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Star Clippers' Caribbean Cruises Deliver Care-Free Serenity

10/27/2020

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Star Clippers features a fleet of authentic sailing ships that allow you to roam the open decks and soak up all the sunshine an idyllic views.
By John Roberts
With winter upon us here in North America, our minds always drift toward warmer destinations. One of our very favorite regions for a sun-splashed and highly active getaways is the islands and countries throughout the Caribbean.
This sunny and warm region is among the most-visited cruise destinations in the world, attracting large numbers of travelers for plenty of good reasons: the pristine beaches, diverse culture, and proximity to the United States make the Caribbean islands a year-round vacation spot. For many though, a Caribbean cruise means megaships bringing thousands of passengers at a time into ports -- which can lead to a less-than-ideal way to explore what should be a tranquil and idyllic destination.
Not so for a Star Clippers tall sailing ship. With sailings departing from Barbados and St. Maarten, Star Clippers offers a small-ship experience that is perfect for adventurous travelers who crave intimate exploration among like-minded people who want to get a real feel for a destination's culture, history and natural wonders.
Star Clippers sailing allows for a truly authentic and unique Caribbean getaway, and we've got a roundup of just a few ways journeys on the boutique cruise line's ships Star Clipper, Star Flyer and Royal Clipper stand out from mass-market cruises.

Small and Intimate: Star Clippers' largest vessel, the Royal Clipper, carries a maximum of 227 passengers. And with 19,000 square feet of open deck (featuring three pools), you will have no trouble finding a private spot to relax with a good book, watch the crew lower and raise the sails or simply enjoy quite time in your secluded haven. The bow sprit net -- located at the front of the ship -- is a prime spot to crawl out and float above the ocean while watching the splashing seas and dolphins frolicking below.
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Stunning Royal Clipper carries a maximum of 227 passengers and offers 19,000 square feet of open deck to freely roam during your voyage.
Arrive Through the "Back Door": While larger cruise ships disembark their thousands of passengers into bustling ports (often more than one big ship arrives in port at the same time), Star Clippers ships cast anchor in remote harbors populated with charming restaurants, humble shops and private yachts. Small tender boats take you to and from shore -- to visit these towns and villages that serve as gateways to off-the-beaten-path beaches and natural wonders.
On these daily excursions, it's not unusual to be one of just a handful of snorkelers or sunbathers taking advantage of Star Clippers' complimentary water sports activities. This is how Star Clippers helps you to soak up the true flavor of each island, sampling the cuisine and getting to know residents through authentic encounters.

Let the Wind Carry You: 
These ships are true sailing vessels, using wind power whenever possible to navigate between islands. In fact, all Star Clippers itineraries are created using tide charts and wind maps to ensure the ships can sail under wind power as much as possible -- up to 80 percent of the time in the Caribbean. Gliding into port under full sail is a thrilling experience, and one that allows passengers to imagine what it must have been like for the early explorers who arrived in this exotic region while on board similar vessels. The primary difference for today's cruiser vs. the long-ago seafaring pirate, for example: You get onboard luxuries like a full-service spa, gourmet meals and multiple swimming pools.

Learn the Ways of the Sea:
 These cruise vacations with Star Clippers give you the chance to spend your days just the way you like. Do it all! Or do nothing at all.
If you want to embrace your inner sailor on a spectacular tall ship, you can assist the crew with hoisting and setting sail, bracing, folding and knot tying. Want to experience what it was like to be on watch duty on a clipper ship of yore? You can climb the mast to the crow's nest, some 100 feet above the water.
It's a fun challenge with a special reward: incredible views and thrilling feeling of accomplishment.
For more than 25 years, Star Clippers has been introducing travelers to the thrill of modern tall ship sailing to remote ports in the Caribbean, Mediterranean, Indonesia and the Far East. The line operates three of the world's largest and tallest sailing vessels: Star Clipper and Star Flyer are traditional clipper ships with modern amenities carrying up to 170 passengers, while the 227-passenger Royal Clipper holds the Guinness World Record as the largest and only five-masted, full-rigged sailing ship in service today. All three ships feature expansive teak decks, swimming pools, informal dining, convivial tropical bars and piano lounges.

Is this your kind of sailing experience? We thought so. Hope to see you onboard soon, and we'll have a race to the crow's nest.

Thanks for reading, and always travel happy.
JR
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The Treasures of Cambodia: Visiting Tonle Sap, The Great Lake

10/24/2020

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Serene faces adorn towers throughout Angkor Thom and welcome you to this popular temple site in Cambodia.
By Gloria Mabery, In The Loop Travel Contributor
A mystic land of kingdoms and wonders thrives over the crumbling remains of the ancient Khmer Empire.
Cambodia was once a challenge for even the most daring travelers. Today, the smallest Southeast Asian country has become an attractive destination for curious and adventurous people who wish to ponder and understand the ravages of war, immerse themselves in Buddhist mysticism and enjoy thriving natural settings.
The beauty and diversity of Cambodia can make for a life-changing experience. Home to the once very powerful Khmer Empire, the landscape of Cambodian is filled with fascinating war ruins, lessons from centuries-old culture and traditions and warm and welcoming villagers who make their lives along the lifegiving mighty Mekong River.
Two vital sources of life, the freshwaters of the Mekong River and Tonle Sap Lake are extremely significant to Cambodia's cultural and historical heritage. Together, they also create a natural phenomenon not found anywhere else in the world. And while there certainly is no shortage of tourist attractions and amazing sites to visit in Cambodia, Tonle Sap Lake is a unique experience that brings visitors closer to the true spirit of this amazing country.
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A visit to any of the floating villages on Tonle Sap will give you a look at life on the waterway and how important the Great Lake is to the communities that live there.
Tonle Sap Lake
Tonle Sap is a large freshwater lake in the heart of Cambodia, and it also is the central point of the development of today's modern and thriving city of Siem Reap. Covering 250 kilometers in length and 100 kilometers across, the lake is truly massive. The body is filled with flowing waters, and its name means "large river."
Besides being a large basin of water, this important lake flows in the Tonle Sap River that is part of the system that flows within the Mekong River, which very much affects the changes in the depth and size of the lake over a course of the seasons.
Located near the center of Cambodia, the lake experiences both dry and highwater seasons. Between May and October, monsoon winds bring higher rainfall to this part of the country. In these periods, the levels of the Mekong rise, a little at a time. Until June, there is quite a lot of water flowing into the massive river system of the Mekong. When the levels reach their peak, the waters of the Tonle Sap River change direction of the flow. Yes, instead of flowing directly to the Mekong, they flow backward, into the lake, making this river-lake system among the few bodies of water that can actually change the flow of its waters. Truly amazing!
At the peak of the Khmer Empire, in the 12th century, the Tonle Sap lake and river system nourished a population of a million people. The waters were the main source of food and drinking water, ensuring the residents they wouldn't suffer from hunger. This gave them freedom to focus on building up their cultural heritage by focusing on artistic pursuits. The massive monuments on the river banks, such as the famous Angkor Wat, are the representation of the cultural achievements of what was once a rich civilization.
Tonle Sap and the region around the waterway are stunning places to explore. From the natural beauty and mesmerizing phenomenon surrounding the lake, itself, to the remains of the ancient civilization and fascinating aspects of Cambodian culture, this part of Cambodia brings a truly life-changing experience. The lake and river system can best be experienced cruising during the high-water season.

You Might Also Like These Stories About Cambodia
Our Enchanting Mekong River Cruise in Cambodia and Vietnam
The Five Best Temples in Siem Reap
Six Things to Know Before You Visit to Vietnam and Cambodia

The Floating Villages of Tonle Sap
The most interesting thing about Tonle Sap, undoubtedly, is the community of floating villages. The name comes from the appearance of the houses made to float over the water. Being the main source of food and life, the lake is home to many Cambodians who live in small communities in "floating" houses. Although very poor in terms of money and material things, the villages thrive and nurture the lifestyle of the residents, especially today, when curious tourists are always around. This helps people earn more money, but the situation differs among the various villages. Here are three of the most popular villages on the Tonle Sap that offer the easiest access for tourists:

Chong Kneas Village
Nearest to the city of Siem Reap is Chong Kneas. The village is 16 kilometers from the city, and this makes for convenient access. Therefore, most first-time visitors choose to go see Chong Kneas.
The village consists of both stilted and removable, or floating, houses. The village also features several floating restaurants, and it's very crowded with boats filled with tourists. Therefore, it's not the best place to fully experience and understand Cambodian lifestyle and culture in an authentic way. Another thing this village is famous for: scams performed on tourists in order to finagle some money; this is a poor country, remember.
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Each of the villages have their own special characteristics along with a different style of home depending on the conditions at their location on the lake.
Kampong Khleang Village
Kampong Khleang, on the other hand, is the farthest village from Siem Reap, located about 50 kilometers from the city. You can get there by boat, car or renting a tuk-tuk. Because it's so far away from the city, the village sees fewer tourists, and this offers a better chance to witness the true water-floating life and daily rhythms of the villagers.
Kampong Kleang is a more relaxed and authentic place to visit. Sustaining a community of around 6000 people, the village features stilted houses known as the inner village and floating (removable) houses known as the outer village.
The boat tours here are run by residents, and this gives tourists a chance to directly support the community. Large boat tours take you on a predetermined route, but there are also small boats available for an individual excursion around the village. Residents here are very friendly and welcoming.

Kampong Phluk Village
 

Kampong Phluk represents a community of three villages consisting of stilted houses only. The village makes for interesting scenery during the dry season when the houses are way higher than water levels. For this period of the year, residents use high ladders to get down to the water, and when the rainy season comes along the villages are again floating just above the water levels.
The people here are not very too focused on tourism. They stick mainly to fishing and cultivating rice. There are short road tours that take you around the village and boat tours for exploration of life on the water, but there is nothing significant or specifically interesting about the village.
The main reason to go there is for boat tours that can take you to the flooded part of the forest, which is mostly different from any other boat tour in the floating villages. The boat tours and several small restaurants found there are run by members of the community. This gives you a chance to support the people of Kampong Phluk village in an engaging and important manner.

Have you been to Cambodia? Most tourist get a good look at the temples of Siem Reap and the surrounding region. But a tour of these floating villages would be quite fascinating, as well, we think.
Let us know about your travel tips or general experiences in Cambodia in the comments section below.

Thanks for reading, 

John Roberts,
In The Loop Travel
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2020 Throws Plans into Chaos. It's Best to Keep Moving Forward.

10/9/2020

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By John Roberts
For more than five months, I trained and trained and trained. Still, I was fairly certain that the sweat, sore legs and lonely miles were probably going to be for nothing.
I was right.
My marathon was canceled.
Just another event that sat circled on my 2020 calendar to be scratched out, eliminated by the pandemic in this year of struggles.
In March, with the onset of sudden and unanticipated downtime because of the COVID-19 crisis, I decided that if I wasn't going to be traveling as much, I would refocus my efforts and energy into a new challenge. I had never wanted to try a marathon. The race itself seemed like a fun event and a worthy accomplishment. But the long hours training to complete a 26.2-mile race were not really something I could -- or wanted to -- fit into my schedule.
The shutdown of travel and extended period of time spent at home quarantining meant that I would finally have time to train. Plus, I needed a diversion from the constant gloomy news. So, I decided to finally take on a marathon, reviewing a program from Jeff Galloway and heading out for four training runs a week, mixed with days of biking and other cross training, listening to podcasts and getting tips and advice from friends who had run the distance.
With gyms closed and the weather ideal as I trained in New Jersey and then in Colorado (after a summer move) I gained endurance and the confidence that I would complete the challenge. That raised my spirits during this dark time in human history.
Organizers of the event -- the Cary Greenways Tour in Cary, N.C. -- kept entrants informed about the likelihood of carrying out the race live, and things were looking pretty good as the October 3 date approached. Ultimately, the race was canceled as a live event, however. It was not surprising, yet I was still disappointed. Mainly because I had put in all that training for nothing -- no, I would not be running it virtually all alone on the roads of Colorado -- and that I had lost more weight and muscle than I had wanted to because I had redirected my training regimen away from weights and more toward the mileage.
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This photo was taken in New Jersey mid-training -- when I still thought I would be running my first marathon scheduled for October 3 in Cary, North Carolina.
But I do have perspective. I can't be too sad. The months of training in themselves provided a certain level of discipline and accountability that helped keep me occupied and sane.
Plus, many other people have been hit much harder than I have during the crisis of the pandemic. Even though my business has been hit hard with the cancellation or postponement of more than a dozen planned trips this year, I have my health and a great group of friends and family who have helped me stay engaged.
I set out on my training runs -- starting around May -- to get ready for the race
. The program consisted of four runs a week, with a series of shorter runs, hill workouts, Sunday long runs and days mixed in for cross training (like biking or swimming). I did a lot of stretching, started eating more carbs, bought new Brooks running shoes to break in for the race and made a pair of Nabee compression socks part of my training uniform.
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After moving to Colorado during the summer, I was able to add a lot of bike rides to my weekly training.
The Nabee socks were a terrific revelation for me and a product that suits my lifestyle for a number of reasons. The brand reached out to me just as I was beginning my marathon program.
I probably would have offered to review them because these types of socks have always made sense to me for long-haul air travel. Compression socks help travelers have fresh and healthy legs and circulation by combating the dangers of deep-vein thrombosis and blood clots (which can be more than four times as likely to occur in frequent flyers).
Also, being older than 50, compression socks like those from Nabee are beneficial to aid proper circulation. I have a few varicose veins in the back of my calves, and my doctor recently recommended I think of compression socks as a therapeutic way to help with blood pressure regulation.
Aside from those two reasons, though, I was excited to have them for my training and ultimately race day. This period of time saw me take the longest runs of my life, spending hours on my feet. The Nabee socks kept my feet and lower legs feeling great, and I have to think they helped in keeping me injury-free while training.
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The Nabee compression socks are useful to me for a number of reasons, including travel, running and overall wellness.
So, compression socks, in general, are a good choice for travelers, runners and people who maybe need help optimizing blood flow. The Nabee socks, in particular, proved to be a great product because of their range of cool designs. I chose the red, white and blue patriotic "Freedom" style.
They are tough to slip on and off, but once on, they offer a comfortable snug fit. Nabee compression socks are to be machine-washed on delicate, air dried and expected to last three to four years.
Nabee offers a 100 percent money-back guarantee on your first sock purchase if returned within 90 days.
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OK, so that's my short review of my new socks: Ideal for travel, training and overall wellness. 
With the marathon called off, Colleen and I still planned to go to North Carolina. The whole idea was to run a race and hang out with Colleen's brother Ryan and his wife, Kelly, for a fun long weekend getaway.
Even though the marathon was off, that didn't mean we were going to cancel our much-needed time with our family. So, we hopped on our first flight since the shutdown in early March. It was admittedly kind of strange to be back at airports after being away for so long -- and this for people who are used to regularly flying somewhere every week or so.
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We had a nice lunch and little sampling session at Haw River Farmhouse Ales in Saxapahaw.
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We always put Carolina barbecue and craft beers on the agenda when visiting the state.
But our travel muscles kicked back in, and we masked up, boarded our flight in Denver and arrived in Raleigh about three hours later. Ryan and Kelly are much more than family to us; they are great friends and so much fun to hang out and travel with. We have had several group trips canceled this year, including our highly anticipated expeditions in the Galapagos with Silversea and Alaska with UnCruise Adventures.
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So, it was fantastic to get to enjoy a few closer-to-their-home adventures in beautiful North Carolina. Good food, new brews, new games (we did axe throwing) and plenty of laughs throughout our five-day stay made me quickly forget that I was supposed to be disappointed about my canceled marathon.
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We had such a great time throwing axes for the first time at Chatham Axes in Pittsboro, N.C.
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In these strange times, we have learned that we can either be flexible and savor our time together, making every encounter as fun as possible, or we can wallow in self-pity because our lives have been disrupted.
You know what we'll choose!
Until we can travel the world again safely, we'll find plenty of ways to get out and enjoy time with friends in safe ways, getting out in the fresh air and sunshine, knocking back craft beers on a patio, crushing tasty Carolina barbecue (for example) and finding new places to hike and explore.
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Kelly and Ryan planned an action-packed weekend in North Carolina for us. There was no marathon, but we got plenty of exercise with hikes almost every day.
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This past year has thrown everyone too many curveballs. But as long as we are healthy and can get together with family and friends, we will always be happy.
Stay cheerful, everyone, and thanks for reading,
JR
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