Practolo Blog

Monday, November 10th, 2008

Retire in Mexico and Every Day is Opposite Day: 2 Cultural Differences in Daily Communication

“Yes” means “no.” “Now” means “later.”

My English student came by at the time of her lesson and pronounced this carefully rehearsed question: “Will you give me 30 minutes?” I wasn’t completely sure that she meant she needed 30 more minutes until the class started or that maybe she meant she could only stay for 30 minutes.

“Do you want to have class now?” I asked, trying to clarify the situation while still using English.

“Yes, now,” she replied.

“Ok. Come on over,” I gestured to my door.

“I have to eat first.”

Do you get it? Why did she say “now” when she really meant 30 minutes later? When you first live or retire in Mexico, you might be confused by this. After 4 years here, I got it right away.

In Spanish, when someone says “ahorita” they actually mean “in a bit.” My student was using an English word to express a Mexican cultural concept.

“In English now means right away, like in 30 seconds,” I told her, snapping my fingers to illustrate the point.

Of course this happens to us north Americans when we are speaking Spanish. Forget whatever impressions you may have left over from your high school Spanish class. Cultural differences define the ways things are expressed in Spanish. If someone tells you they will do something “ahorita” don’t hold your breath. It may take them a few hours to do it.

Another great opposite is “yes” means “no.”

“No” is a taboo phrase, and is therefore rarely used in Mexico. Instead people just say “yes,” albeit more vaguely.

“How can this be?” you ask. Let me tell you, it can be a real shocker when you first live or retire in Mexico. The real damage comes in when you, as a person from a country where “no” is an acceptable response, use the poisonous little word. I’ve flubbed up on this one many a time and, let me tell you, people’s faces fall. They feel terrible when you tell them “no.”

If you want to say “no” STOP YOURSELF. Try to say “yes” first, then add something that keeps things very vague. If saying “yes” feels too much like you will have to follow through on the “yes” then just give lots of excuses, say “thank you” over and over and leave the “no” out.

At first you will probably feel like you are lying, but if you KNOW HOW TO ‘NO’ it will be much more comfortable for you. When interacting with others tune in to when they are being vague and take note of the hedge words they use. By observing others you can build a “no saying” dictionary that will allow you to maintain good relationships with friends and acquaintances.–jt

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Monday, November 10th, 2008

Hawaii (The big Island) - A City Guide

Introduction

There’s no place on earth quite like this handful of sun-drenched, mid-Pacific islands. The Hawaii of South Seas literature and Hollywood films really does exist. Here one will find palm-fringed blue lagoons, lush rainforests, hidden gardens, cascading waterfalls, wild rivers running through rugged canyons, and soaring volcanoes. And those beaches — gold, red, black, and even green sands caressed by endless surf - a perfect place for spending holidays.

History

After a series of battles that ended in 1795 and peaceful cession of the island of Kauai in 1810, the Hawaiian Islands were united for the first time under a single ruler who would become known as King Kamehameha the Great. He established the House of Kamehameha, a dynasty that ruled over the kingdom until 1872. One of the most important events during those years was the suppression of the Hawaii Catholic Church. The Newlands Resolution was passed on July 7, 1898, formally annexing Hawaii as a United States territory. In 1900, it was granted self-governance and retained Iolani Palace as the territorial capitol building. In March 1959, both houses of Congress passed the Admission Act and U.S. President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law. On June 27 of that year, a plebiscite was held asking residents of Hawaii to vote on accepting the statehood bill. After statehood, Hawaii quickly became a modern state with a construction boom and rapidly growing economy.

Place of interest

It will not be a small list if anyone tries to make a list of all tourist attractions. The partial list should be look like this: ” Akaka Falls, ” Captain Dan McSweeney’s Year-Round Whale-Watching Adventures ” Captain Zodiac, ” Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, ” Fair Wind Snorkeling and Diving Adventures, ” Hapuna Golf Course, ” Mauna Lani Frances I’i Brown Championship Courses, ” Pololu Valley Lookout, ” Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park, ” World Botanical Garden.

Museums & Art Galleries

Some of the major museums are ” East Hawaii Cultural Center ” Hulihee Palace Museum ” Jaggar Museum ” Kamuela Museum ” Kona Historical Society ” Lyman House Memorial Museum ” Mokupapapa: Discovery Center For Hawaii’s Remote Coral Reefs ” Pacific Tsunami Museum ” Parker Ranch Museum are some of the museums in Big Island. Hawaii’s Big Island has a number of art gallery and cultural centers. Among them: ” Hawaiian Art Network ” Dreams Of Paradise ” Gallery Of Great Things ” Holualoa Gallery ” Spirit Art Studio ” Volcano Garden Arts are some to mention about.

Shopping

Hawaii Big Island hosts open market places with hundreds of merchants selling their hand crafted items under the open sky. These market places are one of the main tourist attractions here. Alii Gardens Marketplace, Long Ears Coffee Company, Kuaiwi Farm, Mountain Thunder Coffee Plantation, Akatsuka Orchid Gardens, Anthuriums Of Hawaii, Hawaii Greenhouse Inc., Panaewa Hawaiian Homelands Farmers Market, Volcano Farmers Market are some of the famous marketplaces.

Besides these market places shopping malls and individual shops are there in Hawaii Big Island. Hilo Hattie - The Store of Hawaii, Hilo Shopping Center, Keauhou Shopping Center, King’s Shops, Kona Coast Shopping Center, Lanihau Center are some shopping centers in Hawaii Big Island.

Food & Drink

So many restaurants, so little time for a traveler when it comes the time to wine and dine in Big Island. The Big Island’s delicious dilemma is its daunting size and abundant offerings of its own cuisine. Shaka Restaurant, Anthony’s Bistro & Bar, Charley’s Bar & Grill, Grand Palace, Ting Hao, Bamboo Restaurant, Hualalai Grille By Alan Wong, Merriman’s, Aloha Angel Café, Big Island Grill are some of the great places for wine and dine. Except these restaurants and bars, Hawaii Big Island has a lot to offer to satisfy everyone’s taste bud.

Education

Big Island hosts ” More than 37 Public schools, ” More than 15 Private schools, ” University of Hawaii at Hilo ” Hawaii Community College - part of the University of Hawaii System. Students choosing private education attend Brigham Young University Hawaii, Chaminade University of Honolulu, Hawaii Pacific University and University of the Nations.

Sports

Hawaii Big Island has lots to offer for the tourists to attend and participate in different sports like Scuba diving, Horse back riding, fishing, Golf, Cycling and hiking.

Hotels & Accommodation

Some budget hotels in Hawai are mentioned bellow. ” Aaah the Views Bed & Breakfast ” Affordable Hawaii at Pomaikai (Lucky) Farm Bed & Breakfast ” Cook’s Discoveries Waimea Suite ” Kona Tiki Hotel ” Volcano Bed & Breakfast ” The Bay House ” Manago Hotel

Beside these budget hotels some mid range to hi-end hotels are there: ” Four Seasons Resort Hualalai at Historic Kaupulehu ” Kona Village Resort ” The Fairmont Orchid, Hawaii ” Hilton Waikoloa Village ” Horizon Guest House ” Kanaloa at Kona

Tours and Sightseeing

Organized tours are available in Hawaii Big Island. Beside the beaches these tours cover all the Hawaii Big Island places and activities. Tours’ nature is guided or self guided. The tours are rich in contents. It may be walking or hiking tours through Thurston Lava Tube at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, or snorkeling Kahaluu Beach Park or it may be a submarine tour into the Underwater World. Different tours are there in offer. The Ellison S. Onizuka Space Center, Watching the Volcano is also in the content of the tour.

Transport

Flying is the most common way to get to Hawaii’s Big Island. Air travelers are serviced by Kona International Airport (KOA) on the west side of the island, and Hilo International Airport (ITO) on the east. National and international carriers offer both direct and non-stop flights to KOA and ITO. An alternate method of getting to Hawaii’s Big Island is aboard a cruise ship. Several ships make weekly stops in Hilo Harbor on the East side, and also generally visit Kailua Bay on the West side.

Different car rental is available for transportation. These car rentals can be done by the on request to the hotels. The Big Island’s public transportation system, called Hele-On, consists of a main route between Hilo and Kailua-Kona that operates once a day in each direction, plus several feeder routes to Volcano, Pahoa and Waikoloa that run two or three times a day.

About the Author Name: Nivedita Balamurugan Occupation: Traveler Website: www.thereservationcenter.com Biography: Nivedita is with The Reservation Center - providers of discounted tours to make your vacations and sightseeing trips in various cities across the world as comfortable and enjoyable as possible.

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Saturday, November 8th, 2008

Price Is Wrong

I love the show “The Price is Right,” in the morning. It seems to give megood start to my day. I love to guess how much all the stuff costs and imagine that I win the prizes. I have gone all over the world, in my head, from that show. Today saw a Navy guy get called to “Come on down!’

He guessed one dollar because he thought that every body else’s bids were too high. He bid one dollar and one a new car, and some calcium pills. Are you kidding me? Then he went up to play the next game. This game was really stupid; I don’t think that they are even trying to be creative on these games anymore. Anyway this game consisted of four giant walnut shells and a ball. The ball is under one of the nut shells. Then there are three products to choose from. The first one was a blender, and the price listed was $289. A bit pricey for a blender. All he had to do was say higher or lower. He chose lower and was right. It was only $129. So now he gets a chip and puts it front of one of the nutshells. This means that he thinks the ball is under that shell. He got all three right, and had placed chips in front of 3 of the 4 shells. If the ball was under on of the shells with the chips, he wins a all expenses paid trip to Fiji. He won.

I feel so happy for there people. Its great that you can change your whole life, just by going on the Price is Right.

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Saturday, November 8th, 2008

Roscoe Village Offers Education and Entertainment

Imagine a living history community offering glimpses into the past through costumed interpreters, craftsman demonstrators, and old-fashioned shops and restaurants that give a flavor of life in the 1800s. Living history, blooming gardens, shopping, dining, lodging–Historic Roscoe Village offers something for everyone. A restored 1830s canal town, Roscoe is located along what once was the Ohio-Erie Canal. In an effort to enhance its mission to interpret Ohio’s Canal Era, each year Roscoe hosts various festivals, special events, and holiday activities that both educate and provide fun entertainment for guests. Set in the heart of Coshocton County, Ohio, Roscoe Village is just 90 minutes east of Columbus and 2 hours south of Cleveland, along State Route 16 and near the junction of U.S. Route 36.

Historic tours through the Village take guests back in time to the slower pace of life in an 1830s canal town. While strolling through the restored living history buildings, guests may see actual artisans at work, including a blacksmith, a weaver, a printer, a cooper, and a broom maker; observe old-time cooking demonstrations; sit in on a reenactment of an 1800s school lesson; view a full-scale canal boat replica; visit the immaculately groomed gardens displaying an array of colors; or participate in hands-on learning demonstrations like candle dipping, tin punching, or weaving.

At the Roscoe Village Visitor Center, find unique hand-crafted items made by Roscoe Village artisans for sale, including candle holders, weavings, wooden toys, rolling pins and other wood items, and brooms. Schedule a special candlelit tour with the group sales staff, or enjoy seasonal tours such as the “Spirit of Roscoe” (available September and October) or “A Roscoe Christmas” (available November and December). Group rates are also available for all tours.

A venue for fine dining and quaint hotel accommodations, the Inn at Roscoe Village contains 51 rooms and an elegant Parlor, featuring Shaker-style furniture, reasonable rates, and quality service in a comfortable relaxed atmosphere. Fully handicap-accessible, the Inn has been updated with new furnishings and a wireless Internet service, providing an attractive stay for both the business and pleasure traveler. In addition, the Inn has a variety of banquet, meeting, and private dining rooms for every occasion.

Visitors can browse the old-fashioned shops housed in original 19th century buildings and filled with area crafts, elegant home furnishings, books, baskets, gourmet coffees and foods, and much more. Besides hosting its own shopping establishments, Roscoe is also home to several independently owned and operated businesses. Exquisite jewelry, pottery (including a paint-your-own pottery studio), leather goods, musical instruments, antiques, and hand-made baskets name a few of the original items available at these stores. The Shops of Roscoe Village will open early or stay late to accommodate groups.

While at Roscoe Village, guests can satisfy the most particular of appetites at one of two restaurants. Choose the elegant dining of King Charley’s Dining Room and Tavern or the rustic atmosphere of the Old Warehouse Restaurant. For a snack in the midst of enjoying the sights, grab some goodies or a cappuccino or hot chocolate made to order at the Cheesery, Roscoe’s gourmet coffee and tea shop.

Also located in Roscoe Village is the Johnson Humrickhouse Museum, an accredited member of the American Association of Museums, which features a Native American Collection, an Americana Collection, an Oriental Gallery, the Eclectic Collection, and special rotating exhibits. In addition, guests can climb aboard the horse-drawn Monticello III for a peaceful 40-minute float down a restored section of the Ohio-Erie Canal. The knowledgeable canal boat captain will entertain your group with long-ago stories and interesting facts about the canal. Group charters are available.

Guests seeking a more active day can journey down the Towpath, a one-mile walking and bicycle trail that runs from Roscoe Village to Coshocton Lake Park. Lake Park features a water park; camping facilities; a variety of nature trails ranging from mile to two miles in length; and paddle boating. Also in Coshocton County, the nearby wineries and the Pomerene Center for the Arts are unique attractions. Roscoe Village is located 30 minutes from the world’s largest Amish population in Holmes County, Ohio, and 20 minutes from the village of Dresden, the basket capital and home of the Longaberger Homestead. The Wilds, a wild animal preserve is just down the road, as is Salt Fork State Park. For more information, call Historic Roscoe Village at (800) 877-1830. www.roscoevillage.com.

Angie Ianniello is the Public Relations/Text Coordinator for Historic Roscoe Village in Coshocton, Ohio. Her journalism background and experience in event planning have led Ianniello to speak at several conferences and meetings in the region.

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Friday, November 7th, 2008

You Will Now See 10 Years in Your Future with Hypnosis

Using the breathtaking hypnosis therapy called Future Life Progression, girls and boys can often now see nine years in the future and discover if you marry the lad you are kissing. The astonishing method was first discovered twenty eight years ago and has been played with ever since by hypnotists. It has now taken till the 21st century for this phenomenal hypnosis method to be made available to everybody.

The Future Life Progression therapy technique 1st starts by putting a male into an induction state using progression therapy and this usually takes around six minutes. The relaxation method will make girls and boys feel magnificent and men and women will then be made to go deeper even more. The future life therapist will regularly ask you to then imagine you are in a flying ship and you are carrying fast forward until you see your fifth year. This will be when you go fast forward ten years and then you may be able to see with your very own eyes your very own future.

There are numerous awesome uses for Future Life Progression, aka FLP, you may see if you are married, you will view if you are still staying in the same county and you can also see if you are working in the same firm. Learn Tarot Cards online with Anne Jirsch.

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Friday, November 7th, 2008

The Rustic Charm of a California Dude Ranch Vacation

With coastline, forests, mountains and deserts, California is among the most geographically diverse states in the country. At any one of many California dude ranches, guests can experience the parts of the Golden State that beautifully contrast the hustle and bustle of the major cities.

Many California dude ranches are working cattle ranches that have existed for generations. Over the years, they’ve added modern amenities to cater to guests looking to experience life on a cattle ranch. Some are luxurious, others are simple and unpolished. The “right” ranch depends entirely on what the guest is looking for. The more rustic accommodations can provide an authentic feel for ranching in the early days, while lavish resorts offer a mix of the old west with the indulgence of being pampered.

At many California dude ranches, guests are encouraged to participate in the chores of the ranch. Feeding livestock, roping cattle, and tending horses all allow a visitor to directly experience the daily life of a cowboy. Family members preferring to watch from the sidelines are, of course, welcome to as well.

In addition to horseback riding, the key element in all dude ranches, guests may find that fishing, swimming, golf and tennis are also available. Wagon rides, campfires, square dances, and nightly entertainment can bring families together in a safe and wholesome environment.

California has a long-established history in ranching. That history can be seen and experienced on the acres and acres of California dude ranches that continue to thrive today.
Dude Ranch Info provides informatino on dude ranches in Colorado, Texas, Montana, Wyoming, Arizona, and California, and information on dude ranch jobs. Dude Ranch Info is the sister site of Mountain Vacations Web.

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Thursday, November 6th, 2008

The Del Mar, California Cookie Resort

The Del Mar, California Cookie Resort

Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link:
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/doubletree/delmar/delmar.html

As I write this, I lie on my oversized bed, in my oversized suite in the DoubleTree Hotel in Del Mar, California. On my right sits a 27 inch Zenith television complete with an interactive music jukebox, a pleasing digital movie selection, and a variety of video games patiently waiting for me to challenge them.

On my left hangs a set of curtains, which I choose to keep closed. From the fourth floor, I have a breathtaking view of the parking lot, but knowing that a few miles down the road waits a beautiful California beach, it’s worth the stay.

The amenities are expected: lots of tropical looking trees, a gym, business center, restaurant, and a pool shaped like a gigantic puddle (you know, all squiggly and such). When I checked in, the man at the front desk gave me some freshly baked, and again oversized, cookies five of them. Of course I couldn’t eat all of them at once, so I saved a few for breakfast.

After being in my room for about an hour, a delectable assortment of gourmet cheese was delivered to my door. After trying each one, I thought about heading down to the gym. It always appeared to be empty and clean, but sitting in my room doing absolutely nothing seemed like a much better idea, especially after all those cookies (I wouldn’t want to lose them). This gym has approximately ten polished chrome weight and cardio machines that practically beg for me to put my fingerprints all over them. Luckily, right out side the front entrance is an easy escape route to the pool where you can erase the evidence.

Now I would love to tell you that I spent the entire day lounging around this giant puddle-shaped pool surrounded by beautiful Baywatch types, baking my skin the way dermatologists tell you not to, but unfortunately that wasn’t the case. Here I am in beautiful San Diego, and it’s raining.

This brings me to the overtone in this city; money. People here seem to be dripping with it; Looking, smelling, feeling like a million bucks. Heck, I felt underdressed in Jack In The Box this afternoon, but who’s counting?. It’s no surprise though, that this is a rich city. Not more than two miles from the hotel is the famous, or infamous depending on how you look at it, Del Mar Race Track which has been inspiring women to wear ridiculously crazy hats for years.

Now if there’s one thing I’ve noticed, it’s that every great city has a song. New York has one, Chicago, San Francisco even. Does San Diego? No. But there is one for Del Mar probably due to this famous track. Literally millions of people have come to this track that was started by Bing Crosby, and has been visited by all the stars, past and present. Betty Grable has been there. Lucille Ball, Desi Arnaz, and all of the other people who’s pictures were on the wall at Jimmy O’s, one of three popular bars in downtown Del Mar. Night after night, beautiful people stumble out after last call, pleasantly greeted by the Del Mar police to make sure everyone leaves in a sober manor.

To read this entire feature FREE with photos cut and paste this link:
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/hotels/doubletree/delmar/delmar.html

Josh Edelson, Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent - Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com To book travel visit Jetstreams.com at www.jetstreams.com and for Beach Resorts visit Beach Booker at www.beachbooker.com

About the Author

Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

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Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

Dimora Ca’ Nova in Venice

The apartment Dwelling CA’ Nova is recently restructured and in good state of maintenance of the furnishing and the fixtures, Cleaning/Assistance - 1° Class Degreed, besides, it is endowed with microwaves oven, small fridge, television, tower ventilation, safe and to application it has telephone and ulterior covered parking place within a step from the dwelling. It is absolutely the nearest edifice from Venice-Center (bus service all night long) of Venice-Mestre. From the flat you can see (very far) the St. Marco’s bell and the lagoon. Moreover, 2 adjoining supermarkets, pizza-shops restaurants and multiplex cinema in the same street, beside a cashpoint machine and an internet point with international phone-center too. It is on 10th floor very quiet and privy - with lift … -.

“Dimora CA’ Nova” is a panoramic apartment in the art City of Venice, with 2 bed places, sheets and towels set at the arrival. Bathroom endowed with ample wardrobe, hair dryier and washing machine. Tourist quality certificate released by the Venice Province, panoramic terrace with breath taking view, parking lot, all inclusive.

In this flat it is established the cleaning before, during and after the stay, all inclusive.

The apartment is near to a swapping parking, therefore, it is not subjected to traffic restrictions. The quote establishes prices and services.
Edifice’s regulations don’t allow pets in the flat. Besides, the central heating is always open.

In order to visit the Veneto (Verona city of Love, forests and valleys of Belluno, Padova the city of Giotto and Vicenza the city of Palladio) a car renting is very near to the apartment, situated just to the last cross roads of the city before the highway.

The flat nearby Venice is on a strategic place to reach the railway station (5 min.), Venice Historical Center (5/10 min.), Jesolo (Ve)’s beach (40/50 min.) and the airport as well by the bus nr. 15.

The quote establishes prices and services. Edifice’s regulations don’t allow pets in the flat. Besides, the water’s central heating is always open.

IT IS NOT A BED & BREAKFAST.

COMPUTER FRIGHT ONLY BY CAUTION MONEY.

The check in is from 4,00 to 11,00 p.m. every day.

If you are interested in a cheap hotel in Venice, pls visit our catalogue of Hotels all over Italy, where you can find also a wide range of Bed and Breakfast in Rome and Hotels in Florence, from cheap to luxury, togheter with Sorrento Tours

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Wednesday, November 5th, 2008

Sydney road trip — mucking about in the countryside

People in Sydney sometimes give the impression that they dress up to the nines in order to pop down the local shop and buy a loaf of bread (although possibly not so much in the blue-collar areas such as the Western suburbs). So, when visiting this fair and fashionable city, it’s quite likely you’ll strap on your trendy shoes and stroll about the place – draping yourself artistically in cafes, restaurants, galleries and theatres.

But there’s only so much of that you should have to put up with – something you might find slightly refreshing is girding up in a pair of trusty jeans and comfy shoes, and heading off for a bit of an adventure in NSW’s Central West region. Studded about the place are national parks, old gold rush sites, vineyards, Arcadian swathes of landscape, and the birthplace of one of Australia’s most legendary bush poets. And on the way you can wander about the gorgeous Blue Mountains.

If you don’t have a car, check out sites like www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au which have all the specials of the country’s biggest car hire companies so you can grab a good car rental Sydney deal.

Heading out West from Sydney, it’ll take around two hours to get to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains. There’s loads of accommodation here, ranging from the luxurious to the hmmm-perhaps-we-should-have-camped. Nearby the scenery will keep you engrossed, with pleasures such as The Three Sisters and Katoomba Falls. The Scenic Railway is a handy means of seeing the countryside without having to move your legs. And there’s plenty of little towns around for you to forage about in. Leura is a great little spot. The short main street is crowded by little kitschy shops that just happen to miraculously stock arty trinkets which complement of the vibe of the place. You may struggle to remember how you managed to live so long without a highly decorative teapot with matching cosy.

After you’ve become the owner of the world’s largest collection of bunya nut vinaigrette, climb back into your car and aim for Bathurst. It’s a short drive on the Great Western Highway. For a regional town, you might notice the buildings seem to have quite a faded look of opulence. This is the mark of gold my friend. There are plenty of old gold towns nearby like Sofola and Wattle Flat, and if you feel its necessary to grab a pan and have a go at gold hunting yourself, head out to Hill End where there’s equipment to hire. Bathurst is also home to the Mount Panorama racing circuit – you might have heard of it, it becomes the focus of a few racing enthusiasts every year.

Onwards in a westerly way, before you get to a little city called Dubbo are the towns of Mudgee and Orange. Both places are fertile little areas which manage to produce fruity and winey things. Orange has got some beautiful parks and there’s also the nearby Mt Canobolas for commanding views. And it’s the birthplace of one Banjo Paterson. A balladeer that could immortalise a crusty old farmer in one line or less, whilst roasting the namby-pamby city slicker poets who dared to complain the bush was dusty, hot and boring.

Dubbo, which is only a little further on, is a city which struggles to disprove the idea that the only real tourist attraction it has is a great big zoo. It has some wineries and a gallery or two, and is one of the fastest growing regional cities with a population of around 38 000. But it’s the Western Plains Zoo you’ll be wanting to visit. It’s an open range affair, with the animals separated by creeks and dykes wherever possible.

It’s not really necessary to prolong your stay overly much, so heading north with your foot on the gas for about two hours will see you arriving in Coonabarabran. If you’re a space freak, then you’ll be mightily pleased by the town’s optical telescope – which happens to be the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere – and the Skywatch observatory, where you can ponder the mysteries of the universe. For the more down-to-earth there’s the excellent Warrumbungles National Park nearby. This town pretty much marks the end of the Central West area, and unless you’ve got mighty ambitions of heading onwards and upwards, then it’s time to hang a right and head east to Tamworth. It’s a five-hour drive from Tamworth to Sydney, driving on the New England Highway until you reach Newcastle, and then hopping onto the Pacific Highway for the rest.

About the Author

Alyssa Betts works for www.vroomvroomvroom.com.au and occasionally wanders off to have a look at things around Australia

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Monday, November 3rd, 2008

Riding and Rafting the Rockies at the Rawah Ranch

Riding and Rafting The Rockies with Rawah Ranch
Read Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com
Read this entire feature FREE with photos at:
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/cabinweb/ranches/colorado/rawah/rawah.html

“What happens at a dude ranch?”, he asked the clerk who was helping Bob buy new cowboy boots. She said that her husband had been a wrangler a horse handler at a dude ranch for years. We were at Big R. in my hometown of Greeley, Colorado, just a couple of hours east of the Rawah Guest Ranch. The farm and ranch store, Big R, is something of a local institution. It’s where you take your out-of-town guests to buy cowboy hats and boots. On the other side of the store is all manner of hardware for repairing your Zimmatic irrigation equipment, watering tanks, corrals and fences, and lots of riding mowers and tractors. It’s Home Depot for ranches. Bob strolls around the aisles before setting to the task of boots. Now he is asking the simplest of questions, and one of the slipperiest of answers. What exactly does happen at a dude ranch.

The clerk said: “It’s a resort with horses.” It was a great place to start our exploration.

Rawah Ranch is counter sunk in
the Laramie Range of Colorado.
=
Rawah Ranch (pronounced RAY-wah) is nestled in the Colorado ’s Laramie River valley, adjacent to the Rawah Wilderness, an enormous area of pristine mountains. Named for a Ute word for “abundance,” the wilderness is available to everyone who is on foot or horseback only. Wildlife is all around the ranch. Moose, deer, elk, pronghorn antelope, big horn sheep are in the backyard.

Rawah Ranch hosts a maximum of 32 guests and boasts a high staff-to-guest ratio, with 20 on staff. Our week, we are outnumbered because we arre among only 19 guests. We drop off our luggage in our cabin and change for the pre-dinner reception. With so many boots and hats, it is difficult to distinguish the guests from the staff. We first meet a large man in an apron. He thrusts out a meaty hand and says, “I’m Ray. Welcome! How would you like your steak cooked?” A friendly hello followed by a dinner order. Things arre shaping up quite nicely.

We also meet Nick, who is a wrangler and had worked the previous year at Rawah on the grounds crew. Equally welcoming is Ben, the head wrangler who orchestrates our rides for the week. Pretty quickly, we meet all the staff and our fellow guests. If we had been the least bit nervous about spending a week with a bunch of strangers, we quickly realize that we aren’t going to be strangers for long.

At 6:30 the dinner bell rings as it will for breakfast, lunch, and dinner throughout the week. We sit at the table with one family from Massachusetts, who are returning for their third vacation at the Rawah Ranch. Kathy and Steve brought their two sons, Jeremiah and Josh, who are both in their early twenties. It makes me wonder, when was the last family vacation I took with my parents and siblings? I couldn’t remember.

“We like it because it’s not all tarted up,” Kathy said. “It’s the closest to the real thing that you can get.” Rawah Ranch offers something that almost no other guest ranch offers: custom rides every day. At many ranches, the rides are prescribed. Thursday might be the all-day ride day. Not at Rawah. Each morning and afternoon, we have the choice of two half day rides, a full-day ride, or a riding lesson. Then we tell Ben what type of scenery we want to see, and he recommends a particular ride. Often there are multiple full-day rides going to different places. And of course, we always have the option of not going. We try to do it all!

What about the steaks? They are cooked to perfection and served outdoors on the back picnic tables along with potato salad, rolls, salads. The Laramie River gurgles happily in the background. We chat with the other guests: Steve and Sheri are from southern California; Cathy and Steve, and their children, Matt and Kristen are from Pennsylvania, as well as Sue and Cindy from a nearby Pennsylvania town; and Pat and Jon and their children, William, Nicole, and Chris, who turns out to be the charmer of the group. I was the closest thing to a local, having grown up nearby and hiked and camped in these mountains as a kid.

Just before we turn in for the evening, one of the kitchen folks asks if we’d like coffee and cocoa delivered to our room in the morning before breakfast. Now that’s about as civilized as it gets.

Every morning, Pete’s daughter, Kristin, and Ray, cook a hot breakfast to order. You can go all-cowboy and get eggs, bacon, sausage, toast, along with cold fruit, cereal, juice, coffee and tea. And each morning features a different special of the house breakfast burritos, chorizo (a Mexican sausage), Eggs Rawah, omlets, and so on. By about the third day, we realize we can not eat everything they have to offer, and slow down considerably on the beefy breakfasts. It is already too late. We have each gained at least 10 delightful pounds.

After eating at the main lodge, we gather at the stables to get a refresher course on horsemanship basics. My one and only riding lesson was when I was 11 at Girl Scout camp, so I am happy to be reminded of how to walk around a 1,200 lb animal and how these particular horses like to be handled. We all are assigned a horse for the week. Jasper is my horse, a reddish Appaloosa, who had been Pete’s horse when he rode more often. A few years back, Jasper lost an eye to cancer. The wranglers worked with him, and he returned to regular service. Universally, the wranglers thought he is among the best horses at the ranch.

We go for a short meadow ride where we see two huge moose lying in the field. Moose can easily weigh more than a ton and stand more than eight feet high. We arre awed and reminded that we are 60 miles from the nearest town, out in the wilds of northwestern Colorado. A wave of respect and humility moves through the group.

Lunches are the most casual of the three meals. A buffet of soups, sandwiches and salads are placed on a sideboard and we tend to ourselves. For those who have gone on an all day ride, a cold lunch buffet appears after breakfast where we make our lunches for long days.

After lunch, we ride out to the Lily Pond, an easy afternoon hike as well. We are reward with peaceful surroundings, and a stunning view of the Laramie River Valley. We return around 4 p.m., giving us plenty of time to soak our city-slicker behinds in the hot tub, catch a quick nap, and dress for appetizers and conversation at 5:30 p.m. The dinner bell rings at 6:30, and we line the tables in the Main Lodge for a family-style dinner. Pete tells us that the ranch has arranged top-flight entertainment for the following evenings, and we should enjoy Monday evening, as it is our only evening free.

We collapse into our king-sized bed with crisp white sheets and slept like the out-of-shape cowboy wannabees that we are.

I can’t tell you how wonderful it is to never be on a nose-to-tail ride the entire week. Our riding groups are usually 4-8 people, just enough to have wonderful conversation, but not too crowded. Every day we ride with different guests and wranglers, and get to know everyone. There is never any pressure to ride or do anything at all, so Bob takes the morning off, and I ride the Skyline Ride. What amazing views of the valley, the 240 acres the ranch owns and the millions of acres of the Rawah Wilderness, and Roosevelt National Forest . A well-maintained dirt road leads to the ranch, making access easy in any type of car.

All week, we encounter absolutely bizarre weather for August in Colorado frequent daily showers. On a typical Colorado day, you get a 20-minute shower, a thunder and lightning storm around 4 p.m. But we have spring like rains all week. At a time when everything should be brown and readying for autumn, crazy mountain flowers are still blooming all over the place and grassy meadows ache in green. It is wonderful, and worth all the ponchos, soaking hats and gloves and mud.

When we discover at lunch that one of our riding options is to skip a trail ride and get a riding lesson, we leap at the chance. Another wrangler, Annie, shows me the correct way to ride when the horse is trotting, something called “posting.” It turns out that in my one riding lesson, oh so many years ago, I had learned incorrectly. She is such an incredibly talented teacher, and she gives us simple pointers that make the rest of the week go much more smoothly. I highly recommend taking a lesson ride early in the week.

It’s Wednesday: We Must Be Rafting!

Read this entire feature FREE with photos at:
http://www.jetsettersmagazine.com/archive/jetezine/cabinweb/ranches/colorado/rawah/rawah.html

By Cymber Quinn, Hawaii Correspondent, Jetsetters Magazine at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

About the Author

Cymber Quinn - Jetsetters Magazine Correspondent. Join the Travel Writers Network in the logo at www.jetsettersmagazine.com

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