Talking Travel-The Magazine Autumn 2013

Destination Knowledge that impacts Revenue Generation In this Issue... ·Habarana, Sri Lanka ·Guatapé, Colombia ·Culinary Bliss ·Havana, Cuba ·Mayan Riviera, Mexico Volume One, Number Two Autumn, 2013

Eyes that Travel, See Greetings from Steve Gillick, the Publisher Page 2 Talking About Travel Destinations Habarana Highlights… Page 3 The Rock with the Best View in the World One Amazing Day in Guatapé Page 8 Munching your Way to Happiness Attaining Culinary Bliss Page 11 Picture Perfect Cuba Sunday in Havana, with Steve Page 16 Picture This… Cancun and the Mayan Riviera Page 20 Cover Photo: Following the cenote in Xcaret Park in the Mayan Riviera, you never know who you might bump into Talking Travel specializes in Conference Keynotes, Destination Master Classes, Skill Development and Training, Niche Markets and Lifestyle Programs, Agency and Company Coaching and Travel Writing Contact [email protected] to discuss your training needs.

Eyes that Travel, See close our eyes and imagine what it was like to visit th Quebec City or Boston in the 17 Century. According to our expression, we use the word ‘eyes’ figuratively to mean the senses, and in travel it is important to use all 8 senses to get the most out of the experience: There are 5 ‘standard’ senses: Seeing (or imagining), feeling, hearing, th tasting and smelling. The 6 sense is just that— th “the 6 sense”. This is that tingling sensation you get when perhaps a situation is not as safe as you’d like it to be, or you’re unsure of a decision to do something. If you really don’t feel comfortable bungy jumping and your friends are pressuring you th to do it, then your 6 sense may tell you to walk Greetings and welcome to the Autumn, 2013 issue away. of Talking Travel, The Magazine. th The 7 sense is very valuable to bring along when Years ago I was a tour operator. Part of my you travel—as a tour guide, a consumer, a travel responsibility was to hire a contingent of fifty agent or a supplier. That is, the Sense of Humour. seasonal guides to work the seven week season of It is also the strongest armour to fight against your educational tours heading from Toronto to Ottawa, expectations for North American services, hours, Montreal, Quebec City, Washington, Boston and behaviour, food, customs and protocols—and those New York. As part of their training, we would take that exist in the country –in which you are a guest. them to the company retreat in Creemore, Ontario It’s sad to see some tourists spending most of their and not only give them an introduction to the world time complaining or railing against the customs of of tour guiding, but also impart our own philosophy the country to which they have travelled; while on the value of travel and the role of a tour guide in other tourists take it in stride and appreciate the enhancing this value. difference between their routine and a different way of life at the destination. One of the expressions we would discuss was the th expression “Eyes that travel, See” and we would And the 8 sense is a sense of accomplishment, have the guides discuss the meaning of this. To over-coming challenges, feeling assertive and good some, the meaning was surface-simple: people about yourself. It is the sense of ‘self fulfillment’. who travel and keep their eyes and their minds And certainly, this is what every travel strives to open to new destinations, people, cultures, capture in a travel experience. This is the ‘value’ traditions, history, food, and the natural that makes travel so addictive. environment are able to appreciate, learn and understand. They become messengers of the importance of travel. But for others, there was a more subliminal meaning to the expression. And that was from an educational point of view, we were not looking for what we refer to as standard corporate tour Talking Travel: The Magazine is owned, written and published guides—you know—the ones who sit at the front of by Steve Gillick, Talking Travel. All Rights Reserved. Protected the bus with their back to the participants, and read by International and Canadian Copyright Law. Talking Travel: The Magazine can be shared, forwarded, cut and pasted but from a pre-prepared book. These people really not sold, resold or in any way monetized. Permission is have—or show—no relationship with the eager required to use any images Talking Travel: The Magazine. travellers in their care, or with the cherished destinations that they visit. We weren’t looking for Talking Travel 500 Duplex Avenue Suite 2210, Toronto, ON Canada M4R 1V6 the “on your left…. on your right…” type guides. We were looking for the “Let’s get off the bus— Note: Steve Gillick and Talking Travel are not responsible for everyone look up at the roof..” or “everyone touch outcomes based on how the ideas presented in this Magazine the stones of this building and tell me why they are are interpreted or used. Guest articles are solely the opinions of the guest writer and not Steve Gillick or Talking Travel. so different than anything you are used to” or “Let’s



The greeting committee as we enter Dambulla. I first visited Sri Lanka in 2005. When I returned in 2011, I found that it was still a wonderful experience of smiling people, culture, history, tastes, smells, sights and discovery. While every one of my seven days in the country was packed with experiences and activities, the two days in Habarana were possibly the most impressive. Habarana lies in the centre of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle where a number of fascinating attractions can be reached by car, usually within an hour, including Anuradhapura, Polonnaruwa, Sigiriya, Dambulla and Minneriya National Park. While we did not see Anuradhapura on this trip, we explored the other sites—each being an adventure unto itself. On the journey from Colombo to Habarana, we spent time at the Pinnawala elephant orphanage. For me it was a return visit but one of the highlights of any trip to Sri Lanka. Have you ever bottle fed an elephant? or walked up to a mother guarding her baby and had a spiritual one-on-one with nature? Have you ever wanted to play National Geographic nature photographer and snap away at elephants walking a few feet in front of you as they make their way to bathe in the river?

And there you are, watching the elephants cavorting and playing and showing obvious happiness as they socialize in their family groups or receive their daily rub-down from the mahouts. And as if this was not enough, a day later we hopped into jeeps in Minneriya National Wildlife Park to watch the elephant herds, see the mother and aunts standing over their sleeping two-week old babies, admire the soaring eagles and strutting peacocks and get a sense of adventure and involvement with nature that one does not always associate with a trip to Sri Lanka. Our base in Habarana was the Cinnamon Lodge. Each person enjoyed their own ½ bungalow on the large treed property, bordering a river with some eye-opening surprises: monkey troops patrolling the treetops, a variety of birds visiting the mangroves off shore, and the occasional mongoose poking around the dining hall in search of scraps. It was like living in a park—but with our own house! And we had the opportunity to check out the nearby and uniquely architecturally-designed Heritance Kandalama hotel with its distant views of Kandy and Sigiriya, as well as the Vil Uyana Villas, where you can actually walk to Sigiriya from your luxury private accommodation in about an hour. The Golden Temple sits at the base of Dambulla. From here it’s a climb to the top to see hundred s of statues of Kings and the Buddha

Sigiriya is a UNESCO Heritage Site that features water gardens, frescoes, an ancient mirror wall and the huge carved paws of a lion which supposedly formed the base leading to a lion’s head carved in the rock. The ascent to the top of the rock was through the paws and then through the lion’s mouth. This is a walkers'/hikers' paradise, taking you up the 1000+ stairs that lead to the highest level, past the frescoes of Apsaras (celestial nymphs), descending down a winding staircase, and then climbing climb up, up, up. The story of Sigiriya has a few different versions, but each one involves murder, deception and sibling rivalry…the stuff that makes for great myths, legends and history! Dambulla, also a UNESCO Heritage Site is a bit of an uphill climb but the caves are worth the huffing and puffing. Five caves are filled with over 150 images of the Buddha as well as some kings of days gone by. Strolling through and reflecting on the peaceful gaze of the Buddha’s can be a soul-soothing exercise, especially if you can wait out the bus groups and try to be alone, in silence and contemplation. And there is more in Habarana. You can tour the spice gardens and learn about ayurvedic medicinal plants (and enjoy a massage while you’re at it). At the Primate Research camp you can learn about the indigenous monkeys as well as how to differentiate between the grey Hanuman Langur from the Toque Macaque. (Either way don’t get too close or you will lose your glasses or hat or camera) And again, Habarana is only one area of Sri Lanka. On our trip we spent time in Colombo, Kandy and Bentota Beach, each of which was a feast for curiosity and an opportunity for conversations with Sri Lankans to learn about their lifestyle and share experiences. In fact everywhere we went we heard the Sinhalese greeting of “Ayubowan”—that translates as ‘May you live longer and be healthy’. Time to add Sri Lanka to that long list of ‘must-sees” Birding at Cinnamon Lodge Reclining Buddha at Polonnaruwa Elephants cavorting at Minneriya National Park Frescoes of Apsaras-Celestial Nymphs, Sigiriya The Dambulla Caves Monkey Patrol at Cinnamon Lodge

In order to ascend fabled Sigiriya, you have to pass through the two giant lion paws

One Amazing Day in Guatapé, Colombia .. The town of Guatapé lies about 2 hours The views are absolutely amazing on the way northeast of Medellin in the central area of up—and then fully rewarding from the top Colombia. We took a subway to the Northern platforms. Crystal blue lakes interspersed Bus Terminal and then a bus to Guatapé. As between mountains. It’s breathtaking, both most people got off at La Piedra del Peñol (the literally and figuratively. No wonder they call it Rock of Guatapé), we did too. A group of taxis The Rock with the Best Views in the World! greeted us with warnings that the walk up the steep hill to The Rock was too far and too tiring, Afterward, we took a tuk-tuk (motorcycle taxi) to but after the bus ride, we needed some fresh the town of Guatapé, about 15 minutes away. air, scenery to photograph and exercise. In fact We had a delicious ‘bandeja paisa’ lunch at La the walk was about 30 minutes—so not too bad Fogata; generous portions of fish, beans, at all. And the closer you get the The Rock, the potatoes, bread and salad—with Club Colombia more amazing the scenery. We paid our beer, of course, and then set out to explore the admission of roughly $10.00 per person, read colourful buildings in the town. Hundreds of the health warnings about climbing the 650 photos later, we caught the local bus back to stairs (and then there are another 100 stairs if Medellin. What an amazing day! you want to go to the very top observation area), and began our ascent…slowly. L: The steep Stairs ascending The Rock Top R: The beautiful scenery from the top Bottom R: La Fogata- great for lunch along the waterfront