UW Alumni Tours Blog

We’re back from Turkey and our radiant glow from all that sunshine is dissipating! It was an incredible journey and as always, it ended much too soon.  This is one of the most popular tours that we operate,  and it’s  always highly rated.  In 2010 we are offering the same tour:  Turkey & the Turquoise Coast from September 18 to October 2nd.  If you haven’t had the opportunity to explore this unique and ancient country,  now’s your chance!

Early morning on the gulet

As we stepped off our Turkish gulets and glanced back at the sea,  I think we all realized we had experienced something special.  The weather has been gorgeous, warm enough to swim every day off the boats, beautiful walks through the islands, exploring ruins, incredible Turkish cuisine. I could go on and on. Now we are in the ancient city of Antalya, staying in a wonderful hotel perched over the sea.  More visits to ruins and Turkish Baths await us!

Curtis with some spices!

A quick snapshot of our current tour to Turkey…We  started our journey in Istanbul, a city of spice markets, beautiful mosques, delicious kebabs and of course tea and Turkish delight! As we progress down the coast of the Aegean Sea we cross the Dardanelles singing the Husky Fight song as we ‘land’ on the ‘Asia minor’ side of Turkey. A visit to the ancient cities  of Troy and Ephesus  are a spectacular highlight for the group and we are heading off today for a 5 day cruise on the Turquoise Coast. I hope we have some good swimmers so we can see the underwater ruins!

Now that I’m back in the office, my visit to Bhutan seems surreal. Did I really fly halfway around the world to visit this fascinating country? If it wasn’t for my photographs as proof, I don’t think I’d believe that I was really there.

I’ll miss seeing prayer wheels alongside the roads, but I won’t actually miss the winding roads themselves. I’ll miss the lush, green high mountains; the bright colors of the local dress; the beautiful temples so full of history and wonder; and the local people. For me, it’s always the people.

Each time I travel, I take such joy in meeting the locals, looking into their faces and trying to imagine the story each face tells. Early in the trip, I came across these two women who were part of a larger group sitting with their backs up against the base of a large prayer wheel. I can imagine them sitting there every day while they chew on betal nuts, twirl their prayer wheels and finger their prayer beads. We shared a few smiles and they happily let me take their photos. I felt enriched by the short exchange.

I’m excited about the opportunity to sponsor a UW trip to Bhutan so that our alumni will be encouraged to also discover this unique country. In the next month, I’ll be working with our tour operator to confirm an itinerary and tour inclusions. Once our program is set, we will have it posted up on our website and we’ll be ready to take reservations.  I hope you’ll be able to join us on our fall 2010 alumni tour to Bhutan.

For years I’ve seen photographs of a monastary way up in the sky,  tightly hugging a cliff, usually photographed surrounded by mist.

The Monastery in the Sky

It looked so mysterious and exotic that I immediately wanted to know where it was located because to me it spoke of traveling to faraway destinations. Upon hearing it was in Bhutan, a country I knew little about, it seemed even further away than I imagined and I certainly never dreamed that one day I would actually hike the hillside to reach this very special place.

Frankly, I can’t come up with the right words to describe the experience of arriving at this monastary by foot. I can’t say it was an easy experience as you have to hike up a continual incline, beginning at approximately 7,500 ft., all the way to 9,000 ft. up in the sky. Just getting to the first viewpoint was an exertion and my years of having a desk job seemed to have caught up with me.

The Final Stairs

I began the second half of the hike with good intentions but after taking a few breaths and finding myself struggling to breathe, I announced to my travel companions to go on ahead without me. After they continued, I decided I would keep taking  slow steps and would see just how far I could go. Step-by-step,  walking more slowly than I can ever remember, I kept moving ahead, stopping often.  Suddenly, I arrived at the second viewpoint and there was a startling close view of the Tiger’s Nest – it seemed like I could almost reach out and touch it.

To reach it, I still had to walk down many, many narrow stairs, across a bridge (with mist from the waterfall kissing my face), up another flight of stairs, through a wooden gate and finally – the entrance. To my surprise and the surprise of my companions, I had made it to the monastary in the sky!

Every single step and breath were worth this wonderful accomplishment. I will always cherish this day.

Today was magic – just absolutely magic. We walked across a suspension bridge, with prayer flags flapping in the wind. Then continued through rice paddies and up a hill (passing a few cows along the way) to visit the impressive Khamsum Yuelly Namgyal Chorten (Stupa). In the temple, we climbed three flights of steep stairs that were well worth the effort when we witnessed the incredible view of the Punakha Valley below!

Our afternoon walk was a leisurely one, once again through rice paddies, and up to the temple dedicated to Lam Drukpa Kuenly – otherwise known as the “mad monk.”  With jasmine scenting our final few steps, we arrived at the temple to be greeted by a small group of very friendly Twainese who were traveling with a monk. A group member approached me with a huge smile and proceeded to tell me that the monk’s mother had come to this temple years ago to pray for a son. Not long after, she received her wish. Her next story concerned a female member of their group who had been to this temple previously and had also successfully prayed for a son. It was in this manner that I learned the special significance of this temple. From our guide, we heard many amusing stories of the “mad monk” and just how the temple’s reputation came about.

Traveling in Bhutan in the shoulder season has had its rewards. Yes, the mist may have obscured our view of the Himalayas at the top of the pass, but there are few other tourists and minimal traffic. It has not been uncommon for us to be the only travelers at a restaurant or local site. This is sure to change as Bhutan increases in popularity and tourists begin arriving during all seasons of the year.

It’s incredibly refreshing to be traveling in a country where you’re not

Bhutanese Man Outside Memorial Chorten

besieged by begging children; hassled by vendors selling cheap souvenirs; and affronted by shopkeepers who are always  able to offer you a “good” price. And, the locals still enjoy having their photo taken.

Today was an amazing day of experiences as toured around the capital of Bhutan, Thimphu. First we watched part of an exciting archery tournament. Then we visited an art school where children were studying painting, wood carving, sculpture, metal-smithing, embroidery and other art forms.  A stop at the Takin nature reserve gave us a glimpse of the Bhutan national animal which is purportedly a cross between a cow and a goat (it’s a long story). Then it was  visits to the the textile museum, national handicrafts museum, Zilukha nunnery, paper-making factory, Memorial Chorten and the highlight for me, a visit and walk around the grounds of the Tashichhodzong. We had our first real glimpse of Bhutanese monks and were treated to the sounds of chanting.

All this in one day you say? Even though Thimphu is the largest city, everything is a mere 5 – 10 minute drive away.

The jetlag is catching up with me and I’m off to sleep to ready myself for our upcoming drive to Punakha. We’ll be traversing over the Dochu-La pass (10,000 ft.) and have been promised spectacular views of the Himalayas.