EPIC ADVENTURES Archives | TRAVELS WITH TAM

Phuket…I’m still standing…I think.

March 2, 2014 By Tam Warner Leave a Comment

I am off on my travels … Thailand and the Mergui Archipelago (Burma/Myanmar) March 2014! I will be posting about each leg of my trip, and I look forward to sharing it with you! While on the dive liveaboard, Deep Andaman Queen, I may not have access to internet. If not, I will post on my return!

I left Dallas on February 27 at 10a.m. I have arrived in Phuket, at 5a.m. Dallas time, March 1. In Phuket, it is 5pm. And yes, I am tired. I’ve been traveling non-stop, and have yet to find a full 8 hour sleep. I plan to make up for it tonight! I am struggling to stay awake. As much as I want to head down to the beach and walk, I know that I need rest more. My shoulders hurt, my wrists hurt, my entire body feels like it has been in a prize fight. And in 24 hours, I will be picked up for my liveaboard, the Deep Andaman Queen, which heads to the Mergui Archipelago off of Burma/Myanmar. So, here is the plan: stay awake another hour, go have dinner, come back to my room and pass out. I will explore the beach tomorrow morning. And have a massage.

It has been a fascinating trip already! I woke this morning in Bangkok, looked out my balcony window, and saw Buddhist monks walking along the reflecting pool…complete with dragon! I enjoyed breakfast, then watched a wedding procession pass the reflecting pool (the reflecting pool seems to be a very popular place!). I have learned about the Thai Wai, the Thai greeting which is hands in prayer with a bow. Women say Sah-wah-dee-kah to say hello. The deeper the bow and the higher your prayer hands, the more respect you show. To offer a wai to a Buddhist monk is to hold your hands at the forehead in prayer, and bow. The higher a person’s position in society, the more respectful your wai should be. It is considered very rude in Thai culture not to return an offered wai. Kob kun ka is “thank you”. I’m learning, and I love to learn! Everything is so new and exciting.

There are beautiful shrines everywhere! Did you know that 95% of the Thai people are practicing Buddhists? And photographs of the King and Queen….Bhumibol Adulyadej is the King of Thailand and took the throne in 1946, making him the longest ruling monarch in the world currently. The Queen’s name is Sirikit. The royals are adored here. They are apart from any government problems.

I am staying at the Amari Beach Resort on Patong Beach. The hotel is quite lovely, and situated a little to the side of the public beach of Patong. The beach at the hotel is similar to Cozumel…I hope I have some time tomorrow to snorkel a little. If not, I return here on March 9, at which time my beautiful daughter joins me for a week.l,

March 2. 11a.m. Well, I did not sleep as much as I wanted to, but I have breakfasted by the ocean, and have repacked my bags. The hotel is kindly going to allow me to leave a bag here, which is a relief. So now, my one bag carries clothes, dive equipment, camera equipment, and personal items. Shit. It is heavy! But better than dragging another bag with me to the boat. I will be on the high seas tonight, heading north toward the Mergui Archipelago, in the Andaman Sea.

As I said, I don’t know if I will have any internet, so if not, I will post as soon as I get back to the hotel. My fingers and eyes are itching to see pelagic animals and take great photos! ลาก่อนนะ! (Goodbye!)

Why not travel solo?

February 28, 2014 By Tam Warner 12 Comments

I am off to travel Asia and dive Asia…Thailand and the Mergui Archipelago is my destination in March 2014! I will be posting about each leg of my trip, and I look forward to sharing it with you!

It is February 28, 420p in Tokyo, Japan, but my body seems to know that for me, it is 130am in the morning. I just finished a 12 or 13 hour flight from Dallas to Tokyo, and another 7 hour flight from Tokyo to Bangkok awaits. I will start walking to the gate from the Admiral’s Club (American Airlines) in one hour. I hope writing will keep me awake! I arrive Bangkok at 1115pm, have to go through customs and immigration, then catch a shuttle to my hotel. Yes, I know it is a long trip, but don’t feel too sorry for me, I’m traveling first class and business class. I get 8 hours to sleep, then I leave Bangkok for Phuket. Then I will have more than 24 hours before the next leg of the trip…7 days in the Andaman Sea!

For the first time ever, I set off gongs going through TSA cleared security. Never could figure it out….but had two body searches in Dallas, then two more when I got to Tokyo! In Tokyo they also found my dive knife (and scissors, for cutting line), and now I have no dive knife. I did not have my thinking cap on when I packed it in carry on.

So, here is why I wanted to write a blog…I have so many women friends who tell me how “brave” I am to travel alone, but I really do not understand that. I would rather be traveling with my husband…but he is still recovering from a double lung transplant last September ( I know, crazy right?)…so if I want to travel, I travel solo. Of course, I have traveled alone many, many times. I’ve never really thought it was a big deal until I traveled to Africa in 2012 by myself, and did volunteer work for 3 1/2 weeks. Now that was a journey! Randy joined me afterwards, and we did a fabulous safari through Tanzania. I felt empowered by the fact that I managed perfectly well by myself. Well, with mishaps. But that is always the case.

The last thing I would have ever expected would be that Randy, of all people, would become seriously ill so young. Yes, young, at 56. Midlife was kind of thrown for a loop when he began to get ill, and we spent 2013 canceling almost all of our trips. Then he became critical, quickly. This has been a very challenging time for my family…and you know, we all have to adapt to circumstances. I am fortunate that my adaptations have not included financial hardship…we have been very lucky in our life together. So what to do with all of those midlife adventures we talked about? Well, some of them I will just have to do on my own. I don’t know if Randy will ever scuba dive again, but I truthfully doubt it. That is a blow for us because it is an activity we have always enjoyed doing together. Randy likes to dive, but I am passionately crazily in love with diving. So here I am, on my way to the Mergui Archipelago to dive on a liveaboard. I’m sure Randy and I will enjoy snorkeling together in the future.

So why am I considered brave by other women for taking trips on my own? Really, we are all capable of going and doing and accomplishing whatever we want to. What is it about traveling alone that seems to alarm so many women? I am asking this question: why not travel solo? If you really want to do something or go somewhere, and there is no one to accompany you, why would you let that stop you? Talk to me! I really want to know, and I think it is a great discussion to have! Why do you travel solo? Or why won’t you travel on your own?

Pre-Journey Jitters

February 24, 2014 By Tam Warner 9 Comments

I have been planning a dive trip to Thailand / Myanmar for quite a while now. I leave on Thursday morning for Bangkok, via Tokyo. Well, I will end up in Phuket, as the boat leaves Khao Lak on the 2March for the Mergui Archipelago off of Myanmar. To say that I am excited would be an understatement! I have all of my camera gear out, ready to be packed, and I have planned how I am going carry everything I need. As I sit here at my kitchen table, I am surrounded by my Canon G15, DS1 strobes, my GoPro, and my Sea Dragon light. I’ve taken all of it to Scubatoys and played with it in the pool to make sure everything is working. It’s all a go.

Except I am a little concerned. I thought Randy would be fully recovered by now. His rejection episode a week ago shook me up, even though we’ve been reassured by the Lung Transplant Team that the rejection episode is not uncommon. The side effects of the medications are also pretty intense, and Ran is frustrated that he is not feeling better. I realize there is really nothing I can do, and it is good for me to get away. This is something Randy and I have discussed, and we are agreed on several issues. One thing I have always known is that if you wait, often it will be too late. I have known many people who planned to travel and do activities but they always put it off, and then all of a sudden, it is not possible anymore. I do have some health issues, and I don’t plan to wait. There will come a day when I can no longer take the trips I have dreamed of….Indonesia, Australia, Yap, Palau, Alaska, Galapagos. Eventually, long in the future I hope, those dives will no longer be possible. I can do it now. And now is all a person ever really has.

I will blog from Thailand, and post photos. I’m sure I will have internet in Thailand…unsure about Myanmar. I will photograph every fish I see, and throw myself into each and every moment. Hasta la vista, baby!

5 Things you Must do on an African Safari!

January 30, 2014 By Tam Warner 2 Comments

There is nothing as incredible as an African Safari. Nothing. Seeing these animals in the wild is not at all comparable to seeing them in a zoo or a “safari” park. The savannah goes on forever….truly, the Circle of Life is real. I expected to see Simba and his friends at any moment. I actually saw many simbas (simba means “lion”!). An African Safari is a trip anyone who loves to travel must take at least once in their lifetime! The best experience will include:

africa, safari, African safari — Lemala-Ewanjan Camp

1. Staying at a Luxury Safari Camp. Tent? It is more like a well-appointed suite at a first class hotel. The guides and staff are attentive and make sure you have everything you want. Your guide, or perhaps a Maasai Warrior (at least in Tanzania) escorts you to and from your tent at night. Going back after dinner one night in the Serengeti our Maasai guide took a flashlight to our left and whoa! Hyena eyes, about 6 pair, were staring at us! What an adrenaline rush! The sound of the savannah at night is a symphony (except for the wildebeest who make a really loud, aggravating bleat…no wonder they get eaten, since they constantly announce their location!) The meals are amazing, cocktails before dinner and three delicious, fresh, chef prepared meals a day. Luxury camping is the only way to camp!

safari, africa, serengeti — With Samson, our safari guide.

2. A private guide and viewing vehicle. Now this is a treat. You do not have to worry about “taking turns” getting the best view, or the best camera angle, because you are not sharing that view. It is perfect!

3. Watching the sunset from the Savannah. Sunsets are best viewed with a Sundowner (a cocktail) in your hand, hors d’oeuvres on a small table outside of the vehicle, while enjoying the growing silence. What an incredible luxury, having cocktails on the Savannah while the sun sets! Yes, it is as wonderful as it sounds!

4. Take your photo opportunities when they come! Always, always have a camera ready to shoot! Be ready. You will miss a lot if your camera isn’t ready to go.

safari, lion, africa — Photo Credit: Randy Minton

5. Finally, you must not miss the Big 5, though there is never a guarantee. The Big 5 are Lion, Leopard, Elephant, Rhino and Cape Buffalo. Having a great guide is the best way to make sure you have every chance possible to see these awe inspiring animals, many of which are endangered. It is just impossible to express the feeling you get when you quietly pull up in the middle of a herd, or a pride of lions. Just….incredible. Breath-taking. Exciting. Awe struck.

Going on an African Safari is always a thrilling adventure. I have done safaris in the African winter, when the foliage isn’t thick, and the animals are easier to see. So….when do we leave?

5 Reasons to Stay at the Grand Isle Resort in the Exumas, Bahamas!

January 22, 2014 By Tam Warner 7 Comments

The Grand Isle Resort and Spa, grand isle resort, exumas, emerald bay — The Grand Isle Resort and Spa

I recently returned from a lovely vacation in the Exumas, an archipelago of 365 small islands which are 35 miles southeast of Nassau. Most of these islands, or Cays (pronounced “keys”) have to be accessed by boat. You could visit one island a day for a year and never get tired of the pristine beaches and coral reefs. I chose to explore from Great Exuma, the largest of the islands.

There are many choices of hotels, resorts, bed and breakfasts, but I chose the Grand Isle Resort and Spa, a private and luxurious villa community with all of the benefits of a 5 star resort. Upon arrival, we were greeted at the gate by a very friendly member of the staff. Checking in was a smooth and quick process, and we were soon unpacked and on the beach! The aqua blue of the water has to be seen to be believed! Our week sped by, and we enjoyed every moment we spent at the Grand Isle. Here is why: [Read more…] about 5 Reasons to Stay at the Grand Isle Resort in the Exumas, Bahamas!

Exotic Exuma life forms!

January 15, 2014 By Tam Warner 12 Comments

The islands of the Exumas, in the Bahamas, offer so much more than swimming pigs! Though, the swimming pigs are out of this world incredible. However, we were offered the chance to swim with sharks, to snorkel, and feed iguanas. Don’t get too excited…just nurse sharks. Don’t get me wrong, I love Nurse Sharks! I just don’t consider them too dangerous. They have very small (but sharp) teeth, smallish mouths, and basically they are bottom feeders. They mostly sleep during the day. I see them diving in the Caribbean often, they are usually asleep under crevices. Nurse sharks are nocturnal, and can grow up to 4 meters (12 feet). I’ve never seen one that large, the biggest I’ve seen is probably 7 or 8 feet. These were 4 to 6 feet long, I’d guess.

Nurse sharks gathering for their feast! — Nurse sharks gathering for their feast at Staniel Cay

bahamas, exumas, travels — Tough, pebbly skin and pretty white eyes.

Off of Staniel Cay Yacht Club is a largish population of nurse sharks and they feed them squid and other tasty snacks. I had my camera out and was in the water long before anyone else on the tour got in. The word “shark” evokes terrible fear, but once you learn about them and see them in the wild, you begin to understand they are not waiting for a human to eat. Nurse sharks are pretty. They have white eyes, and their skin is very tough and pebbly. I think they have an elegant silhouette as they swim. After a while, several of the tour members finally got in the water with them, a great opportunity to conquer a few fears and gain knowledge!

exuma, bahamas, travels with tam — Hanging out in Thunderball Grotto

bahamas, exumas — Entrance to Thunderball Grotto

Also on the agenda were giant iguanas! I’ve seen pretty big ones, but these are monstrosities! They are huge! And hungry, of course. We fed them grapes. I used a stick to spear the grape, then feed the iguana. Kathy, my cousin, and I were lucky on the second tour, and one of the largest ones had a photo session with us. He must have posed for 10 minutes, and he would have stayed there, I am sure. The minute the boat pulls up to the beach, out they come!

Kathy photographing, and my foot! — Kathy photographing

Obviously, they are used to people and being fed by them. As you can see, Exuma Water Sports provided Animal Palooza, and I loved every second of it!

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