Jaipur, India, in South Asia is known at the Pink City offers palaces, forts, festivals and bazaars, one of India’s most vibrant and exotic destinations.  The James TravelPOINTS experts would like to let you in on our secret The Oberoi Rajvilas.  You will feel like royalty at The Oberoi Rajvilas a unique way to experience Jaipur, a luxury resort with its own distinctive character, it revives the gracious lifestyles of India’s legendary Rajput princes.

Go ahead.  Speak it, and see if you don’t feel like going there. “Jaipur.”  A word that stirs the senses, representing that vibrant part of India that glows with exotic pageantry, where the daily culture itself is the country’s principal wealth. Intoxicating, particularly if one is well kept, as in the case of Oberoi Hotel’s fantastic new resort, Rajvilas.

Built as an oasis of elegance an luxury, worthy of a new Maharajah if ever that were to be India’s way again, Rajvilas spreads itself with regal grace over thirty acres of beautiful gardens, pools and fountains, in the peaceful countryside just outside the Pink City of Jaipur.

Inside you’ll find deluxe rooms with four-poster beds and sunken marble baths; and the grounds, romantic Rajasthani-style “tents” (air-conditioned, permanent guestrooms with teak floors, exquisite furnishings, luxury baths and incredible suspended ceilings).  Rajvilas is so appealing that Architectural Digest did a spectacular piece on the hotel (August 1998).

James TravelPOINTS destination experts will help you with the process of planning a unique journey thru India that includes this magical destination, 1-800-538-7461, www.travelpoints.com.
 

India, officially the Republic of India located in South Asia is home of the Taj Mahal and the Bengal tiger a country of culture, history and beauty.

For the Photo Enthusiast:  Ever harder to spot, the Bengal tiger hides in northern India at the foot of the Himalayas.  The regal beast’s population has stabilized in Bandhavgarh, formerly the Maharaja’s personal hunting grounds and now a national park.  Targeting is limited to aiming one’s lens and click–bagging a photo as a trophy.

Commanding yet balletic, richly coated and magnificently striped, with luminous, calculating eyes and Richter-level jolts of strength, the Bengal tiger simply won’t move off the “must see” list of photographers, whether amateur or professional.

And so, everyone wants three things when traveling to see him.  One, a very high quality guide who will find the right locations to increase your chances of spotting the elusive beast” two, perfect comfort and convenience way out there, so far from home; and three, as long as one has come so fare, a chance to see a bit of surrounding India.

We have the perfect “Jungle Odyssey” from Delhi to Rathambore (for game drives by Jeep); Bharatpur (excellent bird watching); Agra (Taj Mahal); Khajuraho (temples rich in Kama Sutra carvings–holy to Easterners, naughty to Westerners); Bandhavgarh (home of the tiger); and back to Delhi.  It’s culture and nature in undiluted.  Call the experts at James TravelPOINTS for more details 1-800-274-0436, www.travelpoints.com.

Hong Kong, Asia, a shoppers paradise with Yuen Po Street Bird Garden, The Flower Market, Stanley Village Market, Jade Market, Goldfish Market, Western Market, Temple Street Night Market, Ladies’ Market, Granville Road Factory Outlets and the Spring Garden Lane Bargain Shopping.

There are many ways to see and sense how Hong Kongers thrive in their City of Life, a must for visitors is to join them at their favorite open-air street markets.  Several are fascinating specialty markets where Chinese traditions flourish.  In others, stallholders sell almost everything, and Temple Street Night Market provides and evening of sidewalk surprises.  In all of the markets, basic English is spoken and bargain prices prevail.

Yuen Po Street Bird Garden- Recently relocated to a specially designed garden setting; Kowloon’s famous “Bird Market” is the favorite gathering-place for Hong Kong’s legion of songbird owners.  Here, the tones of prized pet birds are studied intently and all their home comforts are for sale, from intricately crafted cages to nutritious grasshoppers.  Many of these birds are also for sale.

Flower Market- Sweet scents, exotic blossoms and luck-bringing pot plants line the sidewalk and many florists’ stores in one of Kowloon’s loveliest specialist street markets.

Stanley Village Market- Once a historic fishing village the lanes are now packed with retailers specializing in Western-style casual clothing, Chinese artworks, silk and curios.

Jade Market- Hundreds of registered stallholders trade precious stones whose beauty and magical powers have enchanted Chinese collectors for hundreds of years.

Goldfish Market- An aquarium of tropical fish is a luck-brining essential item of home décor for many Hong Kong people, and this specialty market street is their favorite source of supplies.

Western Market- A handsomely renovated Edwardian redbrick market building housing souvenir shops and fabric merchants relocated from the area’s former “Cloth Alley”.

Temple Street Night Market- Hong Kong’s most popular open-air market with an array of stalls and shops selling casual clothing, watches, leatherwear and souvenirs.  Side-attractions include Cantonese opera singers, fortune-tellers and al fresco restaurants serving basic street food.

Ladies’ Market- Kowloon’s most popular daylong street market, primarily attracting women seeking bargain-priced clothing, cosmetics and household knick-knacks.

Granville Road Factory Outlets- A favorite hunting ground for huge discount on designer samples and “irregular” items, with almost imperceptible flaws, specializing in casual shirts, sweaters and jackets.

Spring Garden Lane Bargain Shopping- Browse for bargain-priced casual clothing in the historic heart of old Wan Chai, near the district’s bustling market streets and ancient Taoist temples.

Hong Kong’s climate is subtropical, with four seasons.  Summers are hot and humid, with average temperature 82F, frequent rain showers from April through September.  There is a winter season, and a very brief spring and fall.  The best time to visit is October to December, when it is cooler and drier.  From January to March is the coldest time of the year with an average temperature of 59F.

Call the experts at James TravelPOINTS 1-800-538-7461, www.travelpoints.com

  
Turkey is Anatolia, the land of many mothers, in Greek the land to the east.  It’s the place where goddess figures were unearthed from their Neolithic tombs at Catal Höyük.  The Copper & Bronze Ages thrived here, and the Hittites ruled a kingdom that rivaled Babylon and Egypt.  At the crossroads of the silk and spice routes, Turkey is an open-air museum.  Its beautiful cities have attracted visitors since ancient times.
 
To enjoy this country a fully an escorted tour is suggested.  James TravelPOINTS, did a fantastic job of bringing together all of the elements to give the visitor a memorable vacation.  An escort-guide is there to meet you upon arrival, and attend to all the details throughout the itinerary.  The guides are expertly trained to colorfully narrate so you can get the most from your experience.
 
Our journey began in Ankara.  Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the father of the republic moved the capitol here after the revolution in 1923. Modern Turkey immerged when Ataturk secularized the country.  He initiated laws giving women the right to vote, adapting the Latin alphabet, converting to the metric system, the Gregorian calendar and western dress.  Ataturk’s Tomb high on a hill offers a great view of the city, and a chance to feel the pride Turkey has for its hero.
A visit to the Museum of Anatolian Civilization helps to set the visitor on the timeline that the rest of the journey will unfold.
 
A few hours south and a bit east of Ankara is the region of Cappadocia.  The Dedemann Hotel in Nevsehir offered comfortable lodging for two nights while we explored this fantastic area.  Rock formations called “tufa” were formed by volcanic activity and erosion, creating a unique landscape of conical “fairy chimneys”.  The soft stone has been carved into villages still lived in.  At Kaymakli the early Christians burrowed complex tunnels over six levels deep.  Springs provided water in the lowest rooms, and airshafts craftily hidden from sight allowed them to hide from Romans and Arabs for months.  St. Basel’s monks and sisters carved monasteries and cloisters into the stone at Goreme.  These structures are decorated with frescos of brilliant color, depicting Christ and the founders of the church.  The seriousness changes to whimsy as the shapes wrap their way throughout the valley.  When we reached Zelve the houses in their cone shaped towers with mushroom cap like roofs made me laugh out loud.
 
Cappadocia is a great place to shop for ceramics and carpets.  Workshops are open to visitors, where traditional techniques can be observed.  Before leaving the area a visit to one of several caravanserais is a must. Sultanhani on a misty morning was a step back in time to the world of the ancient traveler.

Konya lies to the west as we made our way across the plain.  It is the home of Mevlana; the Sufi leader’s sect founded the meditative whirling dance of the dervishes.  His teachings of love and tolerance, and body of poetry are an inspiration throughout the world.  A cassette of the entrancing music played as we drove along to the spa town of Pamukkale.

The Hotel Richmond in Pamukkale is a welcome spa style hotel with thermal pools and message therapists.   We waded through the steaming springs that form the “cotton castle” waterfalls the area is known for.  The Romans because of the waters built Hierpolis here.  Domitian’s Gate stands at the ancient street, as the temple of Apollo on the hill is a landmark for flocks of sheep.

As we continued on the road to the sea we stopped for lunch at a wonderful spot near Gerke.  The Anatolian Restaurant is set among arbors strewn with garlands of persimmons and pomegranates.  We dined on baked mushrooms with goat cheese, shish kabob and fresh baked pita bread, delicious soups and fresh salads.  Bottled water is recommended throughout the country, both fizzy and nongaseous.  There are so many springs in Turkey some people are said to be water connoisseurs.
 
Our next stop is the incredibly beautiful city of Aphrodisias. The rich city was favored by Rome, and was a leading marble production center.  Artists learned the intricate techniques of marble carving here.  Features include the Tetrapylon gate with its unique spiral columns, the temple of Aphrodite, and the largest stadium excavated in Asia and Tiberios’ Palladium with the enormous reflecting pool that cooled those gathered at the agora.  All this is preview to what we found near Kusadasi.  We arrived at the Aegean, where the Pine Bay Resort is set on a lovely private bay.
 
The day begins with a drive up the mountain, above the clouds, to the House of the Virgin Mary, called Meryemana Evi.  It is a moving experience to walk where the mother of Jesus lived.   Below in the glorious ruins of Ephesus she and other historical figures are remembered.

In its heyday Ephesus was the Roman capitol of Asia.  It was founded by Androklos, seen in the friese on Hadrian’s Temple chasing the boar of legend, surrounded by Amazon women warriors.  This is the stuff that stirs the imagination.  Walk down the marble roads, passing the agora where all aspects of trade and entertainment, food and drink could be found; the odeum and various temples to the likes of the Vestal Virgins, Isis and the cruel emperor Domitian. Interspersed are fountains and monuments to gods such as Hermes and Nike goddess of victory. The Herculean Gate and the Street of the Curates will lead to Trajans fountain, Hadrians temple, the bathes and brothels, and the scenic latrine.  Pass the noblemen’s homes with their gorgeous mosaics down to magnificent Celsus’ Library, the third largest in the ancient world, next to Alexandria and Pergamum.  Keep going to the amphitheatre and gaze down the Harbor Road that longs for the sea, now miles away.  The river Cayster silted the harbor over time, and the city was moved inland during the reign of emperor Justinian in the 6th century AD.

Continuing north along the coast to Istanbul, we visited more ancient cities before we crossed the Dardanelles by ferry.  Izmir was Smyrna where Homer was born.  Bergama is where Pergamum once stood with its temple to Zeus, and medical center. Canakkale is close to the excavations of the city of Troy.  After crossing from Asia to Europe we reached the site of Gallipoli, where monuments to the men lost in battle during the last century now stand.
 
The trip culminates at Istanbul.  Here east meets west, and ancient meets modern.  The five star Istanbul Hilton in the new town affords a view of the Bosphorous, outstanding amenities and Turkish bathes.  Across the Golden Horn in the old town we found the grand Blue Mosque and St. Sophia.  Two small gems not to be missed are the church St. Savior de Chora with exquisite gold and silver mosaics depicting the life of Christ, and the tiny Rustinpasha mosque designed by the great architect Sinan with incredible nicsean tile from top to bottom.  And the shopping, oh the shopping!  The Grand Bazaar and the Spice Market fill the senses.

All of this was made friendly and pulled together by our guide Mr. Atakan Acar.  He was indispensable to our understanding of the depth of what we were experiencing, and a timesaver in locating places and whisking us through waiting lines.  An escorted tour can be customized to include an intermediate cruise on the Turquoise Coast or a longer stay at a beach resort.  Tours can be geared toward groups with specific interests, or individualized and private. Young people can see history come alive.
 
Turkey has so much to offer everyone needs to add it to their list of places to go and things to do.  Call James TravelPOINTS 1-800-538-7461, www.travelpoints.com.
 

Holly Shafran is a vacation specialist at James TravelPOINTS.  Holly recently had the opportunity to travel to China with Viking River Cruises.

China is home to the world’s largest population, wild and rugged landscapes, remote villages and thriving urban centers with Western influences like Starbucks Coffee shops.  It is the contrast of ancient tradition and new luxury that greets today’s tourist.

I visited China with Viking River Cruises:

I started in Beijing, where the Forbidden City, home of the emperors, and Tiananmen Square, the political center, sit right in the heart of the bustling city center.  Day trips leave the downtown area for the Badaling Mountains, where the most impressive and best preserved section on the Great Wall is located. Walking along “the wall” as it undulates over the hills was a dream of a lifetime.

Continuing on to Xian, I toured the mausoleum where Emperor in Shi Huang was laid to rest over 2,000 years ago. 6,000 life size terra cotta warriors, archers and infantrymen were buried with him. The walkways provide a bird’s eye view of each man and horse molded with his own distinct features.  I am sure you will recognize the scene of many National Geographic covers.
 
On to Chongqing where the Yangtze Rive Cruise began. The Yangtze is the third longest river in the world, flowing from Tibet to the East China Sea.  The Viking Century Sky is a deluxe ship providing gourmet food, cabins with bathrooms en suite that follows the river through magnificent canyons known as the Three Gorges
The cruise ended at the Three Gorges Dam, the world’s biggest manmade producer of electricity from renewable hydropower energy. This engineering marvel is the source of much controversy; over 1 million people were displaced during the construction.

My trip ended in Shanghai, the nation’s most modern city, the skyline a vision of the Jetson’s cartoon show. Restaurants, nightlife, shopping and more shopping, museum and acrobats too.

Chinas surge in popularity will rise as we get closer to the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing, but will continue long after the torch has moved on. 

Please call Holly or any of the James TravelPOINTS experts to plan your trip to China 1-800-538-7461/303 442-2340, www.travelpoints.com.

Laura James is a travel consultant at James TravelPOINTS, she recently had the opportunity to travel to Thailand, Indonesia. 

THAILAND – Land of Smiles

It was late evening when we arrived in Bangkok the incredible view from my window made me anxious for morning to come and for my Thailand adventure to begin. 

We began our first day by taking a wooden, long tail boat up the river to the Grand Palace. Even in the early morning, there is constant activity on the river as people begin commuting to work and others go about their daily lives. There are tropical flowers everywhere along the banks and temples around each corner. This was the perfect introduction to the city and a unique glimpse into life in Thailand. It is also very peaceful and a sharp contrast to the bustle and traffic on the streets of the city.

We got off the river taxi at the steps to the Grand Palace complex. This impressive complex covers 218,000 square meters and is surrounded by walls. The complex was established in 1782 and was the home of the Kings of Siam and served as the royal residence until 1946. The buildings and many of the statues are covered with small mosaic tiles and other ceramic pieces. The Temple of the Emerald Buddha, which is carved from a block of green jade, is regarded as the most important temple in all of Thailand. It is the venue of many of the religious ceremonies in which the King participates. Three times a year, at the beginning of each season, the very elaborate costume of the Emerald Buddha is changed personally by His majesty.

Our lunch and dinner, as every other day, was scrumptious Thai food with an overwhelming number of choices of different dishes of soups, meats, fish, and vegetables. At dinner we were treated to a show of classical Thai dance that tells a story with its very graceful, slow and studied movements.

Day two, off to Chiang Rai in the Northern part of the country. Chiang Rai is located on the Kok River basin in the heart of the “Golden Triangle” where the countries of Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet. Chiang Rai is a peaceful easygoing city and is quite a contrast to the very busy and cosmopolitan city of Bangkok. We had the opportunity to visit two of the villages of the tribal people in the area. The ride up to the villages, from town, was in the back of a pick up truck through the scenic hill country. Although the tribes may live quite close to each other, they each have their own unique, very colorful, way of dressing and way of life. 

We had a chance to shop at a street market during the day and had dinner and a show at the cultural center. Later in the evening, we experienced one of the night markets. This is the center of activity with music, people dancing and having fun, and of course, food and Thai products for sale. The people here are very warm and friendly, making it possible to be out at night without a concern. The evenings were cool and comfortable.

Chiang Mai was our next destination. It was enjoyable traveling through the countryside, passing rice fields and farmland along the way. In Chiang Rai, our day began with a ride on an elephant through the jungle. Sitting on wooden seats (howdahs) on top of these enormous, gentle animals was an experience I’ll remember forever. The day continued with a ride in a cart pulled by water buffalo through the lush surroundings in the river valley and ended with a journey on a bamboo raft down the Mae Tang River, an incredible day.

In the northern part of Thailand there are many orchid farms. As an avid gardener, I was in heaven when we had a delicious lunch, served in the midst of a large greenhouse of orchids.

In the hills of Chiang Mai is the beautiful hill temple of Doi Suthep. There are 300 WATS/ temples in Chiang Mai. Doi Suthep is one of northern Thailand’s most important temples with a magnificent view over the city and surrounding hill country. There is a funicular ride that takes visitors to the top and the image when you get off is awe-inspiring. The architecture adorned with gold, red and white is very flashy, yet calming at the same time.

Our trip to the northern part of Thailand also included stops at a jade factory and a Thai silk factory where we saw, first hand, the work that goes into making this beautiful cloth.

After three days in the north we boarded our flight back to Bangkok to experience more of this interesting city. Thai cooking classes are available at many of the upscale hotels in the city; this was an experience that I certainly enjoyed. 

The Thai people are very open and friendly; the delicious food, the beautiful scenery and the culture and architecture make Thailand a great destination, with much to offer the visitor.   

Call us at 800-274-0436 and one of our leisure agents can answer questions or help you plan your trip to Thailand.