Japanese Baths
Two of the biggest complaints about traveling in Japan are that A) it costs too much; and B) with all the ultra-modern trappings, it's hard to find anything nowadays that actually looks Japanese. Both of these charges unfortunately, are largely true. But as Lucy Craft reports, there is one place where traditional Japan can be sampled at a bargain.
Q&A I -- Holidays Away From Home
Rudy talks with listeners about holidays they've spent away from home.
Rafting the Grand Canyon
Hal Cannon is a folklorist and founding director of the Western Folklife Center. Last summer, he and his wife -- writer Teresa Jordan joined a group for their first rafting trip down the Colorado River, through the heart of the Grand Canyon. This is the story of their journey.
Grand Canyon journal was produced for The Savvy Traveler by Mary Beth Kirchner and Robert Rand with support from the R. Harold Burton Foundation.
Hal Cannon and Teresa Jordan traveled with Outdoor Unlimited River Trips. The company can be reached at 1-800-637-RAFT. 6900 Townsend Winona Road, Flagstaff, AZ. 86004.
Teresa's writing on the Grand Canyon will be part of a book of essays and photographs called, "Writing Down The River: Into The Heart Of The Grand Canyon," ed. by Kathleen Jo Ryan, Northland Publishing, May, 1998.
A detailed list of river outfitters in the Grand Canyon. Can be found at: http://www.gcroa.org/Pages/outfitters2.htm
A few companies that offer river rafting:
Grand Canyon Expeditions Co - whitewater rafting on the Colorado River covering the entire 277 miles of the Canyon. Located near Lake Powell and Glen Canyon Dam. Phone: 1-800-544-2691 or (801) 644-2691; http://www.gcex.com; E-mail: gcec@xpressweb.com
Action Whitewater Adventures - whitewater rafting trips on Idaho's Main Salmon, Middle Fork, Grand Canyon, American, Kern, Green, Tuolumne, & Rogue rivers. Phone: 1-800-453-1482 or 1-801-375-4111; http://www.riverguide.com; E-mail: info@riverguide.com
Arizona River Runners - Grand Canyon whitewater rafting trips, starting from 3,6,7,8 and 13 day
trips in both oar and motor powered options. Phone: 1-800-477-7238 or 602-867-4866; fax 602-867-2174; http://www.raftarizona.com E-mail: azriver@goodnet.com
Deal of the Week
The Deal 'O the Week staff likes to mix things up from week to week -- a couple of airfare deals, maybe a hotel steal, a cruise line bargain -- you get the picture. And it was only a few weeks ago that we told you about a deal from the Hong Kong-based airline, Cathay Pacific, that allowed you to travel around Asia for a flat-fee. So normally, we wouldn't expect to be telling you about another Cathay Pacific deal for a while.
But this one is so good, we have to pass it on. If you and a friend have ever wanted to visit Asia but thought it too expensive, think again. Cathay Pacific will fly two of you from New York or Los Angeles to Hong Kong and put you up in a hotel for five nights for $999. Total. Not per person. Total. You may depart from other cities for an additional fee. Tourism is off in Hong Kong since the Chinese takeover, but there's no reason you shouldn't visit.
Travel is good from January 1st through February 15th, BUT you must book your trip by December third. That's it. Hong Kong with airfare and hotel for two -- nine-ninety-nine aboard Cathay Pacific. That's my deal of the week.
Q&A II
Rudy mentions the following:
Alamo Car Rental: 800-327-9633
To learn about Native American cultural tours and schedules of Powwows:
Sioux Nation Powwow schedule: http://www.state.sd.us/state/executive/tourism/sioux/powwows.htm
South Dakota Tourist Board: 605-773-3301
Navaho Department of Tourism: 520-871-6436
Keyah Hozhoni Tours: 520-526-3861 -- Flagstaff, AZ Native American owned tour company that specializes in vacations to cultural and historical sites. Tours are led by Native Americans who are experts in their culture's anthropology, art and history.
Tahiti literature:
"Noa Noa," by Paul Gauguin;
"The Moon and Sixpence," by Somerset Maugham;
"The Tahitians," by Robert Levy.
Places of the Heart
Paul Theroux is one of the world's most famous and most prolific travel writers. His many books include "The Mosquito Coast" and most recently "Kowloon Tong" and "My Other Life." He grew up near Boston and now divides his time between homes on Cape Cod and in Hawaii, along with traveling the globe, of course. Paul is a friend, and someone I thought would be perfect for our occasional interview series, "Places of the Heart." We had a chance to talk recently in Hawaii and I asked him where he considers home.
Next Week on The Savvy Traveler
We'll hear about the pluses of a visit to California's wine country.
"At least 25 and maybe 40% of the wines that are made in California never get outside the state......they are gobbled up by Californians."
We get tips on touring the wine country of Napa and Sonoma Valleys from Bon Appetit magazine's wine and spirits editor, and our Vagabond Traveler goes to cooking school in Paris.
"Each person has their own refrigerator, their own oven, their own freezer you have the little scale and you have an entire drawer that's just filled with sugar."
A weekend in pastry school and your stories about the strangest things you've eaten in your travels in next week's journey with The Savvy Traveler.
That and more in next week's voyage with the Savvy Traveler. I hope you'll join us.
If you want your very own copy of The Savvy Traveler, order an audio cassette. It's easy. Just call 303-823-8000. The price is $15. As Rudy says, it's a steal.
