The Savvy Tourist

Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary

 

Deep in the jungle of Thailand lies a magical place filled with love, compassion, and a special understanding for the survival of elephants. Boon Lott's Elephant Sanctuary, or "BLES" for simplicity sake, provides a safe haven for elephants to live out their days in their natural environment. Elephants can come from many different situations in need of a new home. Some of the elephants at the sanctuary have been retired from their work with local villagers, some may have been used to amuse tourists for tips. Sadly though, many have been rescued from being abused and overworked. All the elephants from BLES have been given a second chance no matter what their story.

 

The amazing (and probably a little crazy) person responsible for saving the lives of these amazing creatures is Katherine Connor. I say crazy because without even meeting her I know she created this place with her heart, knowing full well some of the tasks she takes on are virtually impossible. Regardless, she does it anyway! Katherine, a British expat, started BLES in honor and memory of baby elephant Boon Lott, which means survivor in Thai. You can read about Boon Lott's full story on the BLES website.

 

Like I said earlier, because of her heart, Katherine changed her whole life by moving from Britain to

Thailand to establish a safe haven for elephants. Everything she does for them is possible through the endless fundraising that she does. Katherine also depends on a well working team to assist her. She has recruited and educated many locals to help with the handling of the elephants and the chores at BLES. Elephant handlers are referred to as "mahouts". Mahouts feed and care for the elephants all the while establishing a mutual respect between man and this gentle giant.

 

One of the many ways that Katherine has established to raise funds for BLES is to allow people to come stay on site and learn more about what really goes on while rescuing and caring for elephants. It is what you would call a working vacation for those that are interested. There are no fancy frills or crazy rides. It is not an adventure park. There are three guesthouses, all made from sustainable materials collected from the land. They are located in close proximity so as to enjoy the everyday sounds and the lifestyle of the elephants. Guests will have the opportunity to perform chores and interact directly with the mahouts to learn more about the care of the elephants. They will also be able to interact directly with the elephants. 100% of the funds received go directly to the care of the animals.

I was introduced to BLES by my son after he was approached to assist with a fundraiser for them. The more I read about BLES, the more I knew I needed to go see it for myself. So, I plan to join my son in May of this year and travel to this amazing sanctuary. My son will be recording and producing an audio project involving all the inhabitants of BLES. Meanwhile, I will be doing all I can to get to know all the residents and help in anyway I can. I will be photographing and writing about BLES in hopes of creating even more awareness and raise more funds. 

 

There is so much more to learn about BLES and you can do this by visiting their website and meeting their entire family. Don't be surprised to find out that this sanctuary also rescues cats, dogs, goats, tortoises, and just about any animal that needs a new home and a little extra love.

 

I am setting up a donation widget for anyone that wants to assist us by sponsoring our trip and donating to the BLES fund. We will be paying our own airfare so any money raised here will be given directly to BLES. So bookmark this post and share with your friends. Come back and visit us often to check on our progress. 

                                                                                                                                                                

 

 

Have Service Dog Will Travel

There are new things on the horizon here at The Savvy Tourist. The most exciting of which is that Savvy Annie will soon have a travel partner. Meet Dexter, a.k.a. "The Bug".  Dexter has been my very faithful friend and companion now for about 3 1/2 years. We picked each other out of a line up when he was just 11 days old.

This little guy here is the face that I fell in love with and soon grew up to be by my side no matter where I go. Dexter went through some extensive training so that he would be welcome to accompany me in my travels.  He is a fully trained service dog and has literally broadened my horizons and opened up doors to me that I thought would remain closed forever. Although, Dexter was not the only one doing the learning. Us humans are harder to train than most animals, but together we got through it.

Now, The Bug and I are on a mission to learn about traveling together and how to make that an easier process for our fellow service dogs and their accompanying human counterparts.

So, travel on over to our new sister site, Have Service Dog Will Travel and follow us on our journey to make this world a better place for people that can't travel without their loyal canine companion.

 and The Bug!

 

Learn the Lingo, Beware of Dingos

If you’re heading to Australia for the first time, you’ll be delighted and surprised at some of the turns of phrase and slang terms used. Although essentially the same language as the Old World, Australian English has evolved its very own slang vocabulary, recognized across the world as something distinctly Australian. Many of the words and phrases were brought into the global lexicon via the golden era of Australian soap operas in the 80s and 90s. And they all tell us something about the history of this special country. 

Claimed for the British crown in the 18^th Century, eastern Australia was used by the empire primarily as a penal colony for Irish and British convicts, a practice that went on for 80 years, between 1788-1868. Quite a few Aussie slang words hail from this period, and betray their British origins. ‘Creek’, for example, is on old English word meaning a stream or small river. It has fallen out of use in the UK, and now seems a particularly Australian term. Similarly, ‘paddock’ – still used in England to denote a livestock enclosure – simply means any field in Australia. ‘Bush’ and ‘scrub’ refer to what Brits would call the countryside. And of course ‘mate’ is widely used by Antipodeans, passed down and still used by their English cousins, but never in other English-speaking countries like the US or Scotland. 

The origins of some Aussie phrases are a lot less obvious. ‘Fair dinkum’ is used to mean ‘authentic’ or ‘fair enough’, but its history is disputed. Some people believe that ‘dinkum’ originated during the Australian goldrush of the 1850s, and is derived from ‘ding kam’, a Cantonese expression meaning ‘top gold’. Others cite a redundant English dialect from the East Midlands, where the word meant simply ‘hard work’. Interestingly, since the phrase gained notoriety by being used in Neighbours, its usage is now more a self-parody than an authentic way of speaking – so be sure to say it with a smirk! 

Another well-worn Aussie word is ‘sheila’, the somewhat patronizing word for ‘woman’. It evolved in this very macho culture, probably from the Irish name ‘Sile’. ‘Bludger’, a great word to trip off the tongue, denotes a lazy person, and comes from the now-defunct British slang-term for ‘pimp’.

There y’go mate. Just a few Aussie words to help you blend in. To get yourself down under for a real taste of the Oz language, visit DialAFlight and fly to Australia for less than you might expect.

 

 

Disgruntled Passengers vs. Disgruntled Employees

Has everyone watched the new show this season Pan Am? Although not a documentary, it glorifies the flight attendant (or shall I say stewardess) job in a way that makes the general public think there is actually glory to be found in that job. That may have been true back in the days when dinosaurs roamed the earth, but believe me when I say those days are long gone. If some of you may remember, flying as a passenger back then was also glorified. It was a pleasure and a luxury to fly away somewhere headed on an adventure. Flying was actually part of the adventure. Now, flying is the pain you endure trying to get somewhere that you don't have time to drive to.

When people reflect on the changes that have overcome the airline industry in just the last decade, they forget that those changes have affected the flight crews and the customer service (I use this term loosely) agents too. They have actually had a bigger effect on them if you get down to it, which I am going to do.

People are dreadfully aware these days that the level of customer service (again...lightly) and the way in which flight crews interact with them has changed. While I do not condone rude behavior or a crappy attitude while dealing with customers, I think there are times when our human nature can only take so much.

When a passenger has been delayed, re-routed, charged extra for bags, charged for a soda, squished into a seat 2 sizes too small and kicked in the back by an unruly child, he tends to get a little irritable, and it shows, because someone can only take so much. Well, guess what? The flight crews can only take so much too. Now, I know you think "It's their job, they get paid to put up with this". Guess again. Their job is to get you safely to your destination while doing their job the best way possible with the tools they are given by their employer. These flight crews are also human and can only take so much. They too get delayed, re-routed, and squished into a seat 2 sizes too small, but they have to do it for several flights a day, and they are expected to wait on you, the passenger with a smile and a gracious "I'm sorry" when the aircraft is broken or the weather is bad or the food is cold or the guy sitting next to you smells. They also have to adhere to safety standards and regulations and procedures that the general public doesn't even begin to understand. That is their real job. They just listen to your crap and try to make you comfy while they are taking responsibility for your life while on their flight. No one ever thinks of the "behind the scenes" stuff and the extensive training that all flight crews go through before they have the privilege of babysitting people who become automatically helpless the minute they get on an airplane.

If your flight is cancelled for weather it is because the pilot has been trained to know better than to fly around in dangerous conditions and put your life at risk. Maybe you should thank him or her for that instead of complaining about being late. If your baby stroller and your kitchen sink is taken from you on the jetway and put underneath the plane, again, thank them instead of complaining. Now, if the aircraft experiences turbulence the chance of you being killed by a flying baby stroller have been exponentially decreased. If you are told to put away your laptop upon take-off and landing, shut up and do it. And do it the first time you are asked because the flight crew has much more important things to do than keep re-checking to see if you can perform adult tasks.

Something else that you might not know is that these same flight crews are now doing their jobs with only half the pay they used to get prior to 9/11, without their pension plan that they were hired with, and with no guarantee their job will be there for them tomorrow. So next time you fly somewhere, try to do so with a positive attitude and an appreciation for the people that are working hard to get you where you want to be, safe and sound.

The customer service agents and the flight crews are the ones you see on the front line, but they aren't the ones responsible for the problems you encounter while flying these days. Just like the soldiers on the front line of war, they didn't start the war, they are just doing their jobs. The blame starts at the top.

I can rant when someone pushes my buttons!!

Steve Jobs

He changed the way we interact with the world! He will be missed!

The Golden Bee

Just recently I was treated to a night out at "The Bee" by my favorite USAFA kiddo. I was visiting for the weekend and was informed that we would be going out to celebrate a friend's birthday at The Golden Bee at The Broadmoor in Colorado Springs. Unbeknownst to me, this was some kind of torturist birthday ritual started by our extended host family in Colorado Springs. The highlight of the evening is the massive amounts of beer you can drink in one sitting. Your favorite beer is served in "yards" and "half yards" depending upon your ability to pour it into your mouth without drowning or involving the table next to you. Drinking a yard of ale is actually a famous drinking game in pubs in the UK. I must say after watching several hours of this, it does appear to take some actual skill, although I don't expect to see it as an Olympic event any time soon.

 You can all probably guess how the drinking game ended, so I will tell you a little about "The Bee". The Golden Bee is a 19th century pub that was shipped to the US from London in pieces and later purchased  and reassembled at the request of William Thayer Tutt, Chairman of The Broadmoor. Mr. Tutt was looking to offer an authentic "English Pub" experience for his many guests visiting Colorado Springs so he purchased the pub from an English Ale company known as Whitbread.  Whitbread asked, as part of the purchase agreement, that Mr. Tutt serve their ale. And so he did.

In May of 1961, The Golden Bee opened in the lower section of the International Center of The Broadmoor.  They have since served yards and yards and yards of ale and become a favorite for locals and tourists alike. The Bee isn't just about the drinkin' though. The authentic English Pub food is a great compliment to the atmosphere and libations. That night I had the age old English favorite, Fish and Chips. The fish was very moist and flavorful while being served in what looked like an old newspaper, just the way they did it in merry ol' England. The menu also offered other traditional English fare such as Shepherd's Pie and Bangers and Mash.

 What else could you possibly want from an old English pub besides beer and food? Well, how about a fun time singing along to tunes being played by the piano man? That's right, after dinner you get a chance to sing along with the rest of the crowd from The Golden Bee song book. Luckily there are enough to go around for those of us that don't know all the words. There is tons of fun for the whole family at The Bee, but watch out for the bees buzzing about the room, one might land on you.

Unfortunately, The Bee is not very large in size. It is first come, first served and they do not take reservations. So, get there early or you will be one of those people in the lobby looking in and watching the rest of us having a grand ol' time, pub style!! The Golden Bee is located at 1 Lake Avenue in Colorado Springs, CO.

 

Hurricane Irene

For live time tracking of Hurricane Irene click here!

 

New Restaurant in Town

While out shopping one day, hubby and I decided we wanted to take a break and get some lunch. Of course this is always hubby's evil plan. If we are going out to shop, then we are going out to eat. We were shopping at The Menifee Marketplace in Menifee, CA. when we saw that a new BBQ restaurant was open. Well, I think everyone is always on the lookout for the next best BBQ, even the folks on the Food Network.

The BBQ Trio is located at the far northwest corner of the shopping center over by Starbucks. We walked in and the place was packed. Always a good sign, right?  I never know what I want when it comes to bbq food, but this time it didn't matter. They offer a Slider Sampler where you get one each of pulled pork, beef brisket and bbq chicken, along with a side dish. I chose the red potato salad. I am a very picky potato salad eater but I really loved theirs. It is fresh and has a hint of dill in it.

The only complaint my hubby had was that he needed more bbq sauce on his meal so they gladly gave him a side cup with more sauce. He chose the same sampler entree but instead he chose the baked beans. I am not a big bean eater, but he said they were very good.

After having such an enjoyable experience we tried again for carry out one night. I phoned the order in ahead of time. They asked what time I wanted it ready by and were happy to accommodate. When I arrived I was greeted by name and my order was ready to go. The folks at BBQ Trio are always very friendly and helpful.

The only problem I see in the future is the size of their eating area. They may have to think about expanding soon.

So, if you are looking for some good bbq, look no further. BBQ Trio is a real treat. Remember if you get it to go, ask for some extra sauce.

I wonder if I can get the recipe from them cause it sure is good!

Visit BBQ Trio at

30024 Haun Rd., Suite 150  

 Menifee, CA. 92584

(951) 672-8383

 

Savvy Updates

 
First order of business is tell all my savvy readers that I will be venturing into food and possibly wine in my savvy travel tales. It came to my attention (okay, I know I'm slow) that every time I head off for a new adventure, I usually try to find a great new place to eat (and drink). Sometimes it even seems that my travels actually revolve around all my eating and drinking.

We just had family in town for a week and every day was planned around what and where we were going to eat. That pretty much sealed the deal, so be on the lookout for my savvy adventures with food (and probably wine).

Second order of business is to make sure you check out the latest Orbitz specials and deals in the left sidebar. Great stuff that might make your summer vacation more affordable!

Last...I have updated my Travel Tips page with some wonderful new advice for packing and being safe while traveling.

 

                                                                                                         

Beating the winter blues

There is no real cure for the winter blues except maybe some good ol' fashioned sunshine and warmth, so here are a few suggestions for my savvy readers who might just be buried under a foot of snow for the third or fourth time this year...

How about a Caribbean Cruise?

                                        

 

Or maybe you just want to fly away to somewhere warm and sip tropical drinks on the beach? If so, try one of these great deals...

4th night free and $100 daily credit at Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort on Orbitz.com (exp 3-31-11)!

 

 3rd night free + daily breakfast at Sheraton Maui Resort and Spa on Orbitz.com (exp 3-31-11)!

 

60% off Sandals Grande Riviera Beach & Villa Golf Resort - Luxury All Inclusive on Orbitz.com (exp 3-31-11)!

 

Save 40% at Keauhou Beach Resort on Orbitz.com (exp 3-31-11)!

 

42% off + up to $400 resort coupons at Dreams Puerto Aventuras Resort & Spa at Orbitz! (Exp 2-28-11)

 

Free breakfast, Atlantis Experience pass & $300 savings in Atlantis on Orbitz! (Exp 2-9-11)

 

$300 Instant Savings with Bahamas PROMO CODE 300BAHAMAS4 on Orbitz! (Exp 2-9-11)

 

But for you folks out there that try to get the most out of winter while it is here...

 

Aspen Ski Deal: Stay 4 Nts, get your 5th Nt FREE on Orbitz! (Exp 3-14-11)

 

 Save up to 30% in Vancover on your hotel at Orbitz.com (Exp 5-17-11)

 

Niagara Falls: Save 20% on 2 night stay on Orbitz (Exp 3-31-11)

 

Either way, it is time for a vacation and what better way to use that tax refund money!!!