Just 2 weeks ago I had the great good fortune of seeing elephants in their natural environment in Samburu and Maasai Mara National Reserves in Kenya. They are truly magnificent and majestic creatures.

Later in the week, I visited the David Sheldrick Wildlife Trust orphanage in Nairobi adjacent to Nairobi National Park. The Shedlrick orphanage does incomparable work in rescuing orphaned elephants and returning them to the wild when they are old enough to survive on their own.

Unfortunately, too often their efforts see only tragedy as the elephant they rescued is killed by the same ivory trade responsible for it becoming an orphan in the first place.

Right now, the number of orphans at the Sheldrick facility is at a record high, indicating that poaching is not abating, but on the increase.

That evening, over a few glasses of wine on the patio of Macushla House, I was discussing the problem of ivory poaching with Shelley Waterland of the Born Free Foundation, and Dr. Clay Wilson, wildlife veterinarian and founder of the International Wildlife Rescue. Both of these individuals are on the front line working to end the decimation of elephant herds to ivory poaching.

The solution, they say, is to eliminate the end market for ivory products. The largest markets for ivory are China, Japan and, surprisingly, the Catholic Church!

That’s right — rosary beads made of ivory are much prized by Catholics worldwide. A Catholic myself, I can’t believe that any Catholic would want their prayers heard at the destruction of these beautiful and intelligent creatures of God, as seen in this video!

It would be wonderful if the Sheldrick orphanage was unnecessary, but it will be in business as long as ivory poaching remains a lucrative industry.

http://www.bushcampcompany.com/news/more_repeat_guests

Trypp abstained in protest over no pachyderm on the ballot.

resulting in a vacation or cruise booking of $5000 or more, $10 for bookings of $2000.00-$4999.99.*

Name your non-profit group as recipient of your contribution when you contact me about your travel arrangements.

Then tell your friends, family and associates about the value of PROFESSIONAL vacation travel planning.  Ask them to name your non-profit when booking a vacation or cruise package with me.  Your non-profit will earn $$$ with every booking!

*NOTE: Non-Profit group MUST be mentioned at time of first contact for any travel booking.  Judy Duran, CTA, must have non-profit name and contact information on file. Contribution offer is subject to approval of non-profit organization and subject to cancellation at the discretion of Judy Duran, CTA.  Contribution money credited to non-profit account after travel completed and commission received from supplier. Contribution based on NET package price exclusive of taxes & fees, air fare (unless commissionable), gratuities and non-commissionable amenities and arrangements. Contribution paid quarterly by check directly to named non-profit.  This contribution offered exclusively by Judy Duran, CTA.  Polk Majestic Travel Group and any travel suppliers used in providing travel arrangements, or their affiliates, are not in any way responsible for redeeming this contribution offer. Contributions NOT combinable with any other offer from Judy Duran, CTA, including Earn up to $50 VISA Bonus for Each New Referral  promotion.

Your Business & Referrals are ALWAYS appreciated!

resulting in a vacation or cruise booking of $2000 or more, $20 for bookings of $2000.00 to $4999.99.*

Book a vacation or cruise package with me.

Then tell your friends, family and associates about the value of PROFESSIONAL vacation travel planning.

NOTE: You must a travel client of Judy Duran, CTA, the author of this blog, or Polk Majestic Travel Group. Bonus money credited to VISA Reloadable Prepaid Card. Some personal information required to obtain card. All bonuses paid after first bonus will be loaded onto the original card. Bonus offers are subject to cancellation at the discretion of Judy Duran, CTA. This bonus offered exclusively by Judy Duran, CTA. Polk Majestic Travel Group and any travel suppliers used in providing travel arrangements, or their affiliates, are not in any way responsible for redeeming these bonus offers. 

*First-time referral only.  Referral MUST be mentioned prior to or at time of initial contact from new client.  Bonus money is paid after travel is completed and commission is received from supplier.  Bonus is based on NET package price exclusive of taxes & fees, air fare (unless commissionable), gratuities and non-commissionable amenities and arrangements.  Not valid for referrals of current clients with bookings on record with within the past 3 years. Bonus NOT combinable with any other offer, from Judy Duran, CTA, including Earn up to $25 Contribution to Your Non-Profit Group for Referrals promotion.

Your Business & Referrals are ALWAYS appreciated!

]]> http://thetravelingelephant.com/2012/03/28/earn-visa-for-your-referrals/feed/ 0 jduran0804 http://thetravelingelephant.com/2012/03/28/earn-visa-for-your-blog-contributions/ http://thetravelingelephant.com/2012/03/28/earn-visa-for-your-blog-contributions/#comments Wed, 28 Mar 2012 16:13:12 +0000 The Traveling Elephant http://thetravelingelephant.com/?p=635 ]]> Earn $5 to $20 VISA Bonus

for travel tips or articles published online at

TheTravelingElephant.com◊

send submissions to

TheTravelingElephant@msn.com

NOTE:  You must a travel client of Judy Duran, CTA, the author of this blog; or Polk Majestic Travel Group, Denver, Colorado.  Bonus money credited to VISA Reloadable Prepaid Card.  Some personal information required to obtain card.  All bonuses paid after first bonus will be loaded onto the original card.  Bonus offers are subject to cancellation at the discretion of Judy Duran, CTA.  This bonus offered exclusively by Judy Duran, CTA.  Polk Majestic Travel Group and any travel suppliers used in providing travel arrangements, or their affiliates, are not in any way responsible for redeeming these bonus offers.

◊Publication is solely at the discretion of Judy Duran, CTA, and might be edited.  Bonuses paid after publication.  No bonus paid for submissions not published. 

 Your Business & Referrals are ALWAYS appreciated!

Above link from the Chicago Tribune is good advice on car rental insurance coverage.

One big mistake car renters make is assuming personal insurance coverage also covers a rental car.  Maybe not. . .

• If the driver is not listed on the rental contract as an extra driver, his/her or the personal auto insurance coverage of the renter might not cover costs associated with damage to the rental.   (The more economical car insurance companies charge a fee for extra drivers, so sometimes is less expensive to go with a premium car rental company when more than one person will be driving the rental car.)
• If damage to the rental car due to something prohibited in the rental contract (e.g., driving off-road or even a gravel or dirt road or driveway), personal car rental policies might not cover the damage.

Remember, you are liable for the deductible on your personal car insurance policy for damage to the rental car.

Do consider purchasing the car rental option with travel insurance coverage for your trip offered by companies specializing in trip insurance (TravelEx, Travel Guard, etc.).  It is often less expensive than either the liability coverage offered by the car rental companies or the deductible on your personal car insurance, but you get COMPLETE trip coverage (baggage loss and delays, refund of trip costs for covered cancellation, medical treatment and evacuation, etc.).

I can help you with insurance details for you trip, whether it be complete “cancel-for-any-reason” coverage, or just enough to cover basics, such as a car rental mishap.

Hitchcock apparently thought so, setting scenes on trains throughout his illustrious directing career on both sides of The Pond:  The 39 Steps, Strangers on a Train, Shadow of a Doubt, and The Lady Vanishes, to name just a few.  Such was the Golden Era of Streamliner travel.

Train Holidays creates the ambiance of that era with a limited opportunity for glamorous seduction North by Northwest aboard a beautifully restored 1940’s-style private Streamliner Train.  For four trips only this Summer, 30 passengers will travel the Canadian Rockies from Seattle to Banff.  The Great Western Limited rolls through majestic scenery over the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, passing through the Cascade Mountains along the Skykomish River by day.  Fully hosted, the 8-day journey includes stops with sightseeing at Whitefish, Glacier National Park, Waterton Lake, Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, and 4 fabulous nights in Banff.

A choice of Pullman accommodations onboard features  luxurious bedding, turn-down service and private facilities.   Sumptuous meals are freshly prepared by the onboard chef and served in the dining and lounge areas with the gracious elegance of white linen and fresh roses on each table.

The tariff includes:

• Accommodations and all meals, wines and spirits aboard the train.
• Overnight deluxe hotel accommodations at Grouse Mountain Lodge in Whitefish; Prince of Wales Lodge at Waterton Lake; and 4 nights at the Banff Park Lodge.
• Daily breakfast , one day at Chateau Lake Louise; lunch at Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump; and dinner at Le Beaujolais overlooking the Bow River.
• Complete sightseeing including “Going to the Sun Highway” and Lake McDonald cruise at Glacier National Park; and gondola ride up Sulphur Mountain, Moraine Lake and Lake Louise, Yoho National Park while in Banff.
• Services of a professional tour manager for entire trip.
• Transfers to Calgary airport.

Tours depart June 24, July 22, August 19 and September 16.  Availability limited.

For complete details, quotes and reservations on this Unforgettable Journey, contact Judy Duran, CTA, 720 270-5767; durandenver@msn.com.

2007 winner of America’s Got Talent, Fator is, indeed, a remarkably talented man:  Ventriliquist, impressionist, comedian and puppet creator.  Fator appears most Tuesdays through Saturdays in The Terry Fator Theater at the Mirage .

But more than talent, Fator is simply a nice guy.  He allows the use of flash photography and recording devices during his performance.  He signs autographs after most shows until the last fan leaves.  The profits from his Mirage gift shop go towards assisting the families of US service men and women deployed overseas.  He supports several charities.  His show is full of patriotic pride and clean enough for my 86-year-old mother to enjoy.  While his humor is adult, unlike so many comic acts and Las Vegas shows, his performance is not profane or raunchy.

Fator’s proverbial white hat goodness comes from a sincere gratitude for his fans.  He quite frankly tells his audience he was able to break out of one-night-stands in Tippacanoe and Tyler, too, into a reported $100 million 5-year contract at the Mirage because his fans voted him into the America’s Got Talent top slot.  With so many celebrities blaming their woes on the zealous pursuit of their fans, it’s refreshing to encounter a talent who actually appreciates his fans and the recognition they’ve given him.

My favorite Fator characters are country singer Walter T Airedale, the character Fator has worked with the longest; Vicki the Cougar who compares herself to fine wine (the older she gets, the easier she goes down!); and Duggie Scott Walker, Fator’s annoying Mary Jane-smoking neighbor who sees strobe lights and hears heavy metal music everywhere.  What Fator does with Cher and a little audience participation is absolutely side-splitting!

Fator’s website is www.terryfator.com, which has links to his blog, charities, performance schedule, etc.

Here’s a ticket tip for Fator’s Mirage performances:  If you arrive in Las Vegas without tickets to Fator’s show, the box office at the Mirage often has same-day performance tickets for MUCH less than the vendors hawking last-minute tickets along the strip.  Show up in person at the box office in the Mirage Casino.  Don’t be put off if the only seats left are in the last row — the first time I saw Fator, this is exactly where I sat.  I can honestly say there is not a bad seat in the house, including those in the last row.  It’s a fairly small theater with closed-circuit TV’s throughout.

Better yet, get your seats before you arrive as part of your Las Vegas vacation package.  Contact me for details on this Unforgettable Journey:  Judy Duran, CTA; 720 270-5767; durandenver@msn.com.