Travel means absorbing culture. On Great GetawayS travels, our goal is to buy local goods (not goods that “look” local but are made in China) and from artisans directly. When traveling in Kenya, we buy jewelry from Gemini Desai, a talented artist who is a friend of the Pinto family, owners of Micato Safaris. In China we use the cultural insight and resources of Nancy Kim and Guy Rubin, Managing Directors of Imperial Tours, to help us make wise purchases that help the local community.  In Turkey, I rely on our friend, Karen, owner of Sea Song tours, and have some lovely baubles to prove I love Turkey.  Today I discovered a site, thanks to an article on The Culture-ist, http://www.thecultureist.com/ that supports local artists in several countries. Before I order one of everything, I thought I’d share the site with you.
http://www.ravenandlily.com/

I have my eye on the gold and khaki t-shirt and a couple of necklaces (made of recycled shell casings). Check out the site and tell me what you put on your wish list!

Share your travel dreams with us!

Want to share your dreams and get paid for it? Me too! I’ve heard of people paying a therapist to share dreams but not getting paid for these idyllic moments! Here’s your opportunity:

Enter the 2013 Virtuoso Travel Dreams Survey by March 31, 2013. You will be automatically entered into a drawing for a luxury Crystal cruise in the Baltic or possibly one of 5 $1000 prizes. How cool is that? Last year one of Great Getaways Travel’s clients, Mr and Mrs Sparks, won the grand prize! Maybe this year we’ll be wishing you “Bon Voyage!”

Dream and be entered to win a luxe cruise!

Dennis Pinto, Managing Director Micato Safaris

Dennis Pinto is the Managing Director of Micato Safaris. Eleven years ago I became friends with a person I consider to be an uber businessperson and marketer. How do I describe Dennis Pinto? Words like incredible, untiring, inspiring, forward-thinking, and creative come to mind and I fear that if I go on, you’ll think I’m just looking up words in a thesaurus, which I am not…yet!
Dennis Pinto’s family, headed by patriarch Felix and matriarch Jane (an award-winning table tennis champ as well as a visionary) own Micato Safaris, the # 1 safari operator in the world, per Travel + Leisure and per the myriad of happy travelers who have experienced the Micato Safaris difference. I’ve blogged before about Micato Safaris,  http://www.greatgetaways.travel/2010/10/before-we-say-farewell, extolling their many virtues. This time Dennis Pinto did something that left me speechless (not easy to do, either!).

Ladies and Gentlemen, this is Flight Attendant Dennis!

On September 23, 2012 Great Getaways Travel held a party and fundraiser to celebrate our 20 years of crafting memorable vacations. To raise money for children’s charities we auctioned off vacations, artwork, clothing, jewelry and services and I’m pleased to share we raised almost $44,000.00! Micato Safaris was one of our major sponsors and was beautifully represented by Sales Director, Patti Voras. Micato also donated a 5 night safari in Kenya to our auction, which, of course, helped us reach the impressive five-figure amount raised.  We raised money for 4 charities, one of which was begun by Micato Safaris, AmericaShare.org, helping children in East Africa. Micato pays ALL administrative costs of AmericaShare.org so all monies go directly to assisting the kids.

How to make Barbara speechless!

A couple of days after the event a florist delivery person came to our office, carrying a magnificent bouquet of roses, lilies, and orchids.  I hoped they were for me—they were—and before opening the card, I just knew my husband, Michael, had sent the flowers….hmmm, that would be a “no.” Ripping open the card, I read, “Congratulations of having such a successful event. Warmest, Dennis Pinto”

Okay, this is the man whose company leaves thoughtful gifts in hotels (the family photo of us, which sat on the nightstand of our room at the Norfolk in Nairobi), gives us candy on the short bush flights, sends us clever “survival kits” prior to our Virtuoso Travel Week, and even sends darling stuffed animals  to fill in for us at our office when we attended Virtuoso’s Chairman’s Event in 2010, hosted in Kenya by Micato. Dennis Pinto thinks of everything…and this gift, whose scent radiates through our office, takes the prize! Dennis, it is I who should thank you. You demonstrate how to be a success, how to care about this fragile world, how to make friends wherever you go, and to beautifully share the message of both the  needs and hopes of citizens of Africa. Thank you, Dennis, for being one of my heroes and for helping Great Getaways create memories that our clients tuck in their hearts. As you, your family and your company have given to so many, may your life be filled with everyday miracles.

Here’s the proof!

We had so much fun! Thank you to everyone who attended and to all those who made this evening possible!

When I see AM or am, I envision my alarm clock reminding me to awaken and start my day. This post is about a different A and M: Aqua Expeditions and Micato Safaris. Read on:

If you follow us on Facebook, you may know that 11 of Great Getaways travel advisors are attending Virtuoso Travel Week, held annually in Las Vegas at the Bellagio Hotel. Akin to Fashion Week in Milan or Paris, this is “where it’s at” for the upscale vacation industry. Several companies are announcing new products or new builds this week. We are wined and dined….and wined and dined…and…you get the idea. Last night I enjoyed a Destination Showcase gala with my host, Francesco Galli Zugaro, CEO of Aqua Expeditions, provider of luxury cruises in the Peruvian Amazon.

DRUM ROLL, PLEASE: Aqua Expeditions is building a new ship that will begin sailing on the Mekong River in January, 2014! With a choice 20 cabins, contemporary styling, and gourmet cuisine, this will be “THE HOT PRODUCT” of 2014!

This morning I breakfasted with cats, apes, giraffes, and elephants—well, photos and videos of them, that is. Micato Safaris, rated #1 by Travel+Leisure 9 times, treats select travel advisors to an annual breakfast and Africa update. Each year I leave, Kleenex in hand, with tears of joy streaming down my cheeks and I comment, “This was the best breakfast yet.” This year was no exception! I got to relive the magical Chairman’s Event Safari of 2010, when 100 Virtuoso advisors were treated to a Micato experience in Kenya, including spending time with one of our 2 sponsored children, Salim.
Dennis Pinto, Managing Director of Micato Safaris, shared the updates Micato instituted this year. One new product the Heli-Safari is already on my “Must Experience List”!
Following Dennis’s speech, we heard a squeal of joy and witnessed children in bright costumes dancing their way to the stage. Yes, once again, we were serenaded by the African Children’s Choir! They sang songs of love, loyalty, faith, hope and unity. When they exited, there was not a dry eye in the house!
Thank you, Micato, for helping so many people experience Africa and for giving back to the countries of Africa so they can experience hope, joy, education and a bright future!
We love you, Micato, and look forward to sharing our 20th Anniversary Celebration and Fundraiser with you!
Here’s a snippet of the African Children’s Choir singing:

Patrick Ungugo, Safari Director for Micato Safaris, with Barbara and Lauren King at an airstrip in Tanzania, July, 2005

Last Friday when he was planning someone’s safari to Tanzania, Michael King called the New York office of Micato Safaris, voted World’s Best Tour Operator and Safari Outfitter 8 years in a row by readers of Travel + Leisure. Michael and Diana, one of Micato’s top safari planners, discussed various options, each offering their opinions on which lodge would be the best fit for Michael’s client. During this collaborative effort, Michael requested that Patrick Ungugo, Head of Micato’s Safari Directors, escort his client on the safari. “After all, I want the best possible Safari Director and you can’t get any better than Patrick,” Michael declared.

For a moment, Diana was silent, then cleared her throat. “Michael, I’m so sorry to tell you, Patrick died a few days ago…a massive stroke.” 

Michael was stunned, finished his conversation with Diana, and then shared the sad news with me. Michael and I first met Patrick in 2004 when the Kenya Tourism Board and Micato Safaris hosted a safari for a group of US travel advisors. Patrick was warm, friendly, and jovial, a walking field guide to all flora and fauna we saw! So, when we returned to Kenya with our children in 2005, we requested Patrick as our Safari Director. He was an expert in his craft, regaling us with stories, drawing both Josh and Lauren into conversations and away from their iPods. In October, 2010, we saw Patrick again, this time in his new position as the Head of the Micato Safari Directors. He helped orchestrate a very successful Virtuoso Chairman’s Safari for top producers. When we approached him, Patrick remembered us and asked us how our kids are doing. Of course, we had to show him the latest photos on our phone of our kids with their kids and he gushed appropriately! 

When I thought about what to say about Patrick, I thought of many anecdotes—his joke about the cheetah cub perched on the hood of the Land Rover next to ours, “You may drive Jaguars–here we drive Cheetahs”, his loving description of the Masai people we visited, his leading the other Safari Directors in a joyous round of “Jambo, Jambo Bwana”, a popular Kenyan folk song, last October—but Patrick was so much more than that. In addition to being a devoted husband, a loving father, a trusted and valued employee, a man who never knew a stranger, Patrick was a good man, truly a good man. And, after all is said and done, what finer tribute can be said than that? Thank you, Patrick, for gracing our lives and for sharing your love of Kenya with us. Rest in peace, dear friend, as we will always carry you in our hearts. 

In 2 weeks Barbara and Michael King will head to southern Africa to do what they love, go on safari! This time, accompanied by some of Great Getaways clients, the Kings of Travel will visit Botswana, Zambia and South Africa. A strong believer in rough luxe, Barbara quipped, “Who knew a city girl would LOVE adventure vacations? Of course, this isn’t the down-and-dirty back to nature adventure Michael enjoys—mountain biking across the Rockies, rafting the Futuleufu River in Chile. I want a hot shower, great food, and comfy bed on my adventures!”

When asked about his favorite moments on safari, Michael responded, ” I think I love the vistas-no, wait, the animals, definitely the animals—and the people! I can’t choose! Safaris appeal to all my senses and I find them very spiritual, as well.”

If an African safari is on your radar screen, consider joining us in June, 2012, when we will explore another favorite country, Tanzania and we will experience the beginning of the annual wildebeest migration! For the itinerary for that experience, contact Michael@greatgetaways.travel or 800 546 TRIP (8747).

 

 

Posted via email from Travelingking