hotel phone only for incoming calls; find a communication centre for phoning home as it will be a lot cheaper.

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