Travel Blog

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I love to travel to places that are out of my comfort zone. When the opportunity came to join a Signature educational with Abercrombie and Kent I knew this was a great opportunity to see incredible scenery, fascinating culture and explore somewhere new for myself as well as my clients.

Myself and 7 other Signature advisors arrived after a long 23 hours to Delhi. Our hotel was the Taj Mahal Palace Delhi located in New Delhi. The first day we enjoyed a tour of the city and met our amazing guide Kashani. We visited a Sikh temple where they feed sometimes up to 20,000 per week. People volunteer their time and food and their religion believes in the poorest people eating along with the people with means. We helped rolling dough into naan and flipping it on the fryer for the mid day meal. Next we had a lunch at an historical hotel in the old city followed by a hair raising rickshaw ride through the old city. We visited a mosque after that and learned about how both Hindus and Muslims live in relative harmony. That evening we had a tour and dinner at our hotel.

The next day was a 3 hour drive to Agra. We checked into the beautiful Oberoi Amarvillas. This hotel is definitely worth the splurge. Not only is it a breathtaking hotel but it is steps from the Taj Mahal. Guests of the hotel can be taken by golf cart to the entrance and skip the line. We had a sunset visit and the crowds were pretty heavy but we got some great photos. The next morning we got up early and saw Tah Mahal at sunrise and had a tour from a wonderful knowledgeable guide. The structure is even more amazing in person than the pictures. Our guide explained about the symmetry of the building and exact placement of the building and symbols. The marble used makes the structure absolutely luminescent. It was one of the amazing experiences I will ever see. My advice for travelers 1-2 nights in Agra at the Oberoi and see sunrise and sunset. Sunrise is a lot less crowded and the Taj glows.

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I had the wonderful opportunity to experience Ponant’s ice breaker ship called Le Commandant Charcot. It was a short sailing of 4 days at sea between Brest in France and Reykjavik in Iceland. 4 days at sea gave me the chance to explore every aspect of the ship and above all to learn all about the construction of the ship and what it can achieve on the ice.

Le Commandant Charcot is the only ice breaker ship in the world rated C2. The level of technology is beyond comparison. Its eco friendly design comprising a hybrid propulsion system has never been seen before in the polar regions. The Blue Lagoon pool and the benches on the promenade deck are heated by recycled energy generated by the ship’s propulsion. The use of liquefied natural gas and electric batteries – largest battery bank ever used on a cruise ship – provide both zero atmospheric emission and silent sailing. The ship has two research laboratories on board to allow scientists to collect data that will increase our knowledge of the poles.

All cabins and suites have a balcony, a king bed or two twin beds, 110V American and 220V European outlets. The spa offers a sauna with a spectacular view of the ocean and a snow room for a typical Scandinavian hot and cold experience. There are many lovely salons for reading, listening to music or enjoying teatime. All of them are cozy and intimate. Lectures on board are provided by naturalists and members of the exploration team. You learn from experts about the ocean, the North pole, Antarctica, and the fabulous early century explorers and their expeditions. Depending on the itinerary the trip includes all kinds of outdoor activities such as kayaking, ice expedition, snowshoeing, dog sleight adventure.

If your dream is to go to Antarctica or the North Pole but feel guilty about the impact on the area, your only and best option is to sail with Ponant on Le Commandant Charcot. You will have an astounding experience.

Fondly,

Murielle

I will be happy to help you plan a worry-free getaway. Please contact me at (801) 483-6533 or to view my full travel biography, please click this link.

Bon Voyage!

Murielle Blanchard
Black Pearl Luxury Services
A division of Morris Murdock Travel
(801) 483-6533 or email me

Everyone has a travel bucket list, right? I’ve been in the travel industry for 35 years and the time had finally come for me to cross the Mekong River off of my list. Cruising the Mekong River is a wonderful way to experience both the beauties and cultures of Cambodia and Viet Nam. I would highly recommend this delightful cruise to anyone and here are some of the highlights from our journey.

Depending on your departure city, it might be difficult to fly all the way to Cambodia in the same day. Since Southeast Asia is quite a distance, you may want to consider some pre and post cruise options prior to your actual Mekong River Cruise. My wife and I decided to spend a couple of nights in Bangkok, Thailand prior to entering Cambodia. What a wonderful opportunity this provided us to see the highlights of Bangkok. We enjoyed visiting the Grand Palace, shopping in the local markets, and a yummy street food tour. For those who love Thai food, Bangkok has it all!

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