April 18, 2026 • 54 mins
The Wishing Well's Terrie Dean and Harry Reif journey to some of the world’s most extraordinary wildlife destinations.
This episode explores the magic of nature at its most untamed—from the iconic Galápagos Islands and the legendary safaris of Tanzania and Kenya’s Serengeti, to Alaska’s remote Tutka Bay Lodge and India’s Ranthambhore National Park, home to majestic tigers. We continue south to Antarctica’s icy wilderness and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, where encounters with silverback gorillas offer one of the planet’s most profound wildlife experiences. Perfect for adventurers, conservation‑minded travelers, and anyone inspired by the raw beauty of the natural world.
Links from this episode:
Singita Sasakwa Lodge
Tutka Bay Lodge
The Oberoi Vanyavilas Wildlife Resort
Singita Kwitonda Lodge
This episode explores the magic of nature at its most untamed—from the iconic Galápagos Islands and the legendary safaris of Tanzania and Kenya’s Serengeti, to Alaska’s remote Tutka Bay Lodge and India’s Ranthambhore National Park, home to majestic tigers. We continue south to Antarctica’s icy wilderness and Rwanda’s Volcanoes National Park, where encounters with silverback gorillas offer one of the planet’s most profound wildlife experiences. Perfect for adventurers, conservation‑minded travelers, and anyone inspired by the raw beauty of the natural world.
Links from this episode:
Singita Sasakwa Lodge
Tutka Bay Lodge
The Oberoi Vanyavilas Wildlife Resort
Singita Kwitonda Lodge
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:00):
This is a Lifeless Ordinary. It's a travel show and
podcasts from your friends at the wishing Well two forty
three f Avenue and Harsmerg and online at the wishing
Well dot biz. The wishing Well is your ultimate luxury
concierge travel agency and A Lifeless Ordinary is a travel
show and podcasts hosted by Terry Dean, bringing her over
forty years of experience in the travel industry to help
(00:20):
guide you to great experiences in your travel, whether it
be around the block, around the country, or around the world.
Let's bring in Terry Dean.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
And say hello, good morning. Now, are you doing well?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Terry and Harry, it's also good to see you also
doing well. Good to see you too, Chris. I love
every Saturday morning this time we get together and this
is the time for us to talk about how our
life is a little less ordinary. That's the name of
the show, A Lifeless Ordinary, and we talk about travel,
most of the time, about luxury travel we do. Sometimes
(00:51):
the travel is luxurious because it's what you are hoping
to do. Sometimes it's luxurious because who this is something
straight out of a Exactly Yeah, this week's gonna be
no different. We're gonna actually, I think our show today
is more about a book title than a movie.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, well not today a movie, didn't they they did, actually,
But today we're gonna be talking about one of my
favorite things in the entire world, and that is the
creatures that we share this planet with and where the
best places are to find them.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Our show today is where the wild things are.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Exactly exactly are.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
We talking about, Harry, Well.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
We probably could come up with a destination.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Hold on, Well, Chris, I want to first of all
say thanks to everybody who joins us here every Saturday.
It's a beautiful day, by the way, and every Saturday,
I think is a wonderful time when we've got listeners
out there that we know because you tell us that
you enjoy this show so much that it means a
(01:54):
lot to you, that you learn a lot from what
we talk about on this show, and I hope today
will be no differ. We are, as you mentioned, going
to be talking about where all of the greatest places
are in the world for us to share some time
with the God's beautiful creatures here on this earth. They
(02:14):
live differently than we do, they act differently than we do,
but Wow, what a great thing to incorporate that into
a vacation plan.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I'm already thinking of places you may may be talking about. Yeah, okay,
I'm thinking safaris. Okay, maybe we'll see Okay, the Colapacos
Islands comes to mind. Absolutely, maybe some whale watching around Alaska.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Those are all at the top of my list, Chris.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
And I'm sure many more.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Many many more. You're exactly right. So there are some
journeys I can tell you that are just beautiful, and then,
like today the things that we're going to be talking about,
there are journeys that make you feel wonderful. And I
think once you get next to some of this wildlife,
(03:01):
you can actually feel profoundly alive. There's just something about
being with those creatures. And it's where the landscape isn't
just scenery, but it's a habitat. It's where they live,
so you're literally in their home, and you are, in
many cases an invited guests. Because these animals are very
(03:24):
welcoming to us. We need to treat that like the
privilege that it is. This is where every sunrise is
going to hold the possibility of seeing something rare, something untamed,
and something unforgettable. So I want to take our listeners
into some of the world's most extraordinary wildlife destinations, places
(03:47):
where nature still leads, where the animal world is still
part of that daily rhythm, and where the experience of
travel can be every bit as luxurious as it is meaningful.
That's what we talk about here. How do we make
all this luxurious? And you know, we've talked Chris many
(04:07):
times before on a Lifeless Ordinary about how luxury is
sort of defined by a lot of different people in
very different ways. For me personally speaking today as well
as professionally, the entire world and the entire landscape of
wildlife is luxury to me because this is really God's
(04:29):
creation at its best. You know, we see the landscape,
we see his creatures, we see all of that together
in a trip, in a vacation, in time away from home,
and to me, that's luxury. We're going to be talking
about the galopakas you mentioned that, the Great Safari landscapes
(04:51):
of East Africa. We're going to talk about that coastal
wilderness of Alaska. So you got my top three right
off the bat, and I know you didn't even see
my notes. Right We're also going to talk about Tiger
Country in India. We're going to talk about the icy
grandeur of the Antarctica, and I have to begin with
(05:11):
I think one of the most remarkable places on Earth,
and that is going to be the Galopicas. That's going
to be segment one. We actually have six segments today
in today's show, and the Galopicas are what I refer
to as wildlife in its purest form. If there is
one destination, really, I think that belongs at the very
(05:33):
top of a wildlife traveler's wish list, it's got to
be the Galopicas. This is not a place where you
just look for wildlife, Chris. This is a place where
wildlife seems to exist all around you. It's actually the
reason you go because you know you're going to have
nice accommodations, probably depending on how you choose to do it,
(05:56):
but that's not why you go. You don't go for
the accommodations and the Galopicas. You go for what you
see and what you are able to experience when you
get there. It's the giant tortoises, it's the sea lions,
it's the blue footed boobies. And by the way, before
you get weird on me with that one. It's a bird.
I know.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Those because I act like a kid most of the
time doesn't mean I'm completely childish.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
When I was ten though, that was one of my favorites.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Oh yeah, I keep going. Those are great and and
for a lot of people who haven't seen it, the
glopicas are fascinating. And they're fascinating because they're located six
hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador, and admittedly that's
an area that not a lot of people have seen it.
I will tell you it's not an area where I
book a lot of people too for starters. But the
(06:51):
galopicas are on the rise, and they are becoming more
and more interesting to people and fascinating, if you will,
so that that's why this is wildlife in its purest form.
The second thing that makes the galopica so fascinating is
again they're fearless wildlife. They've got unique species found nowhere
(07:13):
else in the world, and they have this surreal, living
laboratory landscape. The galopicas offer those up close encounters with
those iconic creatures, and I think this is a destination
where people are going to want to go and make
a bucket list. It used to be Alaska, and we're
(07:37):
going to talk about Alaska today because you're going to
find fascinating wildlife there as well. But I think the
Galopicas are quickly becoming one of the number one destinations
on people's bucket list. And when I say fearless wildlife,
truths be told, that's really no joke because the Galopicas
(07:57):
are kind of isolated. Animals have really developed no instinctive
fear of humans. I think that's beautiful. They allow visitors
to walk really freely among the sea lions there, and
also the Iguanas and the islands are home to a
very diverse group of marine life. Now, despite being on
(08:18):
the equator, there's those unique ocean currents that create a
thriving marine ecosystem where visitors can swim with sharks, they
can with sea turtles and penguins. And I've got clients, Chris,
that will sometimes pay hundreds of dollars just for the
chance to swim with dolphins. This is a whole noother
(08:40):
level of creature excitement. And I do I mean, people
get very excited about the idea of swimming with a dolphin.
You know why, because we don't get to do that here.
It's just not something that we get to enjoy on
a daily basis, and most people never on a vacation.
My daughter, I have a special needs daughter, mentioned her
many times here on a lifeless ordinary, but my daughter's
(09:04):
special needs, and I remember the first vacation that I
ever took her on where swimming with the dolphins was
a possibility, and I did that with her. I was
amazed at how smart and instinctive these creatures are. I
was in the pool and she was as well, with
probably about nine other individuals who had paid for this
(09:26):
opportunity to be there. Instinctively, this dolphin went directly to
my daughter. They knew somehow that she had a need
or a challenge for which they could provide some extra help,
and they just stayed with her as if to say,
(09:48):
we're here and will help you. It was a beautiful moment,
it really was. And anybody, if you're going to the
Galopakas and you have this opportunity to swim with and
experience these creatures like that, take advantage of that. It's
a wonderful experience. And to elaborate more on the unique
species there, I'll just bet you didn't know that forty
(10:11):
percent of the Galopica's plants and animals that are there
are endemic, meaning that they exist only in the Galopicas.
And that's including the world's only ocean foraging marine iguana
and the flightless comorran. And the great part about the
Galopicas is that they still have a collection. They still
(10:32):
are a collection of young islands. They're constantly being shaped
and reshaped, and there's a mix of black lava fields,
white sand beaches, high altitude highlands, and they're still growing.
And that's amazing to me because that means greater and
more opportunities for things to see in the years to come.
(10:54):
And I'll bet you want to know the best time
to go to the Galopicas right, anytime? Yeah, absolutely right.
The Galopicas are a year round destination that kind of
makes it any month is a great time to visit,
but the best time for you is actually going to
depend on the kind of wildlife that you want to see.
So unlike a lot of destinations, the Galopicas don't follow
(11:16):
the typical four season calendar. They actually straddle the equator,
so the islands experience just two seasons. They have the
warm season, which is December to May, and that's when
the skies are a little sunnier and the sea temperatures
are really more inviting for snorkeling. And then you've got
the dry seasons. So those are the only two, and
that dry season is from June to November. That's going
(11:38):
to bring around those cooler, more misty conditions and some
of the best wildlife spectacles of the year. Now every
season and with every month in it, that's going to
bring its own cast of characters in the wildlife species,
from hatching sea turtles, you've got the courting frigatebirds, You've
(12:00):
got migrating whale sharks, and then you've got the penguins
who breed colonies in the galopicas. That would be one
of my major reasons for experiencing the galopakas. I'd want
to go during the season when they're the most prevalent.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
I love that when you say penguins, everyone thinks about
you know, snow. Yeah, they think of Antarctica. Antarctica, yeah, exactly,
and they are at the equator.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
They are, Yeah, so in South America, this is where
you're going to find them. Also, indigenous in the there's
a particular breed of penguins that are indigenous to the Galopicas.
So now one of my favorite ways Chris to experience
this beautiful playground would have to be on Celebrity cruise lines.
(12:49):
You can choose from either a seven night sailing or
they even have ten to sixteen night in depth journeys
that are going to also visit Quito and Lima and
Machu Pichu. And then of course you know the wishing
Well's going to handle every detail for you, so you
can soak up every minute and we can coordinate hotel
stays for you in Quito and your transfers, private flights
(13:12):
and twice daily expeditions led by Galopaka's National Park certified naturalists.
That's all included, and you're even covered with tips, unlimited
Wi Fi. You've got snorkeling gear that they include wetsuits,
and they'll even give you a pair of binoculars. Now
on the new Celebrity Flora that's the ship that does this.
(13:33):
They were built for the galopicas your personal suite attendant.
And by the way, every stateroom on the Celebrity Flora
is a suite they're gonna help you unpack when you arrive.
They're gonna bring you your coffee just the way you
like it. They'll restock your mini bar. They do a
lot of things for you. And these Galapicas islands, though
they might be primitive, your time there is going to
(13:55):
be anything. But these sailings are going to all include
two shore excursions per day, and yes they're included. You
don't have to pay extra for that. Each one of
those is going to be probably an adventure of a lifetime.
And there's an onboard naturalist. They are certified by Galapka's
National Park. They're gonna introduce you to some small group
(14:17):
tours of no more than twelve people at a time.
That's luxury, I'll tell you. When you have exclusivity like that,
that is luxury. Activities are curated by these highly trained
team of experts, and every night you're going to be
briefed on whatever they're going to be doing in the
upcoming adventures in the next days ahead. And here's something
(14:38):
really cool. On the very top deck of the Celebrity
fora you can even join your optional naturalists. Therefore, what
they call the Galopos Glamping trip, where you can participate
in stargazing with them, and you can even wake up
to a chef prepared private breakfast every day if you
(14:59):
want to. And I bring this information to you today
because this is truly, again a unique and exclusive experience.
As a matter of fact, these small yacht celebrity vessels
hold only one hundred passengers. Gris, that's it, And you're
going to experience the difference right away between what it
means to be on a megaship ocean liner and a
(15:21):
vessel of this size. This is it. This is the
vacation you are never going to regret, and it's the
experience that you're going to be telling generations of your
family about again and again and again. And these are
multiple departures throughout the year. Already, the Wishing Well is
booking the Galopolkas into twenty twenty eight. So if you're
(15:42):
interested in that type of an amazing, once in a
lifetime experience, you're going to want to give us a
call because these are waiting to be seen. But they're
getting very popular. As I said, as a matter of fact,
I put them on my list as the number one
destination for that reason. So love that love the idea
(16:04):
that you can still visit and experience wildlife like that
up close and personal, without boundaries, without bars, without you know,
they're not in a zoo. These animals are right out
there in the open. Yeah, that's the best way to
see them. I love that.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Go toward the islands that Darwin toured.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Absolutely, I think that would be a great idea.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
It's a nice backdrop for your photos you take on
the beach.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Yeah, I agree with you.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
All Right, well, you've got me booked on this one.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Okay, good good.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Where's our next location?
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Yep, So segment two, we're headed to East Africa. This
is really the drama of wildlife persona. I think it's
the beauty of the Safari, and nothing compares to a safari.
The Serengetti in Tanzania and the Massimara in Kenya, those
remain two of the world's most iconic wildlife landscapes. This
(16:59):
is where game drives can bring you actually face to
face Chris with elephants, lions, giraffes, zebra and in the
right season, the drama of the Great Migration. Now, if
you don't know what that is, let me give you
just a little reader's digest version of what I'm talking about.
Every year in Africa they experience two things, feast and famine.
(17:23):
And during the Great Migration, that's when that's the rainy time.
That's when the rain season comes, everything greens up, they
have great water supply, and so you have the great
migration of these animals into Africa. You also have it
when the dry season occurs and then they all leave,
(17:43):
and so it's during that time that the serengetti is
the emptiest. And of course that's when the lions also
have the worst drought and they look for food.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
It was interesting, huh, I say, you don't want to
be the food.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
You definitely don't want to be the food. No. I
was actually intrigued. And what made me want to do
this show today is I spent some time watching a
public broadcasting show and it's a series. I've been watching
this series on these lion families that live and exist
(18:20):
in Africa, and this film crew has been following them
for many a year and it's amazing to me. I mean,
I am just so intrigued. And then I watched one
last night on the elephants and how they are being
protected and there's actually a facility there. Now that's providing
(18:43):
protection for these elephants, especially the ones that are found
out in the bush that have been orphaned. And I
love this. I mean, these stories are just precious to me.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
My neighbor and I were standing outside. This is so
random that this conversation happened, and now we're doing a
show on it. Talking about wanting to go on a
safari no kidding, And she said that what she wants
is to stay at the hotel where the giraffes stick
their head in the window and like eat off of
your breakfast place.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Oh yeah, And what I.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Keep thinking about anytime we talk about these sort of
luxury safari getaways. You know, I'm a royal nut. I
love all the hill I know Queen Elizabeth when she
was still Princess Elizabeth was at the tree tops, and
that's where she was when her father died. She was
(19:37):
down in Kenya. I did not know that, and so
she became queen when she was in Kenya. But I
want to go and stay in the treetops and have
the giraffes wander up and say hello in the morning.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
I know. And for those of you just joining us,
by the way, this is a lifeless ordinary. We're here
with you every single Saturday morning at ten o'clock. We
love that you joined, and we love bringing you these stories.
We love talking to you about luxury travel. My business
partner and I, Harry Rich, are happy to join you
here every Saturday. We talk about all things luxury. Today
(20:12):
we're talking about where the wild things are, and we
just completed our conversation about the galop Belcas. We're now
talking about East Africa and I am fascinated with wildlife,
so happy to bring these stories to you. But what
we know about these safaris, Chris, to your point, is
that a safari has a rhythm all its own. I mean,
(20:34):
it's something that once you see it and you watch it,
it does really almost have a beat to it. You
can hear it in the wilderness almost but every morning
when you have that soft light coming through the bush
and just beginning to stir, you can almost read the landscape. Evenings,
(20:55):
or when the sky kind of turns to amber there
and then you realize you spent the Dame and one
of the greatest remaining wildlife theaters on the planet. It's thrilling,
but it's also deeply peaceful. For accommodations there. You mentioned
the tree tops, I would say the other one would
(21:16):
be the Singita Sassaqua Lodge. It's one of those names
that immediately gives you trouble, but it also signals a
very elevated Safari experience. Singita described as a lodge with
panoramic serengetti views that wrapped around Veranda's private infinity pools
(21:38):
at every cottage, and there's an atmosphere that balances grandeur
with stillness. This is not roughing it. This is Safari
wrapped in elegance, and yes, this is luxury. That combination
is exactly why luxury Safari has such power. You can
spend your day tracking wildlife across the plains, and by
(22:01):
evening you're going to find yourself in a beautifully designed
lodge with that great service, You've got wonderful food, private
terrace overlooking that very same wilderness you just explored a
couple of hours earlier. Africa doesn't ask you to choose
between wonder and comfort, and at its best, Chris, it
(22:22):
gives you both. Once you're there, there is everything you
can't unknow about Africa. You spend time in the bush,
you soon realize there are few sites and moments that
can compare to that bond that you've just seen between
a mother elephant and her newborn calf. And in that moment,
(22:42):
a tiny calf only a few weeks old, is unsure
on its feet. It's kind of being guided down a
hill by its mother, something that can be described as ancient,
but it's powerful, it is deeply moving. And what makes
that bond amazing between that mother and the calf so
beautiful is that it's not just instinct. It is emotion.
(23:06):
And we've talked about that here on a Lifeless Ordinary,
how travel transforms you. It takes you into places that
you feel more than you see. And these animals show
the true definition of empathy toward each other, that the
slightest touch means more than we can ever comprehend. A
(23:27):
mother's love is not only patient and protective with among
these elephants, but it's also enduring. She is their teacher,
she's their guardian, she's a safe haven all in one
and in the bush where survival is not always guaranteed
for these animals, the love and tenderness shown by these
animals stands out like a beacon through the trees and
(23:50):
you watch only to see this mother help her calf,
she steers it down the hill. To know that this
is more than just a simple act of guidance. It's
really the reminder of the strength found in gentleness. And
the saying gentle giants is one of the most accurate
ways of really describing these animals. They show pure love,
(24:12):
most powerful in its most powerful form. And I'll tell
you what, in those quiet moments sitting with a herd
of elephants, you know you're not just witnessing wildlife, You're
witnessing devotion. This is a life changing experience. That's why, Chris,
this isn't just another trip, but it's rather an unforgettable
life experience, and that is really why we travel.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
I'm looking at pictures online.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
It's amazing, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
One of the most gorgeous places I've ever seen?
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Yeah? Absolutely, I mean this is and I tried. I
wanted so desperately as I described this East African experience
to people. I wanted my words to almost sound like
paint on a canvas, because it's only important if you're
listening to me, if you get this, if you really
(25:02):
understand what I mean.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Terry, I don't mean this anything but to say, there
is no way you will ever find the words that
will match the beauty of what I'm looking at.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
And I think, sadly, you are absolutely accurate on that, Chris.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
And I'm going to put a link to their website.
It's in the Serengeti National Park. I'll put a link
to it in our podcast. So if you're listening this
morning Live, head to the wishing Well dot biz and
in the up right hand corner you'll find a link
for a Lifeless Ordinary and you can re listen today's
show or just get the link there and just go
(25:38):
look at the pictures.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Man, it's fabulous.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Our show today is where the wild Things are. On
a Lifeless Ordinary. We have got four more locations to
talk about. We'll get to our third location next here
on a Lifeless Ordinary. Why do you recharge your cell phone?
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Maybe because, just like you, it functions much better with
a little revitalization. The wishing Well helps people refresh and revitalize.
Individually designed customize vacation planning. We'll send you anywhere in
the world, plus offer advice on packing, navigating, customs, and more.
Wishes really do come true at the wishing Well visit
us at two forty three and f Avenue call us
(26:14):
at five four zero nine zero eight two three three three,
or on.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
The web at the Wishingwell dot biz. Hey, welcome back
to A Life Less Ordinary. This is the travel show
and podcast from your friends at the wishing Well. You'll
find them on nep Avenue in Harrisonburg. They are online
at the Wishingwell dot biz, which is also where you
can find links to previous episodes of A Lifeless Ordinary
and you can also give them a call at five
(26:38):
four zero nine oh eight twenty three thirty three. I
want to tell you you're going to get lots of phone
calls this afternoon, because this is one of those shows
where you have got everybody picturing what you're describing in
their head and maybe second guessing how they're spending their
life because they haven't experienced one of these six wild locations.
(27:02):
Our show today is called Where the Wild Things Are.
We've talked already about the Galapagos Islands. We've talked about
Safaris and Tanzania and Kenya, and I believe our next
stop would be Alaska, and it's a place.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
That we send a lot of people to, but I'm
going to talk about it through a different lens. A
lot of the work we do in Alaska with clients
is sending them on cruises, and that is absolutely a
fantastic way to visit Alaska in probably the most popular way.
But Alaska is America's wild frontier, and so if you
(27:36):
want remarkable wildlife without having to cross the Atlantic, without
having to travel the distances that's required to visit the
places that Terry's been talking about, Alaska is one of
the most stirring nature experiences anywhere in the world. But
it's also on our side of the world.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
All right, before we get too far into Alaska. Passport
to go to Alaska is Alaska state, it is, but
don't I have to go through Canada to get there.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
If you go through Canada, you will use a passport,
but you don't have to travel to Canada to get
to Alaska. You can fly over Canada and get to Alaska.
If you do a cruise, almost always you will require
a passport because most cruise lines have a stop in Canada.
That's part of the international maritime law. It helps them
keep their costs down. A lot of reasons for it
(28:27):
that we don't have time to go into but you
can avoid passports and visit Alaska most certainly see some
of the most amazing collection of animals there too. You
do see the whales we were talking about, puffins a
little bit over the break, and seals, brown bears, glaciers, fjords,
(28:49):
and immense open spaces. So much of Alaska is open space.
Here in Harrisonburg, we think we have some open space
with our mountains and our parks.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
A little bit more.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
Okay, it's grand, it's raw, it's gloriously uncrowded. A lot
of the people that live in Alaska leave for the winter,
so it's not even you know, a twelve month population
in parts of Alaska, because they come for tourism in
the summertime. But what makes Alaska so compelling to me
(29:24):
is the diversity of experiences you can have there. One day,
you're crazy if you don't take a day or more
out in the water, watching whales, watching seabirds, watching eagles
in nests. Okay, and see the young eagles, you know,
popping their heads out of the nests. And then another
day you may go flying, and flying is the way
(29:45):
to get around in Alaska. I think there are more
airplanes and more pilots than there are licensed drivers in
parts of Alaska for sure, or boating towards the beer
viewing country. It all unfolds against this backdrop of old
growth forest, snow capped peaks, icy water glaciers, and at
(30:06):
light that seems to sharpen every detail. When I was
in Alaska, I had some of the best vision that
I've had in my life. Everything seems so much sharper
because the air is so pure and you can see
for miles and miles and miles as the song goes.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
So, Harry, I like trivia. You mentioned about how few
people live in Alaska, just to give you a comparison,
in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the population density per square
mile is two hundred and twenty people and Alaska per
square mile one point one. It's amazing, isn't it. And
you figure most of them probably a family, so that
(30:47):
shows you it's even less dense when you consider they're
grouping together.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
Yeah, and they're more animals living in Alaska than people.
I bet I didn't check that. I'm a fact checking
that show where the wild things are there you go.
So if you're going to Alaska and you want to
do something different than the traditional cruise, and there are cruises,
and there are many many cruises that fit the lifeless,
ordinary moniker.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
That we have for our show. But if you want
to do it a little differently, try a property like
the Tutka Bay Lodge. It shows how beautifully Alaska can
be done. This lodge sits along the Kakamac Bay near Homer. Okay,
You're way up in Alaska. It's on the edge of
parkland and wilderness. They have guided experiences that they offer
(31:33):
that include bear viewing, wildlife cruises, kayaking, glacier exploration, naturalists
lead to ventures and more. Okay, and even the arrival
you're going to arrive by boat, maybe by floatplane or
regional air connection into Homer. It's part of the story.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
You get to fly and see this from above and
then move down and experience it on the ground. This
is luxury again, the Tutgabay Lodge. This is luxury with
a very different personality, far different than a cruise ship.
Even some of the smaller cruise ships that we have
up there are just you know, under one thousand people,
(32:13):
hundreds of people. This is yet way more personalized. It's
not about the marble lobbies. It's not about the glittering
city lights. It's about thoughtful hospitality in a place of
profound natural beauty. You wonder how they can build these
places and bring everything there and yet make it look
like nothing was ever disturbed. This is a place where
(32:35):
comfort becomes the frame for genuine wilderness immersion. Alaska is
the place nearby that does this so exceptionally well. Chris,
I see you looking at pictures.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
I'm looking at someone getting off of a float plane
and we've got bears in the background, and it looks amazing.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
That's what every young kid does in Alaska is get
their license.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Okay, So I.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
Want to move from Alaska if I can. I'm going
back across the ocean. This time, I'm headed to the
tigers and I'm headed to India. That's the elegance of
tiger country. And we talked about safaris and wildlife. If
you want a wildlife journey with a completely different mood
and texture, I would include India, particularly the rantham Bora
(33:27):
National Park. This is tiger country, and unlike many wildlife experiences,
tiger tracking carries a special tension because there's always that
element of suspense. Tigers can be scary, right, yeah, yeah,
So you're looking for one of the world's most elusive
and at the same time magnificent predators in a landscape,
(33:51):
their landscape, their home that's both wild and steeped very
deeply in history. There's something unforgettable. Tigers are one of
the big five, right when you talk about safaris.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
Well, I was going to ask if there can I
see tigers in the Safari, in the Serengetti, Yes, absolutely, yes, Okay,
but they're at home in India. This is their I
want to call it their native land. I'm not sure
if that's correct, right, habitat. It is their native habitat.
And there's something unforgettable about the setting that I'm talking about.
(34:25):
You're in the forest, you're in the midst of dust,
ancient ruins, quiet anticipation. Then perhaps, if luck is with you,
you're going to get a glimpse of a Bengal tire
tiger moving through that landscape with their unmistakable combination of
grace and power. Think about those two words together, grace
(34:47):
of a ballerina and power of you know, a very
strong gorilla. Okay, but you've got it in this one
animal and even the search becomes part of the luxury
of the experience because it asks you to slow down
and pay attention. You've got to stop looking at your
cell phone. You've got to stop thinking about anything else.
(35:09):
You're out there in the wilderness looking for these elegant
and evasive, elusive creatures. And then you come back to
the Oberi van Ya Villas and it's a wildlife resort.
It's one of the most beautiful safari style resources in India.
Oberoid describes as the combinations as an air conditioned luxury
(35:32):
tent with teak wood floors. Does that fit together? Air
conditioned luxury tent, teak wood floors, opulent bathrooms, private terraces,
and traditional Indian design elements. They are also more elevated
accommodation categories, including tents with private pools. I've never been
(35:52):
in a tent with a private guests. And they're using
the word tent in a different way like maybe a yurt.
Speaker 3 (35:58):
It's yeah, it's it's not what you did in boy Scouts. Okay,
we've got luxury tents. I mean a private pool and
a tent is just something that doesn't fit together in
my brain. And you've got to get online and see.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
It to believe it well. And I'm looking at some
of the animals, not just tigers, right, They've got leopards.
You look for them hanging out in the trees. It
looks like they've got I don't know, it looks like
a black bear, but I know that's not a bear.
That's maybe a wombat or something that might be a wombat.
I can't see what you're looking at, but there's an
(36:36):
elk and other I mean, this is a nature reserve. Yeah,
you are in a wildlife resort. You are in a
nature preserve.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
And when we talk about India, I talk about tigers
because that's what people think about when they think about India.
They think about Bengal tigers. But the contrast that I'm
talking about, it's what makes India so compelling.
Speaker 1 (36:59):
It's a day. It starts.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
You start your day in the jungle looking for tigers,
but you finish your day with one of my favorite
things to do, fine dining, some soft lamplight, a tentive service,
and a sense that if you're there with that special person,
a sense of romance that is entirely its own. How
romantic is it to finish a day, looking at tigers,
(37:22):
looking at wildlife, experiencing everything there is to experience there
with that special person at your side, wild wildlife travel here,
it's like being in a movie.
Speaker 1 (37:33):
It's cinematic, but it's also deeply cultured, because that's part
of India, is the culture and the tradition. So this
would not be a place you'd want to go if
you if you're weak of heart. These things are tense.
They're sort of like a yurt. Now they're a tent.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
They are a tent, but they also have, you know,
people there to make sure you stay safe. Now you
can sleep, and it's their luxury tents, the beautiful. Yeah,
and what Terry said earlier I think is really relevant
to Chris. We are in places where we are in
the animals homes. They're not afraid of people, they're not
(38:12):
threatened by people, they're not hunted in these places, and
so they're not going to become aggressive unnecessarily.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
Something someone that may have been the conversation I was
having with my neighbor about safaris. It is important to
remember that when you go on a safari, the animals
aren't being exploited. You are helping preserve their habitat.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
You really are because every dollar you spend, and in
so far as your vacation or what you spend while
you're there, that goes back into the conservancy of these
animals and their protection, which is exactly what we want
to do. I mean, the truth of the matter is,
sadly a lot of these animals' existence is being threatened. Yeah,
(38:59):
and it's being threatened because of man. It's only right
that because of man they should be able to be restored.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
And when we talk about this kind of vacation, we're
talking about what they call eco tourism. We're not on
a hunting safaris, oh gosh, No, We're on an observation safari.
And as Terry said, part of what you pay for
that experience goes directly to supporting and preserving those things,
(39:28):
those amazing things that you are looking at in all
of these places, not just India, but goes toward preserving
that so someone else can come and do that later on,
your kids, your grandkids and their grandkids too.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
So our show is entitled Where the Wild Things Are
and we have hit four locations now a review. We
went to the safaris of Tanzania and Kenya. The Glombicos
Islands to see animals that are unique to the Glopicos
because of the how closed off the islands are, so.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
They they're isolated, they don't have the.
Speaker 1 (40:05):
Genetic diversity that animals elsewhere have. We've been to Alaska
and we just visited India and we got to discuss
tigers and found out they also have leopards and is
it pronounced caara cow carousel? I'm not sure. It's a
cat that has ears that look like feathers.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
Yeah, I think you're right, cas carousel. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
Yeah, So you're going to bring back photos and memories
that are going to make you very popular for months
as people keep asking you to recount all the stories
of what you experienced.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
Yeah. You know, something just came to my mind as
you were talking about the sustainability and the preservation of
these animals. And part of what I saw even the
other night in the story that I saw is how
brilliantly these folks who run these preserves have worked with
the local name natives to have their buy in to
(41:03):
the preservation of these animals. Because for those of you
all who are listening to us who may not know
a lot about the back end story of some of
these creatures and why they're being threatened. Elephants. Let's take them,
for example, in the Massamar among the Massamar people, they
actually have attacked and even destroyed their crops and or
(41:27):
their animals there on, if they have chickens or whatever,
and so the elephants in many cases, for many of
these folks have been seen as an enemy of the land.
So at these preservation sites they've developed this brilliant kind
of scratch my back, I'll scratch yours sort of existence
(41:49):
with the local people. Let me tell you the story
that they've done. So with these especially these orphaned, little
orphaned elephants, they have to have a rich diet of
milk in order to sustain life. They are near death
usually when they find them and the closest creature to
be able to milk to get that sustaining life fluid
(42:13):
for these elephants comes from the local goats that are
raised by the people here in the bush and so
here at the preservation facilities. They've negotiated to pay the
local people for their goat's milk to help sustain the elephants.
(42:35):
So money goes back in to the local people. They
have a reason for wanting those elephants to be still
alive and to be put back into their own natural
habitat later because they make money off of their sustaining
life with the goats that they raise. So I think
(42:57):
that's a beautiful thing. It goes full circle.
Speaker 3 (42:59):
You know.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
I'm enjoying our conversation today here on a Lifeless Ordinary.
We've got two more locations. Harry just showed me where
they are. I'm excited. I don't want to ruin the surprise.
We'll get back into our destinations of where the wild
things are here on a Lifeless Ordinary. Next, why do
you recharge your cell phone?
Speaker 3 (43:18):
Maybe because, just like you, it functions much better with
a little revitalization. The wishing Well helps people refresh and
revitalize with individually designed, customize vacation planning. We'll send you
anywhere in the world, plus offer advice on packing, navigating, customs,
and more. Wishes really do come true at the Wishing Well.
Visit us at two forty three and a half Avenue,
(43:39):
call us at five four zero nine zero eight two
three three three, or on the.
Speaker 1 (43:43):
Web at the Wishingwell dot biz. Hey, welcome back to
a Lifeless Ordinary Today. Our show is entitled Where the
Wild Things Are, and we are visiting six destinations where
you are going to experience wildlife. If you are as
interested in the conversation as I have been today, you
are going to want to talk to Terry or Harry
(44:05):
as soon as the show is over, and that's easy.
You give them a call five four oh nine oh
eight twenty three thirty three. You can also find them
on the web at the wishing Well dot biz. That's
where you also find past episodes of A Lifeless Ordinary
in the upper right hand corner, and you can also
stop by and see them there on nef Avenue here
in Harrisonburg. All Right, the destinations we've been to so far,
(44:26):
We've been to the Galapagos. We've been to Tanzania and
Kenya for the Safaris. We have been to Alaska, we
have been to India to see the Bengal tigers. And
now we have our final two destinations. And I'm excited
about these as well.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
I am too. This first one, Chris is going to
take us to really the opposite end of the Earth.
There's Antarctica, and this is really kind of a destination
that feels a whole lot less like a trip and
really more like an expedition. Can you imagine I mean,
any of these trips being your vacation, but especially this
(45:06):
one to Antarctica. And I know off air you and
I were talking and this one really fascinates you.
Speaker 1 (45:12):
It does. There's something about the remoteness of it, yep,
the absolute crazy temperatures. I like cold. I know I
wouldn't like it that cold, but there's something about being
able to say you survived the Antarctic temperatures. I want
(45:32):
to go when it's like the coldest oh yeah, oh
summer time.
Speaker 2 (45:36):
It's actually referred to as the last Great White Silence. Yes,
And I think that really kind of sums it up
sort of beautifully.
Speaker 1 (45:44):
Can't you hear the earth crack like the ices? It
moves and stuff.
Speaker 3 (45:50):
It caws, that's what you're talking about, the ice cabin.
You can hear that because it's so quiet. It's so quiet,
And when I think about this, I think about the
folks have recently come back from the moon. Now, this
is why there is life, you know, in Antarctica, but
you got to look for it and that's what makes
it remarkably different.
Speaker 1 (46:07):
But it's that kind of place.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
Chris where there's just a lot of as my grandson
described it, until he said, all the wildlife. There's a
lot of nothing, Grandpa, And then they were penguins.
Speaker 2 (46:20):
Well, this is one of the world's most all inspiring
wildlife frontiers, and this is where travelers can encounter penguin colonies. Again,
we're back with the penguins. I love those guys, you know,
I mean, ever since the movie Happy Feet, who didn't
fall in love with penguins. Yeah, you've got whales there, certainly,
the dramatic ice formations. You've got a level of natural
(46:42):
stillness that very few places on the Earth can match.
I mean, it's there. That white, great silence is only
in Antarctica, and that's what makes it so thrilling and
it's powerful. It's the scale and the purity of it.
You can do landings by zodiac and you've got that
(47:04):
sound of ice and water and suddenly you've got the
appearance of a whale near your boat. So luxury is
all around you when you go to Antarctica. It just
looks a little different than what we ordinarily think of
when we say luxury. You've got these expeditions though, that
(47:25):
can be had and can be experienced through companies like
one of our preferred suppliers, Silver Sea. Now Silver Sea
is really more of the small cruise ship yachts if
you will. They've shaped this experience in a way that
allows travelers to really explore the continent in great comfort
(47:48):
while you still keep the focus of discovery. Because what
we know about Antarctica is that it's humbling in the
best possible way, and you want to experience that with
a tour operator, a cruise line if you will, that
gets that you know, and the Silver Sea highlights these
small groups with their zodiac explorations. They've got expert teams
(48:12):
to be able to take you right out and for
the right traveler, Antarctica, Chris is not just a destination.
It's a perspective changing experience. It reminds you that the
world is still vast, still wild, and still capable of
leaving you speechless. That's the beauty of Antarctica. The next
(48:33):
segment I want to run into because I don't want
us to run out of time. I want us to
be able to experience all of these places. This one
that I had on my list, I did for a
very distinctive reason, and this is in Rwanda. And the
reason I wanted to highlight that is the presence of
the silverback gorilla. There's a moment in travel very few
(48:54):
people ever experience. It's quiet in the forest. You realize
you're not observed wildlife from a distance anymore. You are
with them. And I've actually got a friend whose daughter
lives and has trained in Rwanda, and she's actually had
this encounter high above the Misty Mountains in the Volcanoes
(49:14):
National Park. This is where one of the most extraordinary
wildlife encounters happens on Earth. And it's not a drive
by experience. This is something you check off. You hike,
you go through bamboo forests along volcanic slopes, and then
it happens you come upon that family of gorillas. This
is the silver backs. They are massive, they are powerful,
(49:38):
they are calm, and they are sitting just yards away
from you. You've got the mothers there with their young,
the little ones playing around. You've got that quiet rhythm
of the family going day to day. And for one hour,
one carefully protected hour, you are allowed to sit in
their presence. I mean to tell you that you want
(49:59):
to talk talk about royalty, Chris forget London. At that
point you're in Rwanda and you're with the silver Back,
you are among royalty. It's quite simply one of the
most moving wildlife experiences in the world. And at Bistate Lodge,
you are staying in one of Africa's most architecturally stunning lodges,
(50:22):
forest villas perched on the hillside. They are designed to
reflect traditional Rwandan royal residences with sweeping views of the
volcano peaks. Or you can even go to Singida Quitunda
Lodge where the conservation and luxury meets seamlessly. This is
(50:43):
luxury with purpose, I like to call it, because every permit,
every stay, every guided experience directly supports conservation efforts and
the local communities who protect these animals gorilla trekking. I
just want to let everybody know. Permits are alone are
approximately fifteen hundred dollars per person in Rwanda, and they're
(51:05):
worth every penny. Full four to six night Rwanda experience
including luxury lodge stays and trekking typically ranges from about
eight thousand to fifteen thousand dollars per person, So that
gives you some idea of exactly what those kind of
valued experiences are Worth. What I love about these journeys
(51:26):
is that they're not simply about checking wildlife off a list.
That's what we've been talking about today, That's not it.
They're about entering places where life still feels beautifully untamed,
and doing it in a way that is so thoughtful,
so comfortable, so deeply moving. Whether it's so sea lions
we were talking about in Nicalapaka's the elephants in Africa,
(51:48):
the bear in Alaska, tigers in India, penguins in Antarctica, Chris,
these are all the kinds of encounters that are going
to stay with you, just not for fifteen minutes, not
just till you tell somebody about your vacation, and if
you forget it, this is a lifetime of memories. And
perhaps that's the real luxury in wildlife travel. Not simply
(52:10):
where you stay, though that's important. It's about the experience
that is going to be given to you and allows
you to truly absorb a new kind of experience. The
world's wildest places don't just show us how extraordinary nature is.
They remind us how extraordinary it feels to fully awake
inside of it.
Speaker 1 (52:29):
Terry, this is one of my favorite shows that we've done.
Sign me up for every one of these destinations in order.
I would say Galopokos, it would be my number one moneto.
Then I would say this so far, I think this
might end up being in the order we did the show,
followed by ooh, maybe the Silverbacks in Rwanda. I like
(52:54):
that one too, and then India Alaska? Which one did
I Antarctica? And well Antarctica.
Speaker 4 (53:03):
Oh, yes see it's hard to choose. How about Antarctica
and one of the other locations. Okay, you can because
I'm gonna let you do that. ChRI Gosh, yeah, I
love all this all right.
Speaker 1 (53:14):
I know that anyone listening to the show at this
point wants to get in touch with you. How do
they talk to you more about where all the wild
things are?
Speaker 2 (53:22):
We are easy to find at the Wishing Well, located
in Haresonburg, Virginia to forty three nef Avenue in the
Valley Center. You can call us We'd love to talk
to you five four oh nine O eight two three
three three, or look us up on the web. Chris,
we are at the Wishingwell dot biz.
Speaker 1 (53:40):
This has been a life less ordinary the travel show
from your friends at the wishing Well at two forty
three nef Avenue in Harrisonburg. If you have any questions
on topics discussed today, please reach out to The wishing
Well online at the wishing Well dop biz or five
four to oh nine eight twenty three thirty three.
Speaker 2 (53:56):
Eight.
Speaker 1 (53:56):
Past episodes are available on the iHeartRadio app. And we'll
see again next Saturday morning at ten for a lifeless
Ordinary from the wishing Well
This is a Lifeless Ordinary. It's a travel show and
podcasts from your friends at the wishing Well two forty
three f Avenue and Harsmerg and online at the wishing
Well dot biz. The wishing Well is your ultimate luxury
concierge travel agency and A Lifeless Ordinary is a travel
show and podcasts hosted by Terry Dean, bringing her over
forty years of experience in the travel industry to help
(00:20):
guide you to great experiences in your travel, whether it
be around the block, around the country, or around the world.
Let's bring in Terry Dean.
Speaker 2 (00:27):
And say hello, good morning. Now, are you doing well?
Speaker 1 (00:30):
Terry and Harry, it's also good to see you also
doing well. Good to see you too, Chris. I love
every Saturday morning this time we get together and this
is the time for us to talk about how our
life is a little less ordinary. That's the name of
the show, A Lifeless Ordinary, and we talk about travel,
most of the time, about luxury travel we do. Sometimes
(00:51):
the travel is luxurious because it's what you are hoping
to do. Sometimes it's luxurious because who this is something
straight out of a Exactly Yeah, this week's gonna be
no different. We're gonna actually, I think our show today
is more about a book title than a movie.
Speaker 2 (01:09):
Well, well not today a movie, didn't they they did, actually,
But today we're gonna be talking about one of my
favorite things in the entire world, and that is the
creatures that we share this planet with and where the
best places are to find them.
Speaker 1 (01:24):
Our show today is where the wild things are.
Speaker 2 (01:26):
Exactly exactly are.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
We talking about, Harry, Well.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
We probably could come up with a destination.
Speaker 1 (01:33):
I'm sure.
Speaker 2 (01:34):
Hold on, Well, Chris, I want to first of all
say thanks to everybody who joins us here every Saturday.
It's a beautiful day, by the way, and every Saturday,
I think is a wonderful time when we've got listeners
out there that we know because you tell us that
you enjoy this show so much that it means a
(01:54):
lot to you, that you learn a lot from what
we talk about on this show, and I hope today
will be no differ. We are, as you mentioned, going
to be talking about where all of the greatest places
are in the world for us to share some time
with the God's beautiful creatures here on this earth. They
(02:14):
live differently than we do, they act differently than we do,
but Wow, what a great thing to incorporate that into
a vacation plan.
Speaker 1 (02:22):
I'm already thinking of places you may may be talking about. Yeah, okay,
I'm thinking safaris. Okay, maybe we'll see Okay, the Colapacos
Islands comes to mind. Absolutely, maybe some whale watching around Alaska.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
Those are all at the top of my list, Chris.
Speaker 1 (02:39):
And I'm sure many more.
Speaker 2 (02:41):
Many many more. You're exactly right. So there are some
journeys I can tell you that are just beautiful, and then,
like today the things that we're going to be talking about,
there are journeys that make you feel wonderful. And I
think once you get next to some of this wildlife,
(03:01):
you can actually feel profoundly alive. There's just something about
being with those creatures. And it's where the landscape isn't
just scenery, but it's a habitat. It's where they live,
so you're literally in their home, and you are, in
many cases an invited guests. Because these animals are very
(03:24):
welcoming to us. We need to treat that like the
privilege that it is. This is where every sunrise is
going to hold the possibility of seeing something rare, something untamed,
and something unforgettable. So I want to take our listeners
into some of the world's most extraordinary wildlife destinations, places
(03:47):
where nature still leads, where the animal world is still
part of that daily rhythm, and where the experience of
travel can be every bit as luxurious as it is meaningful.
That's what we talk about here. How do we make
all this luxurious? And you know, we've talked Chris many
(04:07):
times before on a Lifeless Ordinary about how luxury is
sort of defined by a lot of different people in
very different ways. For me personally speaking today as well
as professionally, the entire world and the entire landscape of
wildlife is luxury to me because this is really God's
(04:29):
creation at its best. You know, we see the landscape,
we see his creatures, we see all of that together
in a trip, in a vacation, in time away from home,
and to me, that's luxury. We're going to be talking
about the galopakas you mentioned that, the Great Safari landscapes
(04:51):
of East Africa. We're going to talk about that coastal
wilderness of Alaska. So you got my top three right
off the bat, and I know you didn't even see
my notes. Right We're also going to talk about Tiger
Country in India. We're going to talk about the icy
grandeur of the Antarctica, and I have to begin with
(05:11):
I think one of the most remarkable places on Earth,
and that is going to be the Galopicas. That's going
to be segment one. We actually have six segments today
in today's show, and the Galopicas are what I refer
to as wildlife in its purest form. If there is
one destination, really, I think that belongs at the very
(05:33):
top of a wildlife traveler's wish list, it's got to
be the Galopicas. This is not a place where you
just look for wildlife, Chris. This is a place where
wildlife seems to exist all around you. It's actually the
reason you go because you know you're going to have
nice accommodations, probably depending on how you choose to do it,
(05:56):
but that's not why you go. You don't go for
the accommodations and the Galopicas. You go for what you
see and what you are able to experience when you
get there. It's the giant tortoises, it's the sea lions,
it's the blue footed boobies. And by the way, before
you get weird on me with that one. It's a bird.
I know.
Speaker 1 (06:18):
Those because I act like a kid most of the
time doesn't mean I'm completely childish.
Speaker 2 (06:23):
I appreciate that.
Speaker 1 (06:25):
When I was ten though, that was one of my favorites.
Speaker 2 (06:27):
Oh yeah, I keep going. Those are great and and
for a lot of people who haven't seen it, the
glopicas are fascinating. And they're fascinating because they're located six
hundred miles off the coast of Ecuador, and admittedly that's
an area that not a lot of people have seen it.
I will tell you it's not an area where I
book a lot of people too for starters. But the
(06:51):
galopicas are on the rise, and they are becoming more
and more interesting to people and fascinating, if you will,
so that that's why this is wildlife in its purest form.
The second thing that makes the galopica so fascinating is
again they're fearless wildlife. They've got unique species found nowhere
(07:13):
else in the world, and they have this surreal, living
laboratory landscape. The galopicas offer those up close encounters with
those iconic creatures, and I think this is a destination
where people are going to want to go and make
a bucket list. It used to be Alaska, and we're
(07:37):
going to talk about Alaska today because you're going to
find fascinating wildlife there as well. But I think the
Galopicas are quickly becoming one of the number one destinations
on people's bucket list. And when I say fearless wildlife,
truths be told, that's really no joke because the Galopicas
(07:57):
are kind of isolated. Animals have really developed no instinctive
fear of humans. I think that's beautiful. They allow visitors
to walk really freely among the sea lions there, and
also the Iguanas and the islands are home to a
very diverse group of marine life. Now, despite being on
(08:18):
the equator, there's those unique ocean currents that create a
thriving marine ecosystem where visitors can swim with sharks, they
can with sea turtles and penguins. And I've got clients, Chris,
that will sometimes pay hundreds of dollars just for the
chance to swim with dolphins. This is a whole noother
(08:40):
level of creature excitement. And I do I mean, people
get very excited about the idea of swimming with a dolphin.
You know why, because we don't get to do that here.
It's just not something that we get to enjoy on
a daily basis, and most people never on a vacation.
My daughter, I have a special needs daughter, mentioned her
many times here on a lifeless ordinary, but my daughter's
(09:04):
special needs, and I remember the first vacation that I
ever took her on where swimming with the dolphins was
a possibility, and I did that with her. I was
amazed at how smart and instinctive these creatures are. I
was in the pool and she was as well, with
probably about nine other individuals who had paid for this
(09:26):
opportunity to be there. Instinctively, this dolphin went directly to
my daughter. They knew somehow that she had a need
or a challenge for which they could provide some extra help,
and they just stayed with her as if to say,
(09:48):
we're here and will help you. It was a beautiful moment,
it really was. And anybody, if you're going to the
Galopakas and you have this opportunity to swim with and
experience these creatures like that, take advantage of that. It's
a wonderful experience. And to elaborate more on the unique
species there, I'll just bet you didn't know that forty
(10:11):
percent of the Galopica's plants and animals that are there
are endemic, meaning that they exist only in the Galopicas.
And that's including the world's only ocean foraging marine iguana
and the flightless comorran. And the great part about the
Galopicas is that they still have a collection. They still
(10:32):
are a collection of young islands. They're constantly being shaped
and reshaped, and there's a mix of black lava fields,
white sand beaches, high altitude highlands, and they're still growing.
And that's amazing to me because that means greater and
more opportunities for things to see in the years to come.
(10:54):
And I'll bet you want to know the best time
to go to the Galopicas right, anytime? Yeah, absolutely right.
The Galopicas are a year round destination that kind of
makes it any month is a great time to visit,
but the best time for you is actually going to
depend on the kind of wildlife that you want to see.
So unlike a lot of destinations, the Galopicas don't follow
(11:16):
the typical four season calendar. They actually straddle the equator,
so the islands experience just two seasons. They have the
warm season, which is December to May, and that's when
the skies are a little sunnier and the sea temperatures
are really more inviting for snorkeling. And then you've got
the dry seasons. So those are the only two, and
that dry season is from June to November. That's going
(11:38):
to bring around those cooler, more misty conditions and some
of the best wildlife spectacles of the year. Now every
season and with every month in it, that's going to
bring its own cast of characters in the wildlife species,
from hatching sea turtles, you've got the courting frigatebirds, You've
(12:00):
got migrating whale sharks, and then you've got the penguins
who breed colonies in the galopicas. That would be one
of my major reasons for experiencing the galopakas. I'd want
to go during the season when they're the most prevalent.
Speaker 1 (12:16):
I love that when you say penguins, everyone thinks about
you know, snow. Yeah, they think of Antarctica. Antarctica, yeah, exactly,
and they are at the equator.
Speaker 2 (12:27):
They are, Yeah, so in South America, this is where
you're going to find them. Also, indigenous in the there's
a particular breed of penguins that are indigenous to the Galopicas.
So now one of my favorite ways Chris to experience
this beautiful playground would have to be on Celebrity cruise lines.
(12:49):
You can choose from either a seven night sailing or
they even have ten to sixteen night in depth journeys
that are going to also visit Quito and Lima and
Machu Pichu. And then of course you know the wishing
Well's going to handle every detail for you, so you
can soak up every minute and we can coordinate hotel
stays for you in Quito and your transfers, private flights
(13:12):
and twice daily expeditions led by Galopaka's National Park certified naturalists.
That's all included, and you're even covered with tips, unlimited
Wi Fi. You've got snorkeling gear that they include wetsuits,
and they'll even give you a pair of binoculars. Now
on the new Celebrity Flora that's the ship that does this.
(13:33):
They were built for the galopicas your personal suite attendant.
And by the way, every stateroom on the Celebrity Flora
is a suite they're gonna help you unpack when you arrive.
They're gonna bring you your coffee just the way you
like it. They'll restock your mini bar. They do a
lot of things for you. And these Galapicas islands, though
they might be primitive, your time there is going to
(13:55):
be anything. But these sailings are going to all include
two shore excursions per day, and yes they're included. You
don't have to pay extra for that. Each one of
those is going to be probably an adventure of a lifetime.
And there's an onboard naturalist. They are certified by Galapka's
National Park. They're gonna introduce you to some small group
(14:17):
tours of no more than twelve people at a time.
That's luxury, I'll tell you. When you have exclusivity like that,
that is luxury. Activities are curated by these highly trained
team of experts, and every night you're going to be
briefed on whatever they're going to be doing in the
upcoming adventures in the next days ahead. And here's something
(14:38):
really cool. On the very top deck of the Celebrity
fora you can even join your optional naturalists. Therefore, what
they call the Galopos Glamping trip, where you can participate
in stargazing with them, and you can even wake up
to a chef prepared private breakfast every day if you
(14:59):
want to. And I bring this information to you today
because this is truly, again a unique and exclusive experience.
As a matter of fact, these small yacht celebrity vessels
hold only one hundred passengers. Gris, that's it, And you're
going to experience the difference right away between what it
means to be on a megaship ocean liner and a
(15:21):
vessel of this size. This is it. This is the
vacation you are never going to regret, and it's the
experience that you're going to be telling generations of your
family about again and again and again. And these are
multiple departures throughout the year. Already, the Wishing Well is
booking the Galopolkas into twenty twenty eight. So if you're
(15:42):
interested in that type of an amazing, once in a
lifetime experience, you're going to want to give us a
call because these are waiting to be seen. But they're
getting very popular. As I said, as a matter of fact,
I put them on my list as the number one
destination for that reason. So love that love the idea
(16:04):
that you can still visit and experience wildlife like that
up close and personal, without boundaries, without bars, without you know,
they're not in a zoo. These animals are right out
there in the open. Yeah, that's the best way to
see them. I love that.
Speaker 1 (16:19):
Go toward the islands that Darwin toured.
Speaker 2 (16:22):
Absolutely, I think that would be a great idea.
Speaker 1 (16:24):
It's a nice backdrop for your photos you take on
the beach.
Speaker 2 (16:27):
Yeah, I agree with you.
Speaker 1 (16:29):
All Right, well, you've got me booked on this one.
Speaker 2 (16:31):
Okay, good good.
Speaker 1 (16:32):
Where's our next location?
Speaker 2 (16:34):
Yep, So segment two, we're headed to East Africa. This
is really the drama of wildlife persona. I think it's
the beauty of the Safari, and nothing compares to a safari.
The Serengetti in Tanzania and the Massimara in Kenya, those
remain two of the world's most iconic wildlife landscapes. This
(16:59):
is where game drives can bring you actually face to
face Chris with elephants, lions, giraffes, zebra and in the
right season, the drama of the Great Migration. Now, if
you don't know what that is, let me give you
just a little reader's digest version of what I'm talking about.
Every year in Africa they experience two things, feast and famine.
(17:23):
And during the Great Migration, that's when that's the rainy time.
That's when the rain season comes, everything greens up, they
have great water supply, and so you have the great
migration of these animals into Africa. You also have it
when the dry season occurs and then they all leave,
(17:43):
and so it's during that time that the serengetti is
the emptiest. And of course that's when the lions also
have the worst drought and they look for food.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
It was interesting, huh, I say, you don't want to
be the food.
Speaker 2 (17:58):
You definitely don't want to be the food. No. I
was actually intrigued. And what made me want to do
this show today is I spent some time watching a
public broadcasting show and it's a series. I've been watching
this series on these lion families that live and exist
(18:20):
in Africa, and this film crew has been following them
for many a year and it's amazing to me. I mean,
I am just so intrigued. And then I watched one
last night on the elephants and how they are being
protected and there's actually a facility there. Now that's providing
(18:43):
protection for these elephants, especially the ones that are found
out in the bush that have been orphaned. And I
love this. I mean, these stories are just precious to me.
Speaker 1 (18:55):
My neighbor and I were standing outside. This is so
random that this conversation happened, and now we're doing a
show on it. Talking about wanting to go on a
safari no kidding, And she said that what she wants
is to stay at the hotel where the giraffes stick
their head in the window and like eat off of
your breakfast place.
Speaker 2 (19:15):
Oh yeah, And what I.
Speaker 1 (19:17):
Keep thinking about anytime we talk about these sort of
luxury safari getaways. You know, I'm a royal nut. I
love all the hill I know Queen Elizabeth when she
was still Princess Elizabeth was at the tree tops, and
that's where she was when her father died. She was
(19:37):
down in Kenya. I did not know that, and so
she became queen when she was in Kenya. But I
want to go and stay in the treetops and have
the giraffes wander up and say hello in the morning.
Speaker 2 (19:49):
I know. And for those of you just joining us,
by the way, this is a lifeless ordinary. We're here
with you every single Saturday morning at ten o'clock. We
love that you joined, and we love bringing you these stories.
We love talking to you about luxury travel. My business
partner and I, Harry Rich, are happy to join you
here every Saturday. We talk about all things luxury. Today
(20:12):
we're talking about where the wild things are, and we
just completed our conversation about the galop Belcas. We're now
talking about East Africa and I am fascinated with wildlife,
so happy to bring these stories to you. But what
we know about these safaris, Chris, to your point, is
that a safari has a rhythm all its own. I mean,
(20:34):
it's something that once you see it and you watch it,
it does really almost have a beat to it. You
can hear it in the wilderness almost but every morning
when you have that soft light coming through the bush
and just beginning to stir, you can almost read the landscape. Evenings,
(20:55):
or when the sky kind of turns to amber there
and then you realize you spent the Dame and one
of the greatest remaining wildlife theaters on the planet. It's thrilling,
but it's also deeply peaceful. For accommodations there. You mentioned
the tree tops, I would say the other one would
(21:16):
be the Singita Sassaqua Lodge. It's one of those names
that immediately gives you trouble, but it also signals a
very elevated Safari experience. Singita described as a lodge with
panoramic serengetti views that wrapped around Veranda's private infinity pools
(21:38):
at every cottage, and there's an atmosphere that balances grandeur
with stillness. This is not roughing it. This is Safari
wrapped in elegance, and yes, this is luxury. That combination
is exactly why luxury Safari has such power. You can
spend your day tracking wildlife across the plains, and by
(22:01):
evening you're going to find yourself in a beautifully designed
lodge with that great service, You've got wonderful food, private
terrace overlooking that very same wilderness you just explored a
couple of hours earlier. Africa doesn't ask you to choose
between wonder and comfort, and at its best, Chris, it
(22:22):
gives you both. Once you're there, there is everything you
can't unknow about Africa. You spend time in the bush,
you soon realize there are few sites and moments that
can compare to that bond that you've just seen between
a mother elephant and her newborn calf. And in that moment,
(22:42):
a tiny calf only a few weeks old, is unsure
on its feet. It's kind of being guided down a
hill by its mother, something that can be described as ancient,
but it's powerful, it is deeply moving. And what makes
that bond amazing between that mother and the calf so
beautiful is that it's not just instinct. It is emotion.
(23:06):
And we've talked about that here on a Lifeless Ordinary,
how travel transforms you. It takes you into places that
you feel more than you see. And these animals show
the true definition of empathy toward each other, that the
slightest touch means more than we can ever comprehend. A
(23:27):
mother's love is not only patient and protective with among
these elephants, but it's also enduring. She is their teacher,
she's their guardian, she's a safe haven all in one
and in the bush where survival is not always guaranteed
for these animals, the love and tenderness shown by these
animals stands out like a beacon through the trees and
(23:50):
you watch only to see this mother help her calf,
she steers it down the hill. To know that this
is more than just a simple act of guidance. It's
really the reminder of the strength found in gentleness. And
the saying gentle giants is one of the most accurate
ways of really describing these animals. They show pure love,
(24:12):
most powerful in its most powerful form. And I'll tell
you what, in those quiet moments sitting with a herd
of elephants, you know you're not just witnessing wildlife, You're
witnessing devotion. This is a life changing experience. That's why, Chris,
this isn't just another trip, but it's rather an unforgettable
life experience, and that is really why we travel.
Speaker 1 (24:35):
I'm looking at pictures online.
Speaker 2 (24:37):
It's amazing, isn't it.
Speaker 1 (24:39):
One of the most gorgeous places I've ever seen?
Speaker 2 (24:41):
Yeah? Absolutely, I mean this is and I tried. I
wanted so desperately as I described this East African experience
to people. I wanted my words to almost sound like
paint on a canvas, because it's only important if you're
listening to me, if you get this, if you really
(25:02):
understand what I mean.
Speaker 1 (25:03):
Terry, I don't mean this anything but to say, there
is no way you will ever find the words that
will match the beauty of what I'm looking at.
Speaker 2 (25:13):
And I think, sadly, you are absolutely accurate on that, Chris.
Speaker 1 (25:17):
And I'm going to put a link to their website.
It's in the Serengeti National Park. I'll put a link
to it in our podcast. So if you're listening this
morning Live, head to the wishing Well dot biz and
in the up right hand corner you'll find a link
for a Lifeless Ordinary and you can re listen today's
show or just get the link there and just go
(25:38):
look at the pictures.
Speaker 2 (25:39):
Man, it's fabulous.
Speaker 1 (25:41):
Our show today is where the wild Things are. On
a Lifeless Ordinary. We have got four more locations to
talk about. We'll get to our third location next here
on a Lifeless Ordinary. Why do you recharge your cell phone?
Speaker 3 (25:53):
Maybe because, just like you, it functions much better with
a little revitalization. The wishing Well helps people refresh and revitalize.
Individually designed customize vacation planning. We'll send you anywhere in
the world, plus offer advice on packing, navigating, customs, and more.
Wishes really do come true at the wishing Well visit
us at two forty three and f Avenue call us
(26:14):
at five four zero nine zero eight two three three three,
or on.
Speaker 1 (26:17):
The web at the Wishingwell dot biz. Hey, welcome back
to A Life Less Ordinary. This is the travel show
and podcast from your friends at the wishing Well. You'll
find them on nep Avenue in Harrisonburg. They are online
at the Wishingwell dot biz, which is also where you
can find links to previous episodes of A Lifeless Ordinary
and you can also give them a call at five
(26:38):
four zero nine oh eight twenty three thirty three. I
want to tell you you're going to get lots of phone
calls this afternoon, because this is one of those shows
where you have got everybody picturing what you're describing in
their head and maybe second guessing how they're spending their
life because they haven't experienced one of these six wild locations.
(27:02):
Our show today is called Where the Wild Things Are.
We've talked already about the Galapagos Islands. We've talked about
Safaris and Tanzania and Kenya, and I believe our next
stop would be Alaska, and it's a place.
Speaker 3 (27:16):
That we send a lot of people to, but I'm
going to talk about it through a different lens. A
lot of the work we do in Alaska with clients
is sending them on cruises, and that is absolutely a
fantastic way to visit Alaska in probably the most popular way.
But Alaska is America's wild frontier, and so if you
(27:36):
want remarkable wildlife without having to cross the Atlantic, without
having to travel the distances that's required to visit the
places that Terry's been talking about, Alaska is one of
the most stirring nature experiences anywhere in the world. But
it's also on our side of the world.
Speaker 1 (27:57):
All right, before we get too far into Alaska. Passport
to go to Alaska is Alaska state, it is, but
don't I have to go through Canada to get there.
Speaker 3 (28:05):
If you go through Canada, you will use a passport,
but you don't have to travel to Canada to get
to Alaska. You can fly over Canada and get to Alaska.
If you do a cruise, almost always you will require
a passport because most cruise lines have a stop in Canada.
That's part of the international maritime law. It helps them
keep their costs down. A lot of reasons for it
(28:27):
that we don't have time to go into but you
can avoid passports and visit Alaska most certainly see some
of the most amazing collection of animals there too. You
do see the whales we were talking about, puffins a
little bit over the break, and seals, brown bears, glaciers, fjords,
(28:49):
and immense open spaces. So much of Alaska is open space.
Here in Harrisonburg, we think we have some open space
with our mountains and our parks.
Speaker 1 (29:01):
A little bit more.
Speaker 3 (29:02):
Okay, it's grand, it's raw, it's gloriously uncrowded. A lot
of the people that live in Alaska leave for the winter,
so it's not even you know, a twelve month population
in parts of Alaska, because they come for tourism in
the summertime. But what makes Alaska so compelling to me
(29:24):
is the diversity of experiences you can have there. One day,
you're crazy if you don't take a day or more
out in the water, watching whales, watching seabirds, watching eagles
in nests. Okay, and see the young eagles, you know,
popping their heads out of the nests. And then another
day you may go flying, and flying is the way
(29:45):
to get around in Alaska. I think there are more
airplanes and more pilots than there are licensed drivers in
parts of Alaska for sure, or boating towards the beer
viewing country. It all unfolds against this backdrop of old
growth forest, snow capped peaks, icy water glaciers, and at
(30:06):
light that seems to sharpen every detail. When I was
in Alaska, I had some of the best vision that
I've had in my life. Everything seems so much sharper
because the air is so pure and you can see
for miles and miles and miles as the song goes.
Speaker 1 (30:24):
So, Harry, I like trivia. You mentioned about how few
people live in Alaska, just to give you a comparison,
in the Commonwealth of Virginia, the population density per square
mile is two hundred and twenty people and Alaska per
square mile one point one. It's amazing, isn't it. And
you figure most of them probably a family, so that
(30:47):
shows you it's even less dense when you consider they're
grouping together.
Speaker 3 (30:51):
Yeah, and they're more animals living in Alaska than people.
I bet I didn't check that. I'm a fact checking
that show where the wild things are there you go.
So if you're going to Alaska and you want to
do something different than the traditional cruise, and there are cruises,
and there are many many cruises that fit the lifeless,
ordinary moniker.
Speaker 1 (31:11):
That we have for our show. But if you want
to do it a little differently, try a property like
the Tutka Bay Lodge. It shows how beautifully Alaska can
be done. This lodge sits along the Kakamac Bay near Homer. Okay,
You're way up in Alaska. It's on the edge of
parkland and wilderness. They have guided experiences that they offer
(31:33):
that include bear viewing, wildlife cruises, kayaking, glacier exploration, naturalists
lead to ventures and more. Okay, and even the arrival
you're going to arrive by boat, maybe by floatplane or
regional air connection into Homer. It's part of the story.
Speaker 3 (31:52):
You get to fly and see this from above and
then move down and experience it on the ground. This
is luxury again, the Tutgabay Lodge. This is luxury with
a very different personality, far different than a cruise ship.
Even some of the smaller cruise ships that we have
up there are just you know, under one thousand people,
(32:13):
hundreds of people. This is yet way more personalized. It's
not about the marble lobbies. It's not about the glittering
city lights. It's about thoughtful hospitality in a place of
profound natural beauty. You wonder how they can build these
places and bring everything there and yet make it look
like nothing was ever disturbed. This is a place where
(32:35):
comfort becomes the frame for genuine wilderness immersion. Alaska is
the place nearby that does this so exceptionally well. Chris,
I see you looking at pictures.
Speaker 1 (32:50):
I'm looking at someone getting off of a float plane
and we've got bears in the background, and it looks amazing.
Speaker 3 (32:57):
That's what every young kid does in Alaska is get
their license.
Speaker 1 (33:01):
Okay, So I.
Speaker 3 (33:02):
Want to move from Alaska if I can. I'm going
back across the ocean. This time, I'm headed to the
tigers and I'm headed to India. That's the elegance of
tiger country. And we talked about safaris and wildlife. If
you want a wildlife journey with a completely different mood
and texture, I would include India, particularly the rantham Bora
(33:27):
National Park. This is tiger country, and unlike many wildlife experiences,
tiger tracking carries a special tension because there's always that
element of suspense. Tigers can be scary, right, yeah, yeah,
So you're looking for one of the world's most elusive
and at the same time magnificent predators in a landscape,
(33:51):
their landscape, their home that's both wild and steeped very
deeply in history. There's something unforgettable. Tigers are one of
the big five, right when you talk about safaris.
Speaker 1 (34:03):
Well, I was going to ask if there can I
see tigers in the Safari, in the Serengetti, Yes, absolutely, yes, Okay,
but they're at home in India. This is their I
want to call it their native land. I'm not sure
if that's correct, right, habitat. It is their native habitat.
And there's something unforgettable about the setting that I'm talking about.
(34:25):
You're in the forest, you're in the midst of dust,
ancient ruins, quiet anticipation. Then perhaps, if luck is with you,
you're going to get a glimpse of a Bengal tire
tiger moving through that landscape with their unmistakable combination of
grace and power. Think about those two words together, grace
(34:47):
of a ballerina and power of you know, a very
strong gorilla. Okay, but you've got it in this one
animal and even the search becomes part of the luxury
of the experience because it asks you to slow down
and pay attention. You've got to stop looking at your
cell phone. You've got to stop thinking about anything else.
(35:09):
You're out there in the wilderness looking for these elegant
and evasive, elusive creatures. And then you come back to
the Oberi van Ya Villas and it's a wildlife resort.
It's one of the most beautiful safari style resources in India.
Oberoid describes as the combinations as an air conditioned luxury
(35:32):
tent with teak wood floors. Does that fit together? Air
conditioned luxury tent, teak wood floors, opulent bathrooms, private terraces,
and traditional Indian design elements. They are also more elevated
accommodation categories, including tents with private pools. I've never been
(35:52):
in a tent with a private guests. And they're using
the word tent in a different way like maybe a yurt.
Speaker 3 (35:58):
It's yeah, it's it's not what you did in boy Scouts. Okay,
we've got luxury tents. I mean a private pool and
a tent is just something that doesn't fit together in
my brain. And you've got to get online and see.
Speaker 1 (36:14):
It to believe it well. And I'm looking at some
of the animals, not just tigers, right, They've got leopards.
You look for them hanging out in the trees. It
looks like they've got I don't know, it looks like
a black bear, but I know that's not a bear.
That's maybe a wombat or something that might be a wombat.
I can't see what you're looking at, but there's an
(36:36):
elk and other I mean, this is a nature reserve. Yeah,
you are in a wildlife resort. You are in a
nature preserve.
Speaker 3 (36:44):
And when we talk about India, I talk about tigers
because that's what people think about when they think about India.
They think about Bengal tigers. But the contrast that I'm
talking about, it's what makes India so compelling.
Speaker 1 (36:59):
It's a day. It starts.
Speaker 3 (37:01):
You start your day in the jungle looking for tigers,
but you finish your day with one of my favorite
things to do, fine dining, some soft lamplight, a tentive service,
and a sense that if you're there with that special person,
a sense of romance that is entirely its own. How
romantic is it to finish a day, looking at tigers,
(37:22):
looking at wildlife, experiencing everything there is to experience there
with that special person at your side, wild wildlife travel here,
it's like being in a movie.
Speaker 1 (37:33):
It's cinematic, but it's also deeply cultured, because that's part
of India, is the culture and the tradition. So this
would not be a place you'd want to go if
you if you're weak of heart. These things are tense.
They're sort of like a yurt. Now they're a tent.
Speaker 3 (37:50):
They are a tent, but they also have, you know,
people there to make sure you stay safe. Now you
can sleep, and it's their luxury tents, the beautiful. Yeah,
and what Terry said earlier I think is really relevant
to Chris. We are in places where we are in
the animals homes. They're not afraid of people, they're not
(38:12):
threatened by people, they're not hunted in these places, and
so they're not going to become aggressive unnecessarily.
Speaker 1 (38:20):
Something someone that may have been the conversation I was
having with my neighbor about safaris. It is important to
remember that when you go on a safari, the animals
aren't being exploited. You are helping preserve their habitat.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
You really are because every dollar you spend, and in
so far as your vacation or what you spend while
you're there, that goes back into the conservancy of these
animals and their protection, which is exactly what we want
to do. I mean, the truth of the matter is,
sadly a lot of these animals' existence is being threatened. Yeah,
(38:59):
and it's being threatened because of man. It's only right
that because of man they should be able to be restored.
Speaker 3 (39:07):
And when we talk about this kind of vacation, we're
talking about what they call eco tourism. We're not on
a hunting safaris, oh gosh, No, We're on an observation safari.
And as Terry said, part of what you pay for
that experience goes directly to supporting and preserving those things,
(39:28):
those amazing things that you are looking at in all
of these places, not just India, but goes toward preserving
that so someone else can come and do that later on,
your kids, your grandkids and their grandkids too.
Speaker 1 (39:41):
So our show is entitled Where the Wild Things Are
and we have hit four locations now a review. We
went to the safaris of Tanzania and Kenya. The Glombicos
Islands to see animals that are unique to the Glopicos
because of the how closed off the islands are, so.
Speaker 2 (40:03):
They they're isolated, they don't have the.
Speaker 1 (40:05):
Genetic diversity that animals elsewhere have. We've been to Alaska
and we just visited India and we got to discuss
tigers and found out they also have leopards and is
it pronounced caara cow carousel? I'm not sure. It's a
cat that has ears that look like feathers.
Speaker 2 (40:25):
Yeah, I think you're right, cas carousel. Yeah.
Speaker 1 (40:28):
Yeah, So you're going to bring back photos and memories
that are going to make you very popular for months
as people keep asking you to recount all the stories
of what you experienced.
Speaker 2 (40:40):
Yeah. You know, something just came to my mind as
you were talking about the sustainability and the preservation of
these animals. And part of what I saw even the
other night in the story that I saw is how
brilliantly these folks who run these preserves have worked with
the local name natives to have their buy in to
(41:03):
the preservation of these animals. Because for those of you
all who are listening to us who may not know
a lot about the back end story of some of
these creatures and why they're being threatened. Elephants. Let's take them,
for example, in the Massamar among the Massamar people, they
actually have attacked and even destroyed their crops and or
(41:27):
their animals there on, if they have chickens or whatever,
and so the elephants in many cases, for many of
these folks have been seen as an enemy of the land.
So at these preservation sites they've developed this brilliant kind
of scratch my back, I'll scratch yours sort of existence
(41:49):
with the local people. Let me tell you the story
that they've done. So with these especially these orphaned, little
orphaned elephants, they have to have a rich diet of
milk in order to sustain life. They are near death
usually when they find them and the closest creature to
be able to milk to get that sustaining life fluid
(42:13):
for these elephants comes from the local goats that are
raised by the people here in the bush and so
here at the preservation facilities. They've negotiated to pay the
local people for their goat's milk to help sustain the elephants.
(42:35):
So money goes back in to the local people. They
have a reason for wanting those elephants to be still
alive and to be put back into their own natural
habitat later because they make money off of their sustaining
life with the goats that they raise. So I think
(42:57):
that's a beautiful thing. It goes full circle.
Speaker 3 (42:59):
You know.
Speaker 1 (43:00):
I'm enjoying our conversation today here on a Lifeless Ordinary.
We've got two more locations. Harry just showed me where
they are. I'm excited. I don't want to ruin the surprise.
We'll get back into our destinations of where the wild
things are here on a Lifeless Ordinary. Next, why do
you recharge your cell phone?
Speaker 3 (43:18):
Maybe because, just like you, it functions much better with
a little revitalization. The wishing Well helps people refresh and
revitalize with individually designed, customize vacation planning. We'll send you
anywhere in the world, plus offer advice on packing, navigating, customs,
and more. Wishes really do come true at the Wishing Well.
Visit us at two forty three and a half Avenue,
(43:39):
call us at five four zero nine zero eight two
three three three, or on the.
Speaker 1 (43:43):
Web at the Wishingwell dot biz. Hey, welcome back to
a Lifeless Ordinary Today. Our show is entitled Where the
Wild Things Are, and we are visiting six destinations where
you are going to experience wildlife. If you are as
interested in the conversation as I have been today, you
are going to want to talk to Terry or Harry
(44:05):
as soon as the show is over, and that's easy.
You give them a call five four oh nine oh
eight twenty three thirty three. You can also find them
on the web at the wishing Well dot biz. That's
where you also find past episodes of A Lifeless Ordinary
in the upper right hand corner, and you can also
stop by and see them there on nef Avenue here
in Harrisonburg. All Right, the destinations we've been to so far,
(44:26):
We've been to the Galapagos. We've been to Tanzania and
Kenya for the Safaris. We have been to Alaska, we
have been to India to see the Bengal tigers. And
now we have our final two destinations. And I'm excited
about these as well.
Speaker 2 (44:43):
I am too. This first one, Chris is going to
take us to really the opposite end of the Earth.
There's Antarctica, and this is really kind of a destination
that feels a whole lot less like a trip and
really more like an expedition. Can you imagine I mean,
any of these trips being your vacation, but especially this
(45:06):
one to Antarctica. And I know off air you and
I were talking and this one really fascinates you.
Speaker 1 (45:12):
It does. There's something about the remoteness of it, yep,
the absolute crazy temperatures. I like cold. I know I
wouldn't like it that cold, but there's something about being
able to say you survived the Antarctic temperatures. I want
(45:32):
to go when it's like the coldest oh yeah, oh
summer time.
Speaker 2 (45:36):
It's actually referred to as the last Great White Silence. Yes,
And I think that really kind of sums it up
sort of beautifully.
Speaker 1 (45:44):
Can't you hear the earth crack like the ices? It
moves and stuff.
Speaker 3 (45:50):
It caws, that's what you're talking about, the ice cabin.
You can hear that because it's so quiet. It's so quiet,
And when I think about this, I think about the
folks have recently come back from the moon. Now, this
is why there is life, you know, in Antarctica, but
you got to look for it and that's what makes
it remarkably different.
Speaker 1 (46:07):
But it's that kind of place.
Speaker 3 (46:08):
Chris where there's just a lot of as my grandson
described it, until he said, all the wildlife. There's a
lot of nothing, Grandpa, And then they were penguins.
Speaker 2 (46:20):
Well, this is one of the world's most all inspiring
wildlife frontiers, and this is where travelers can encounter penguin colonies. Again,
we're back with the penguins. I love those guys, you know,
I mean, ever since the movie Happy Feet, who didn't
fall in love with penguins. Yeah, you've got whales there, certainly,
the dramatic ice formations. You've got a level of natural
(46:42):
stillness that very few places on the Earth can match.
I mean, it's there. That white, great silence is only
in Antarctica, and that's what makes it so thrilling and
it's powerful. It's the scale and the purity of it.
You can do landings by zodiac and you've got that
(47:04):
sound of ice and water and suddenly you've got the
appearance of a whale near your boat. So luxury is
all around you when you go to Antarctica. It just
looks a little different than what we ordinarily think of
when we say luxury. You've got these expeditions though, that
(47:25):
can be had and can be experienced through companies like
one of our preferred suppliers, Silver Sea. Now Silver Sea
is really more of the small cruise ship yachts if
you will. They've shaped this experience in a way that
allows travelers to really explore the continent in great comfort
(47:48):
while you still keep the focus of discovery. Because what
we know about Antarctica is that it's humbling in the
best possible way, and you want to experience that with
a tour operator, a cruise line if you will, that
gets that you know, and the Silver Sea highlights these
small groups with their zodiac explorations. They've got expert teams
(48:12):
to be able to take you right out and for
the right traveler, Antarctica, Chris is not just a destination.
It's a perspective changing experience. It reminds you that the
world is still vast, still wild, and still capable of
leaving you speechless. That's the beauty of Antarctica. The next
(48:33):
segment I want to run into because I don't want
us to run out of time. I want us to
be able to experience all of these places. This one
that I had on my list, I did for a
very distinctive reason, and this is in Rwanda. And the
reason I wanted to highlight that is the presence of
the silverback gorilla. There's a moment in travel very few
(48:54):
people ever experience. It's quiet in the forest. You realize
you're not observed wildlife from a distance anymore. You are
with them. And I've actually got a friend whose daughter
lives and has trained in Rwanda, and she's actually had
this encounter high above the Misty Mountains in the Volcanoes
(49:14):
National Park. This is where one of the most extraordinary
wildlife encounters happens on Earth. And it's not a drive
by experience. This is something you check off. You hike,
you go through bamboo forests along volcanic slopes, and then
it happens you come upon that family of gorillas. This
is the silver backs. They are massive, they are powerful,
(49:38):
they are calm, and they are sitting just yards away
from you. You've got the mothers there with their young,
the little ones playing around. You've got that quiet rhythm
of the family going day to day. And for one hour,
one carefully protected hour, you are allowed to sit in
their presence. I mean to tell you that you want
(49:59):
to talk talk about royalty, Chris forget London. At that
point you're in Rwanda and you're with the silver Back,
you are among royalty. It's quite simply one of the
most moving wildlife experiences in the world. And at Bistate Lodge,
you are staying in one of Africa's most architecturally stunning lodges,
(50:22):
forest villas perched on the hillside. They are designed to
reflect traditional Rwandan royal residences with sweeping views of the
volcano peaks. Or you can even go to Singida Quitunda
Lodge where the conservation and luxury meets seamlessly. This is
(50:43):
luxury with purpose, I like to call it, because every permit,
every stay, every guided experience directly supports conservation efforts and
the local communities who protect these animals gorilla trekking. I
just want to let everybody know. Permits are alone are
approximately fifteen hundred dollars per person in Rwanda, and they're
(51:05):
worth every penny. Full four to six night Rwanda experience
including luxury lodge stays and trekking typically ranges from about
eight thousand to fifteen thousand dollars per person, So that
gives you some idea of exactly what those kind of
valued experiences are Worth. What I love about these journeys
(51:26):
is that they're not simply about checking wildlife off a list.
That's what we've been talking about today, That's not it.
They're about entering places where life still feels beautifully untamed,
and doing it in a way that is so thoughtful,
so comfortable, so deeply moving. Whether it's so sea lions
we were talking about in Nicalapaka's the elephants in Africa,
(51:48):
the bear in Alaska, tigers in India, penguins in Antarctica, Chris,
these are all the kinds of encounters that are going
to stay with you, just not for fifteen minutes, not
just till you tell somebody about your vacation, and if
you forget it, this is a lifetime of memories. And
perhaps that's the real luxury in wildlife travel. Not simply
(52:10):
where you stay, though that's important. It's about the experience
that is going to be given to you and allows
you to truly absorb a new kind of experience. The
world's wildest places don't just show us how extraordinary nature is.
They remind us how extraordinary it feels to fully awake
inside of it.
Speaker 1 (52:29):
Terry, this is one of my favorite shows that we've done.
Sign me up for every one of these destinations in order.
I would say Galopokos, it would be my number one moneto.
Then I would say this so far, I think this
might end up being in the order we did the show,
followed by ooh, maybe the Silverbacks in Rwanda. I like
(52:54):
that one too, and then India Alaska? Which one did
I Antarctica? And well Antarctica.
Speaker 4 (53:03):
Oh, yes see it's hard to choose. How about Antarctica
and one of the other locations. Okay, you can because
I'm gonna let you do that. ChRI Gosh, yeah, I
love all this all right.
Speaker 1 (53:14):
I know that anyone listening to the show at this
point wants to get in touch with you. How do
they talk to you more about where all the wild
things are?
Speaker 2 (53:22):
We are easy to find at the Wishing Well, located
in Haresonburg, Virginia to forty three nef Avenue in the
Valley Center. You can call us We'd love to talk
to you five four oh nine O eight two three
three three, or look us up on the web. Chris,
we are at the Wishingwell dot biz.
Speaker 1 (53:40):
This has been a life less ordinary the travel show
from your friends at the wishing Well at two forty
three nef Avenue in Harrisonburg. If you have any questions
on topics discussed today, please reach out to The wishing
Well online at the wishing Well dop biz or five
four to oh nine eight twenty three thirty three.
Speaker 2 (53:56):
Eight.
Speaker 1 (53:56):
Past episodes are available on the iHeartRadio app. And we'll
see again next Saturday morning at ten for a lifeless
Ordinary from the wishing Well
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