30 - Sunday, September 4, 1988 - North Shore News AFRICAN SAFARI SOME PEOPLE (like me) only look at mountains. Other people get out there and climb them. Mountain climbers aren’t your average travellers. They seem to rejoice in discom- fort — 1 just received a postcard from a British friend of mine, ‘tyvacationing”’ in Switzerland. It was a picture of the most God-forsaken tin hut and the message was this was where ‘‘I spent last night.”’ Yetch! Another climber, Gibson’s teacher Jan Thomson, just return- ed from climbing Africa’s Mount Kilimanjaro and managed to be one of the two-out-of-10 climbers that made it all the way to the top. He admitted that by the time he got there he was so disoriented with altitude sickness that he forgot to leave the two mementos that he’d brought along — a Ca- nadian flag and penny — but he did manage to sign his name in the book. Ian spent 35 days in Africa, nine dealing with Kiliinanjaro and the rest of the time on safari and visiting a tea plantation at Turtle Bay (Malindi), north of Mom- bassa. How does one go about arrang- ing this type of expedition? For Starters, save up between $7,000 and $8,000. One of the least expensive aspects of the trip was the Kilimanjaro part: $1,200 covered four days in the hotel at the base plus all the guides, porters and provisions required for five days going uphill and downhill. The airfare to Nairobi was roughly $2,000 and he included $500 worth of film. The next step is to find a travel agent with special knowledge of Africa. lan dealt with Dale Forbes of Forbes Travel International (80- 200 Granville St.) and was im- pressed with his expertise. The base hotel, the Kibo, is the first stage of the climb. Visitors spend two days there before the start uphill, learning about the mountain and getting the team or- ganized. Ian and his friend teamed up with a couple of Americans and a Japanese. The hotel is old and charming and can come up with some wonderful meals — especially if they’re expecting Jimmy Carter for dinner, as they were when [an was there. Ian got to chat with the ex- president and Rosalynn on several occasions as well as their huge se- curity team. This included two “Rambo” types in unique outfits, The climb is hard. It’s done in Stages —- three days up and two days back. Many climbers fall out at the stops (4/10 make it to the semi- top; 2/10 to the actual top). And it’s cold up there! lan wore PP? TDR cee MAIR VENT UNG S31 AY ome terra Pi ge asuarn aie Att) manne JAMAIC sree GQ OU | 986-1377. | | 110 E. 14th St. N. Van. f heavy jacket, toque and layers of long-johns, and mitts — sweaters. The only gear required is a walk- ing stick — ‘“‘I’d never used one . before, but it was essential -— it travel wise Barbara McCreadie literally propped me up on the last part of the climb.” These are available at the hotel and also as the climbers reach the tough part. Warnings are posted to any potential climbers with heart disease or conditions like diabetes to which altitude could be fatal. Exotic Thal ib the heights of Children under 10 are not allowed beyond 9,000 feet. Oxygen is not carried or available on the mountain. Aside from the normal tips one gives the guides and porters, Ian tells me that old clothes and ball- point pens are prized as gifts. One climber brought a selection of old Elvis Presley T-shirts and was the most popular guy in town. The clothes can also be used to barter in the market for souvenirs. As for Africa, itself, I asked lan, ‘‘Did you feel threatened in any way?” The reply was a definite nega- tive. The only thing that teed him off was the communication system -~ telephones work — sometimes. Telegrams arrive —- much later. ““Disorganized’’ was a term he us- ed to sum the whole thing up. So, if you’re into mountain climbing and want all the associated discomforts of cold and altitude sickness, start saving your money. You may meet Jimmy Carter up there — but don’t look for me! ake Now, more about travel —- but the opposite end of the stick. Just talked to an old friend, Ross Ireland, who, when I first started writing travel columns, gave me some invaluable assistance. At that time he was doing public relations work for Western Airlines. Then he moved to Nor- thwest (Orient -— used to be) and earned Golden places and smiling faces — a perfect vacation EXCITING! FASCINATING! BEAUTIFUL! INEXPENSIVE! FANTASTIC Foon! Talk to the expert on Thailand to help you plan your perfect vacation or business trip Individual, 2 or 3 Week Tours From 780 Tour Dates: November 26, 1988 & December 27, 1988 Call SUPIN 222-2660 — she's from there!! SIAM PACIFIC VENTURES HASTINGS TRAVEL YOUR TRAVEL CENTRE WITH “SWISS EFFICIENCY” TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS - WORLDWIDE FOR BUSINESS OR PLEASURE 744 W. HASTINGS VANCOUVER, 8.C. V6C 1A5 * Prompt — cart: 689-0461 Personalized — Multilingual Service VERENA FURRER — Owner — GROUP OF 8 Why are these intrepid Canadians smiling? Is +t because they've made it to China. of is it because theyre or-t6 in to something other travellers arent? Maybe its both! Ah, fo be on the Great Wall - and to be weanng Tilleys! Even I cant be sure how rnany hidden Tilley security pockets and secret pockets there are in this photo. But rest assured that all those Tilley Pants and Jackets have a five-year guarantee. and that the “washing instructions are ‘Give ‘em Hell" Alex Tilley Our mission is to make the best travel and adventure clothing in the world Drop in, Phone or Write Barbara Tilley 1537 West Broadway Vancouver, B.C. V6J 1W6 Hours: Mon-Sat 10-5:30 Ph. 732-4287 or SEA-HATS a i | ended-up in Guam. That's a long way from West Vancouver. Ross told me about a hotel in Palau, an island in Micronesia. In particular, a resort hotel called the Palau Pacific Resort. ‘Barb, I’d send anyone there.’’ Anyone with money, that is. Sheer luxury — Ross compares it with the Regent of Fiji, where I’ve stayed and wanted to stay for- ever. He tells me that the water is so crystalline that it looks as if it’s been dyed. The snorkeling is first class and the fifestyle so laid-back that a guest lives in limbo. There’s no T.V., no radio, no intrusions. If you just happen to be going to Micronesia, give this one a try — it’s part of the same chain that operates Pan Pacific here. * kak Ross, living in Guam, en- countered an animal that has to be unique. Ever heard of ‘‘Boonie Dogs’’? Nope, neither had 1. Boonie Dogs are wild dogs that live in Guam. They hang around in packs, but what makes them unique is that each pack stakes out a claim to a certain block or cul- de-sac, and the residents feed them. They are tame, but you wouldn’t lanjaro want to let them in your house because they’re loaded with fleas. But, that isn’t the story. Helen is. Helen, the Boonie Chicken. I didn’t ask how Ross ended up with a chicken — there are some things we’re better off not know- ing. Anyway, she hatched, motherless (Mom got killed), and the first thing she saw was a pack of Boonie Dogs. You may have heard that fowl imprint the first creature they see as ‘‘mom”’ and pattern themselves after the creature. In Helen’s case, it was a pack of Boonie Dogs. For some reason, the dogs didn’t attack Helen but tolerated her. She became a pack animal. When the dogs barked, she clucked. She did her best to be the best dog in the pack. When the dogs came begging for handouts, Helen would tap at Ross’ window for her share. When a mutual friend of ours came to visit Ross, he told him about the ‘“‘Boonie Chicken’, and the friend looked at him as if he’d been in the sun too long — until Helen and pack came begging. Gerry knows a chicken when he sees one, even if it’s trying to bark. 14 DAY CHINA SPECTACULAR Shanghai — Hangzhou — Seuzhou — Nanjing — Beijing Tour price includes retum airfare, transfers, accommodation, meals & sightseeing. $1905.00/based on dbl. occ. Depart Nov. 7/88, return Nov. 20/88 Min. of 15 registrations to operate 6 NIGHT HONG KONG SHOPPING SPREE Various departure dates available, includes retum airfare, transfers, some sightseeing, breakfast & accommodation. 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