The ex-Marine (husband, Steve) and Travels With Sheila never tire of visiting the huge country of India. With 28 states and 1.8 billion people, it would be impossible to visit and see everything that India has to offer in one trip. Thanks to the India Consulate in Chicago who recommended a 10-year Tourist Visa a [...]
Travel Tips & Advice on “airlines”
A Long Day (and Night) From Chicago to Dubrovnik, Croatia
July 16th, 2012 
Sheila Simkin Yes, we are sitting in Economy on an afternoon United Airlines flight from Chicago to Frankfurt. I selected exit row seats instead of Economy Plus seating thinking that would give us even more room. And that it did, but, the exit row is right by the toilets. A magnet for other travelers to congregate, stretch and [...]
Posted in Croatia, Featured 
Tags: adventure, airlines, airplanes, Balkans, Croatia Airlines, culture, destination, event, events, food, frankfurt, information, log, Lufthansa lounges, nature, sightseeing, transportation, travel, United Airlines 
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The Bone-Jolting Ride from Dha Hanu Towards Zanskar, Ladakh
June 20th, 2012 Sheila Simkin Driving in Ladakh takes light years to get from place to place. If our driver averaged 12 miles an hour, he was torking along. Out of Dha Hanu by 8:00a through the Aryan Valley, following the Indus River known as the cradle of civilization. Frequent stops to show permits before the slog up and over [...]
What is A Typical Camping Day in Ladakh?
June 19th, 2012 Sheila Simkin Perhaps you’ve never camped before. Don’t laugh. My first camping experience didn’t take place until I was in my 40′s and talk about green. What did I know about outdoor pooping etiquette or anything else for that matter! Daily Camp Routine: Hot water for washing and morning tea/coffee was brought to your tent at an [...]
Posted in Featured, Ladakh Tags: adventure, airlines, culture, destination, event, high altitude, india, Ladakh, log, nature, sightseeing, Skywalker Travel, transportation, travel, trekking, treks, villages, Zanskar No Comments »
Acclimatizing In Super High Leh, Ladakh
June 17th, 2012 Sheila Simkin Gasp, gasp, gasp… Traveling is so easy when flying Business Class on Lufthansa from Chicago to Frankfurt. Recline seats, watch movies, eat, and drink; disembark in Frankfurt and head for a Lufthansa Lounge to spend the next five hours, eat and drink. Board another Lufthansa flight from Frankfurt to Delhi, recline seats, watch movies, eat, [...]
Posted in Featured, Ladakh Tags: adventure, airlines, buddhism, culture, destination, event, high altitude, india, Ladakh, Leh, log, lufthansa, nature, sightseeing, Skywalker Travel, transportation, travel, trekking, treks, villages, Zanskar No Comments »
Zanskar, Ladakh Travel Facts and Information
June 16th, 2012 Sheila Simkin There are only two options for travel into Ladakh. Air or road. If time is of no importance, a person could bicycle or even trek over the extremely high passes if (a big “if”) you have the ability and stamina. Air: It can be difficult to get seats on the few airlines that fly to Ladakh from [...]
How to Plan A Trip to Remote Zanskar in Ladakh, India
June 15th, 2012 Sheila Simkin Air? You’re not going to believe this but we actually purchased Business Class tickets! Options galore before deciding on Lufthansa, Chicago-Frankfurt-Delhi outgoing, returning on a combination of United/Lufthansa flights. Expensive Business Class tickets does have advantages; no groveling for system-wide upgrades; no sleepless nights wondering if free ticket space would be made available. Expensive but [...]
From Bali to Lombok in The Lesser Sundra Islands
April 20th, 2012 Sheila Simkin Lombok, located in the Lessser Sundra Islands, was Island #2. Sparsely populated Sumbawa, Komodo, Rinca and Flores would follow on this, the island route less traveled. Cendana Resort & Spa, Ubud transferred us back to Denpasar International Airport after another hearty breakfast with cheese jaffles instead of banana jaffles (those fritter like yummies). Allow plenty of time [...]
Posted in Featured, Java and Bali, Lombok Tags: adventure, airlines, culture, destination, events, Indonesia, Lesser Sundra Islands, log, Lombok, Mataram, nature, restaurants, sightseeing, transportation, travel No Comments »
What to Do in Ubud? Take A Cooking Class and Eat
April 17th, 2012 Sheila Simkin Have you ever taken a cooking class? What better time than on vacation. ex-Marine and I watched a Bumi Bali class in progress last time and their food looked pretty darn good (they also have a restaurant). Rates are 250,000 IDR ($25 U.S.) a person for a half day class, reserve 24 hours in advance. Bumi [...]
Posted in Featured, Java and Bali Tags: adventure, airlines, Bali, Bumi Bali, cooking, cooking class, culture, destination, event, events, hotels, Indonesia, Kafe Batan Waru, log, nature, restaurants, sightseeing, travel, Ubud No Comments »
Cendana Resort & Spa in Ubud
April 14th, 2012 Sheila Simkin I agonized for weeks before finally selecting the Cendana Resort & Spafor our stay in Ubud. Looked at one hotel, than another; e-mailed back and forth; read reviews; and made myself completely crazy. It came down to Cendana for two reasons: Proximity to Monkey Forest Road in the center of Ubud Village where the majority [...]
Posted in Featured, Java and Bali Tags: accommodations, adventure, airlines, Bali, Cendana Resort & Spa, culture, destination, events, hotels, Indonesia, log, nature, review, sightseeing, travel, Ubud No Comments »
