First a bit of background

WHILE MANY OF OUR FRIENDS ARE OPTING FOR RELAXING VACATIONS ON LUXURIOUS CRUISE SHIPS, MY HUSBAND AND I HAVE  OPTED TO CONTINUE OUR  INDEPENDENT TRAVEL  - HIKING , BIKING, RAFTING, OR BOATING IN REMOTE CORNERS OF THE GLOBE. WE ARE NOT YOUR TYPICAL BACK -PACKERS  .WE PLAN OUR TRIPS TO  ACCOMMODATE OUR TASTE FOR LUXURIOUS DIGS AND FOOD TO MATCH. WE ARE SELF ORDAINED "FOODIES" AND GENERALLY IMMERSE OURSELVES IN THE CULINARY DELIGHTS OF  EVERY LOCALE.

WE HAVE GONE ON BICYCLE TRIPS TO CHINA, VIETNAM, AND THE WINE COUNTRY IN FRANCE- NURTURED AND PAMPERED BY THE INCOMPARABLE ...