I’ve taken six trips to Syria, most recently in March ’08 (Oct. ’08, pg. 17), and recommend the guide Nabil Mallah, who works with the travel agency Omayad Tours & Travel in Damascus (P.O. Box 34968, Damascus, Syria; phone 00963 11 3342255 or 3316058, fax 11 2212639, e-mail omayad.trvl@net.sy or visit www.omayadtours.com.sy). The office is located on the first floor of the Mazloum Building, behind the Four Seasons Hotel on Brazil Street.

Omayad Tours has planned two of the trips...

I took an amazing 2-week, September-October cruise through the islands east of Bali, Indonesia, to Asmat, West Papua. It was arranged by Phyllis Hischier of West Papua Artifacts (San Luis Obispo, CA; 805/549-8371, www.asmat-artifacts.net) in conjunction with the American Museum of Asmat Art (www.stthomas.edu/asmat) at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Our ship was the Indies Trader IV, which held about 20 passengers. It was very clean and comfortable. Good meals,...

Well over a year before the 2008 Beijing Olympics, my wife, Margi, and I discussed the possibility of attending. Never having attended any Olympic event but having some familiarity with China, we felt this might be a unique opportunity. We signed on with CoSport (Box 905, Far Hills, NJ 07931; 877/457-4647 or 908/766-2227, www.cosport.com), the official ticket agent for the United States.

We purchased a package for Aug. 7-10, 2008, that included hotel, most meals, a few excursions,...