Bhutan was on our bucket list for some time. East of Nepal, squished between China and India, it is a country of Gross National Happiness, Himalayan beauty, unspoiled forests, and most importantly for us it is a birder’s paradise. In April/May of 2015 we joined Victor Emanuel Nature Tours for a 3+ week trip of a lifetime.
Read all about it here!
One of the world’s most scenic train rides, glaciers that are protected by UNESCO, wilderness eco-lodges, gourmet feasts and the region’s distinct Pinot Noirs and Sauvignon Blancs … not to mention penguins! The South Island of New Zealand had it all. Read more about it!
In August/September 2010, Liza had a work trip to the Republic of Korea (aka South Korea), with coworker Don Adamson, to visit the CECOM Life-Cycle Management Command (LCMC) Software Engineering Center (SEC) Field Support Directorate (FSD) (yes that’s a mouthful) personnel at the 403rd AFSB Far East Region offices. We stayed in Seoul at the beautiful Shilla Hotel; work primarily took place at the US Army Garrison (USAG) Yongsan / K-16 site, but we also had time to shop in the Itaewon district (wow!), visited the Korean Folk Village to learn more about Korean culture, and enjoyed many fine Korean meals (it definitely helps to go with someone local who knows what to order!). Click here to read more about it!
Robert and I had thought about going to India since Victor Emanuel Nature Tours first offered their “Palace on Wheels” birds/train/tiger trip a few years ago, and when the tour was once again offered in 2006, we decided to take the plunge and go. And it was well worth it! Whatever we might have expected of such a trip, all of our expectations were exceeded. Click here for photographs and more from our journey.
In April 1996 we returned to Australia, this time to venture up to Far North Queensland. From Sydney we flew up to Cairns, then drove north to Kuranda to stay at the Cassowary House (an increasingly well-known birding destination) – where we did indeed see a cassowary. 🙂 We enjoyed a day trip out to Michaelmas Cay before heading up to Cape Tribulation in a fun Mitsubishi Pajero 4WD (complete with “roo guard” on the front), crossing the Daintree River by ferry. (Only a couple of months earlier, serious flooding had closed the 4WD road completely and the Daintree was 4km across and 30 ft higher!) Click here to read more about it!
In 1994 we made our first trip to Australia, focusing on the southeast, specifically New South Wales (Sydney, Blue Mountains), Victoria (Melbourne), and the Australian Capital Territory, or ACT. This trip resulted in some longlasting memories. Sydney was beautiful, and the view of the Opera House and the Sydney Harbour Bridge at sunset were unforgettable. Staying in a cabin in the Blue Mountains was notable for the bird life (especially the currowongs who helpfully tapped at the kitchen window so we’d come outside and feed them). Melbourne we’ll always remember for the driving feature, “right turn from left lane only”. Canberra…a city of curving streets (crescents) and the not-to-be-missed War Museum. The Great Ocean Road, which we wanted to rename the “Grey Fantail Road of Death”. And on and on… Not too many photos, but there is Liza’s verbose trip journal!
Continue reading “Australia (NSW, VIC, ACT) – Oct/Nov 1994”