International Travel News

Travelers' Intercom

May 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

Overnights on Norway trails

We have traveled Norway from top (Kirkenes) to bottom and from east to west but not since 1983. However, some things don’t change. All over mountainous central Norway are hiking trails with magnificent views of lakes and glaciers, and the timberline is low at 1,000 feet.

There is no need to carry a tent and sleeping bag or much food because of the ubiquitous accommodations, from self-service “huts” to fancy hotels.

Joining, in Oslo or Bergen, Den Norske Turistforening, or DNT (...

May 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

Private tour of Myanmar

I took a 2-week vacation to Myanmar, Nov. 27-Dec. 9, 2006, and had a wonderful time. Mr. Aung Kyaw Lynn of Majestic Mandalay Tourism Services Company (65 Ayeyarwady Street, Ahlone Township, Yangon, Myanmar; phone 95 1 212882 or e-mail akl-kkn@mptmail.net.mm) arranged everything except reservations for international flights, which I made separately, New York-Bangkok-Yangon and back.

I made arrangements with Majestic Mandalay for a one-person tour, as I’d been to Myanmar with a group...

May 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

‘Superb’ guide in BA

The owner/operator of a taxi in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pablo Menendez (phone 15 5613 4386 or e-mail pablo336menendez @hotmail.com), was superb in transporting my husband, Dave, and me from the international airport to the domestic airport and, on our return, to our hotel in March ’06.

We were so impressed, we engaged him further for a day tour of the city and surrounds. We saw, complete with his political, historical and personal perspective, not only the ritzy part of Buenos Aires...

May 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

Guide in Cameroon

I wish to recommend an excellent French- and English-speaking guide in Cameroon: Titang George Ndong (National Tour Guide, P.O. Box 19 Saa., Centre Province, Republic of Cameroon; e-mail titanggeorge@yahoo.fr).

I met George through my land operator, Cameroon Tours & Travel, as he was assigned as my research guide in 2001. I have taken several trips with him, the last in February ’04, again arranged through the land operator.

Professional, articulate and very knowledgeable...

May 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

Shortchanged in Egypt

I’d like to mention some things that happened during a 17-day Egypt tour I took in Cairo, Sinai and along the Nile in December ’06-January ’07.

A woman in our group was shortchanged at the money-exchange bank, but she caught it in time.

At the restaurant in our hotel, the waiter shortchanged me 10 Egyptian pounds for a lunch costing E£16. I caught it and went to the desk to get the money back.

I was cheated at the grocery store on a purchase of soda and candy. This one...

May 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

Poor pinotage

In the article on East Africa in the March ’07 issue, on page 45 the author gave a description of the wines he tried in Zimbabwe: “. . . some of which was drinkable and some of which was truly horrible (e.g. something called ‘pinotage’).”

Actually, pinotage is a fine varietal popular at the best wineries in South Africa. It has now been transplanted to other wine-producing parts of the world and is becoming more popular. I sampled an excellent pinotage from a Northern California...

May 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

Re leaving clothing behind

Please allow me to express a dissenting opinion to that of the reader who suggests that one can lighten the load while traveling by packing clothing that one no longer wants and disposing of it en route (March ’07, pg. 84). While this is not the first time I have heard this suggestion, it always has bothered me. I am concerned about 1) the negative impact it has on the globe and 2) the negative opinion it creates (or reinforces!) about Americans.

I applaud recycling clothing by...

May 2007 issue | Appears on page 0

Not a locksmith but. . .

Several articles have mentioned the TSA-approved locks. My wife and I had been using the plastic cable ties instead of locks, as the locks put a great deal of strain on the loops of the zippers and have even caused some of the loops to break off.

In April ’06 we took a trip to the Galápagos with Stanford University and they advised us to use the TSA locks when traveling in South America, so we dutifully traipsed off to the lock store and bought two of them.

The locks are made...