Yikes,
Yes we are paid up on the rainbow trip. My other comments were to soften any
disappointment should the logistics not work for you. I am serious about
alternative trips at a future time. Thinley and sakten tours were runners up.
Very close. Robin has this down cold with over 30 trips. The objective is
photographic so stopping at whim is expected afaik.
Sorry for any confusion.
Mike
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jun 5, 2017, at 7:16 PM, Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>
> On 6/5/2017 2:37 PM, usher99@xxxxxxx wrote:
>> Hey Moose,
>>
>> No clue the Thunder Dragon arrangements would suit-- I trust you have
>> contacted Robin forthwith. Either way the Kharma is good. I am sure we can
>> design something tailor made for us with Thinley that would be excellent as
>> well or something else equally as nice.
>
> I'm confused. I thought you had committed to the Rainbow Photo Tours Sept. 26
> - Oct. 11, 2017 tour. Are you saying you aren't committed, or could get out
> of it? And are considering alternatives? Or only if we can't get on the tour?
>
> Robin IS Rainbow Photo Tours, running the biennial tours using local folks?
> And other things as well? Thinley is a different guy/outfit, not associated
> with Robin?
>
> We are up for anything more or less like the above tour, as described on the
> web site. The crucial thing is limited long/difficult walking experiences.
> Carol is good for 2-3 miles now, but on relatively level ground, at sea
> level, with rest stops, and often followed with elevation and ice back home.
> She'll be stronger by then. Most people and her doc say about 12 months for
> fully back to normal, and that will be 11, but we can't know now just what
> her limits will be then. So the two people per SUV, or the Thinley 4 people
> per minivan, with most destinations being those than can be reached by car,
> sounds good. The idea of a generally leisurely driving schedule, so multiple
> stops for pic may be made sounds good, too.
>
> A big, fat, glossy NatGeo Expeditions catalog came in the mail today. Same
> price for a shorter tour that sees much less.
>
> We would, of course, be coming home without passing through any Muslim
> countries currently on the "bad" list.
>
> Confuse A Moose
>
>>
>>
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: Moose <olymoose@xxxxxxxxx>
>> To: usher99 <usher99@xxxxxxx>
>> Cc: Carol Anne Fusco <earthdiamond4@xxxxxxxxx>
>> Sent: Mon, Jun 5, 2017 1:32 am
>> Subject: Re: Off list Charging gizmos for trip - Reply II
>>
>> On 6/4/2017 1:05 PM, usher99@xxxxxxx wrote:
>>
>>
>> . . .
>> Wish had the Moose and Carol along on the trip.
>>
>> How nice! It sounds good, and fun, to us, too. A quick perusal indicates
>> that cost might not be a problem. But nothing that strenuous for Carol this
>> year.
>>
>> Perhaps we will learn from you for the future.
>>
>> I think there are still a couple openings. (Rainbowphoto tour)
>>
>> Yowza, you've really caught our interest!
>>
>> You and Carol would have SUV with a driver and guide/photo facilitator.
>>
>> After vicariously participating in your horse trips, trekking through
>> Switzerland, lost up a cliff in Greece (?), etc. I pictured a trekking
>> adventure. Looking at the web description/itinerary, it seems this is not
>> such a trip, with only a couple of mild hikes. Also, of course, Carol's
>> recovery would be almost four months further along.
>>
>> Ha,
>> Yes all balled up in a Canyon on what was supposed to be a 20 min short
>> excursion. Bailed out by the Kalamata hiking club. Needed ropes to get
>> out. I did not like rappelling in sandals but better than the alternative.
>> I asked Marnie to halt for 2nd exposure with more fill flash but she did
>> not comply.
>> http://www.olyendomike.com/Travel/GreecePeloponnese2009/i-8CdfxGB/A
>>
>>
>> (It is almost turnkey with the pluses and minuses that go with that. The
>> driver will do what you want within the constraints of where we have to
>> arrive by nightfall.) Though I would bet we would switch off and Marnie go
>> with Carol some days depending on what everyone preferred. This trip is
>> more expensive as there is an extra layer of US overhead but they facilitate
>> the logistics ---fly back from Guwahati to Thailand. Marnie as CVO found
>> that inscrutable. The timing of this trip was far from optimal and the
>> other option was very flexible. A Fremirandite had vetted about 8
>> operators. The contact person of the one he went with was very responsive
>> and flexible. (Sakten tours) It is significantly more economical to go
>> directly with the Bhutanese outfit. We wanted to stay a night or two at a
>> farmhouse and they can arrange that as well. (some are approved by the
>> gov't to do so and have to meet certain minimum standards). If want to
>> traverse the country w/o our curr
ent outfit, would likely have to fly back to Paro. Thinley can help arrange
that, but getting to Guwahati would have been a challenge. I see little reason
not to trust Thinley with a second trip.
>>
>> For us, it all boils down to the fact that you guys have done your due
>> diligence and chosen this one, for whatever mix of factors. We're not going
>> to go through all that ourselves to set up something different at another
>> time.
>>
>> Am I correct that the tour plus airfare would come to under $20,000 for two
>> (exclusive of photo gear)? Both much cheaper and likely more fun, than a
>> Maserati. Really, not a problem. (Also, a lot cheaper than a broken ankle.)
>>
>>
>> I think that is about right. 6995 + 580 flt then airfare SF to Bangkok.
>> Gratuities are not inconsequential and misc of course. Robin knows all this
>> cold. Emerite air can be an issue on way back as may have to gate check
>> cam bodies in Abu Dhabi. That was by FAR the cheapest for us but that
>> predated the no larger than cell phone electronics issue in carry-on at
>> some airports. Headache number 1 but alternative solutions in the works.
>> Let us know.
>> Best,
>> Mike
>>
>>
>> Schedule will be borderline insane for awhile
>>
>> Timing isn't that bad for us. We could skip our NE visit, shorten it to a
>> couple of weeks, either earlier in the year or we could just go to NY for
>> Thanksgiving, as Carol's Hudson sis and hubby will be here in early Nov.
>> Whatever, it can all be worked out.
>>
>> Our thinking is that we are going, unless something gets in the way. We have
>> no idea what that might be, tour spots going away before we can commit,
>> passport/visa trouble, meteorite . . . If such a snag doesn't arise, we may
>> be meeting you in Bangkok, if that timing works out.
>>
>> Now, more noodling on the web.
>>
>> Tomorrow - passport pics, as ours expire two months before the trip. I don't
>> know if that might mess anything up, but I'll send off the renewals anyway.
>>
>> Not sure whether to get excited yet,
>> Moose
>>
>
>
> --
> What if the Hokey Pokey IS what it's all about?
--
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