#TravelTuesday Flyga Twiga™ Honored to Again be Asked to Attend World Travel Market Africa

Flyga Twiga™ is honored to once again be asked to attend the World Travel Market Africa. Taking place in Cape Town, South Africa, WTMA is one of 6 shows offered by WTM of Reed Exhibitions. WTMA sees “…nearly 5000 travel industry professionals attend Africa’s leading and only business to business (B2B) exhibition for inbound and outbound Africa travel and tourism markets.”

WTMA 17 © Flyga Twiga

In addition to over 36 private one-on-one meetings Flyga Twiga™ is scheduled for the Speed Networking Session, exclusive lunch and aftershow tours hosted by Cape Town locals, and evening networking and entertainment events.

This year I’ll be staying at my favorite Westin Hotel - Cape Town! The staff at The Westin Cape Town is second to none. The food in the Club Lounge is delicious. Their laundry services are exceptional. And, the Westin is just an overpass walkway to the Cape Town International Convention Center.

Westin CPT © Flyga Twiga LLC

Can’t wait and I will be blogging and posting on my social media some special tours that are in the works. So excited for WTMA 18 and to be back in South Africa!

#TravelTuesday Sleeping in Chiang Kai-shek's Bed & the Taiwan Travel Act

Chiang Kai-shek led the Republic of China (Taiwan), in various roles, from 1928 until 1975.  During his long and successful leadership of free China he repeatedly reached out to the United States of America. One of his generous gestures was gifting an entire bedroom set to the Army Navy Club (ANC) in Washington, DC.

As members of the Club, my husband and I were offered a night’s stay in the ANC’s accommodations. My wonderfully foresightful, history-buff husband suggested we spend the night in the “Chiang Kai-shek Room.” Upon check-in we were informed that they were glad to see someone stay in the room. The reason, they stated, for the room going “without guests” is a lot of the older members refused to stay in the bed.

Hmmm…Chinese ghosts from the Chinese Revolution and Liberation was my first guess. The clerk behind the desk burst out laughing. “No, the bed is Chinese and therefore is completely enclosed save for only one, small opening. The older couples have to crawl over their spouse to get out of bed to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night.”

And, that is how I got to sleep in Chiang Kai-shek’s bed.

The Taiwan Travel Act, passed by the US Congress on 28 February 2018 and signed into law by President Trump on 16 March 2018, states:

(1)  allow U.S. officials at all levels to travel to Taiwan to meet their Taiwanese counterparts;

(2) permit high-level Taiwanese officials to enter the United States under respectful conditions and to meet with U.S. officials, including officials from the Departments of State and Defense; and

(3) encourage the Taipei Economic and Cultural Representative Office and any other instrumentality established by Taiwan to conduct business in the United States.

The Taiwan Travel Act is good news for US – Taiwan relations. I am sure Chiang Kai-shek would be pleased. And, it is of particular good news to me, having reposed in the great Chiang Kai-shek’s bed.

Chiang Kai-shek Memorial Changing of the Guard © Flyga Twiga LLC

Able Seaman Just Nuisance, the only dog ever to be officially enlisted in the Royal Navy. This picture is from the Simon's Town Museum, South Africa.

But which dogs are prohibited in the UAE? Click here to find out!

New FAQs - Traveling To The Middle East For The First Time? 10 Frequently Asked Questions For The Female Traveler.

Click here to read my new Frequently Asked Questions for first time female travelers to the Middle East. 

Spring Cleaning! Made even better as a local business asked for my Middle East & Africa Travel Magazines.

Spring Cleaning 2018! © Flyga Twiga LLC

Happy Seollal - Korean Lunar New Year 2018 - Year of the Dog!

What is charye? 
Seollal, Korean Lunar New Year, often involves the ritual of charye, paying memorial to your ancestors.

How do I wish someone good fortune?
Say, “Saehae bok mani badeuseyo”  새해 복 많이 받으세요 which translates to “Please receive a lot of luck in the New Year!”

Happy Saint Valentine's Day! Hope you Enjoy this Romantic Sunset from beautiful Uganda!

Sunset Uganda © Flyga Twiga LLC

#TravelTuesday What will I eat on Safari? That is one of the questions I am asked a lot on my #SafariAMA

Bush Camps usually have buffets or set menus. And, the costs are included in your Safari Package. In Kenya and Uganda Bush Camps, many times, you will find Indian Food on the Buffets. If you stay at luxury hotels or Glamping Safari Camps, you most likely be served almost any kind of food & drink you want, including exceptional African Wines.

As with any travel, if you have allergies or special dietary needs, you must inform the Safari Service Provider and check to be sure they can meet your needs.

And, in East African cities, such as Kampala and Nairobi, you will find fine dining restaurants. In Kampala, Mythos Greek Taverna & Lounge is one of my absolute favorites. 

And, if you are into “Celebrity Chefs” I can personally recommend Kiran Jethwa's Seven Seafood and Grill in Nairobi, Kenya. Kirwan’s first show on National Geographic People was “Tales from the Bush Larder”. Now he appears in his new show “The Fearless Chef”.

The above picture is our unique lunch in Kibale Forest National Park. Our lunch was served in a Banana Leaf,  and provided the perfect "to go" meal for the Trek. Provided by our host the Uganda Tourism Board, we were treated to a wonderful day of Chimpanzee Trekking. Kibale Forest is such a special place! 

Mweya Safari Lodge Queen Elizabeth National Park Uganda©Flyga Twiga™ LLC

I was invited to join the social media platform AMAfeed & I'm really loving it!

I held my first "event" - an Ask Me Anything about Safaris and Travel to Africa. It is so much fun.

Part of my takeaway from this platform is using search engines to answer questions is great - but you have to know what to search for. AMAfeed, in my experience with my first event, helps direct further research. Especially for Safaris and Travel to Africa, there are rarely "yes" or "no" set answers. Furthermore, how on Earth do you know the links you are following are real or have any expert, honest advice? 

With AMAfeed #SafariAMA it is MY reputation on the line. AMAfeed allows a really good balance of letting me promote my business and work, while offering information people want/need. 

The reason for the picture above? I received a lot of questions about Gorilla Trekking and how close you can get to the Gorillas. This was taken last year Mgahinga Gorilla National Park on my Gorilla Trek. Truly an amazing experience which I am so glad to share with the AMAfeed Community.

Happy Day! Safe Safari!

#TravelTuesday Preparing for Safari? Attending Pyeongchang Winter Olympics? Which Travel Insurance is the best?

Boma, Jonglei State, South Sudan © Flyga Twiga LLC

The kind folks at Reviews.com reached out to me. They have recently completed a review of travel insurance. Click here to read their reviews.

I believe this is a good place to start when trying to determine what travel insurance will meet your needs. Travel insurance comes in different types, for various forms of travel. I always suggest travel insurance, as you will see from my Safari Guide here.

Of course, a disclaimer, I do not receive any compensation from Reviews.com.

Happy Day! Safe Safari!

#TravelTuesday Who are Soohorang & Bandabi? PyeongChang Olympics & Paralympics Mascots

Fans of Olympics history may remember or heard about the 1996 Summer Olympics controversy surrounding the official mascot “Izzy”,  The official mascot was based on an amorphous creature “Whatizit” or “What is it?” and to this day remains the butt of many jokes and a blight on Olympic mascot history.

Thankfully Korea has returned to tradition with the culturally significant white tiger, Soohorang 수호랑 and the Asiatic black bear Bandabi 반다비 for the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics and Paralympics Mascots.

In Korean tradition the white tiger is seen as a benevolent protector against evil. The name Sooharang comes from the Korean word sooho 수호 "protection" & ho-rang-i 호랑이 "tiger”. The protective white tiger will mascot the Olympics.

The Asiatic black bear is often referred to as the “Korean Moon Bear” for the crescent shaped white “moon” shape on its chest. Bandabi’s name comes from  bandal 반달 ”half-moon"  &  bi 비 ”commemoration”. The Korean Moon Bear is particularly appropriate mascot for the Paralympics, symbolic of the perseverance of the Paralympians. 

According to the Korean creation myth, prayers were offered by a tiger and a bear to the Son of the Lord of Heaven, Hwanung, for them to become human. Hwanung agreed, upon the condition that each would receive 20 cloves of garlic and a bundle of mugwort. The tiger and the bear were strictly instructed to only eat this sacred food and remain out of the sunlight for 100 days.

While the tiger became restless and after only 20 days left the cave, the Korean Moon Bear did not give up and was rewarded by becoming a human woman. The Koreans creation mythology is that of a people born from perseverance in the face of extreme hardship. Thus making Bandabi a very appropriate mascot for the PyeongChang Winter Paralympics 2018.

Soohorang & Bandabi are perfect Korean mascots for this year's Winter games!

Today's my 3 Year The Explorers Club Anniversary! #Explore

And, it was a great honor to be part of The New York TImes "Women of the World" !

#TravelTuesday I've lived over 3 Years in South Korea & now only 1 Month to the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics!

Korean Air Morning Calm © Flyga Twiga LLC

Click here the Morning Calm picture above or here to go to the Official PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics Site!

Here's to the Year of the Dog! Seollal - Korean Lunar New Year - will take place February 16, 2018 during the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics!

Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) Working Dog © Flyga Twiga LLC

Looking forward to being back in Simon's Town, SA & seeing Just Nuisance AB again!

"Just Nuisance was the only dog ever to be officially enlisted in the Royal Navy. He was a Great Dane who between 1939 and 1944 served at HMS Afrikander, a Royal Navy shore establishment in Simon's Town, South Africa. He died in 1944 at the age of seven years and was buried with full military honours."

My article for Go Places Digital on the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics 2018 is online & will be in their Holiday Print Edition!

Traditional Guard Gyeongbokgung Palace © Flyga Twiga

Click here to read!

Can't wait to post about our amazing upcoming "Trains, Wine, & Art" Tour of South Africa!

Ostrich Cape of Good Hope SA © Flyga Twiga LLC

Travel Tuesday

Amazing First Class flight to Dubai on Emirates A380!