Hi Julia,

JY have given me the opportunity to see and do so many things that I never thought I would, but if I had to pick a couple of highlights they would be flying over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter and seeing a lioness with three cubs just a few feet away in Kruger National Park.

I'd always wanted to fly in a helicopter and to do that over the Grand Canyon was just a dream come true.

As for the lioness and her cubs, as we approached in our 4x4 she stood up and for a moment we thought that she would take the cubs into the bush. However she then sat down again, after presumably deciding we weren't up to much, and watched over the cubs whilst they played and rolled around. As we drove away I turned to SallyC and said 'I hope I've got some photos that do that justice'. Nothing quite prepares you for an encounter like that!

Anyway, I'll delve into my photo library and send some to you.

Mike

Hi Mike,

I was also in the same jeep ... It was a fantastic sighting of lioness and cubs...as you say a very close encounter and one that we could watch for some time. I hadn't realised who you were until this post.... You also gave me some very useful info for my trip in a couple of weeks to Jordan. Also am looking at doing Iceland next year ( possibly with travel sphere so I can go in summer) so may be after further information. If you haven't done Vietnam and Cambodia I can recommend that holiday.... No real wildlife but some fantastic photo opportunities and an amazing range of experiences and sights.

Hi Jan,

Sorry for the late reply; I've only just seen your post. Hope the advice on Jordan has proved useful and if you need any information regarding Iceland just ask.

Vietnam and Cambodia is a tour I've considered but being as JY keep coming up with new marvellous destinations I keep putting it off.

Cheers

Mike

Like others I could not and would not want to pick just one highlight as I have had amazing experiences on most of my trips.

My first holiday as an independent solo traveller to New Zealand will always hold dear in my heart as the whole experience was amazing and quite an adventure. In South Africa & Zambia going to the edge of the world at Cape of Good Hope - next stop Antarctica - seeing the variety of animals in the wild, sitting on an ostrich (poor thing!), walking with two lions and of course the Victoria Falls. Rafting on the Athabasca River in Jasper, Canada. The fireworks in Iceland at New Year. Salsa dancing in Cuba. I had better stop now!

Regards

Sylvia

Going back to Amalfi on a day trip from Cilento Coast last time I was there. I had only been once on my many trips to Sorrento and that was in the rain, so it was beautiful to go back on a really sunny day.

My 60th birthday last year was spent on the Slovenia Mountains and Coast trip and we had the most wonderful weather all week. It was my first trip back to the mountains since 1991 and I spent my birthday partly at Lake Bohinji in the most wonderful clear weather with a terrific bunch of fellow travellers. They all helped to make it a most wonderful day and I would be more than happy to share another holiday with any of them (you know who you are :thumbup:) We sure had some laughs that week in spite of sometimes not great food and bars in the hotel shutting at 10pm!

Hi Julia,

JY have given me the opportunity to see and do so many things that I never thought I would, but if I had to pick a couple of highlights they would be flying over the Grand Canyon in a helicopter and seeing a lioness with three cubs just a few feet away in Kruger National Park.

I'd always wanted to fly in a helicopter and to do that over the Grand Canyon was just a dream come true.

As for the lioness and her cubs, as we approached in our 4x4 she stood up and for a moment we thought that she would take the cubs into the bush. However she then sat down again, after presumably deciding we weren't up to much, and watched over the cubs whilst they played and rolled around. As we drove away I turned to SallyC and said 'I hope I've got some photos that do that justice'. Nothing quite prepares you for an encounter like that!

Anyway, I'll delve into my photo library and send some to you.

Mike

Hi Mike,

I was also in the same jeep ... It was a fantastic sighting of lioness and cubs...as you say a very close encounter and one that we could watch for some time. I hadn't realised who you were until this post.... You also gave me some very useful info for my trip in a couple of weeks to Jordan. I Also am looking at doing Iceland next year ( possibly with travel sphere so I can go in summer) so may be after further information. If you haven't done Vietnam and Cambodia I can recommend that holiday.... No real wildlife but some fantastic photo opportunities and an amazing range of experiences and sights.

Just sent a few emails with a load of attachments of America, Austria, Petra and Scotland. Hope you get them all :P

Jan

My first magical moment was seeing the Taj Mahal on my first JY trip in 2005. That magical moment paved the way for so many,many more magical moments. Oh so many after gaining confidence on travelling alone. and having done 10 JY trips and 9 TS trips.

I will tell you 2 or 3 magical moments as most people on the community have done, but how can I possibly choose 3 let alone 1!

In 2007 after the JY Kenyan safari was cancelled I went on an identical safari with TS. apart from the animals one of the highlights was visiting a large maasi village, where before entering the village, all the villagers came out to greet us led by the staff bearing stomping warriors who then entertained us with their synchronized jumping. I had to pinch myself for a reality check, was I really in Kenya.

Then I did the balloon trip over the Masai Mara, amazing especially with our TM John Coleman who was a font of knowledge on Kenya and had been the balloon pilot for Michael Palin when he did "Pole to Pole". Great TM again, who came from Market Harborough. I assume he has now retired.

I went to Nepal with TS in 2010 because it wasn't available with JY. However Jan Lumley the TM said it could be classed as JY because of the high ratio of solo travellers. My magical moment here was gaining my "Sky Rider certificate" for flying from Pokhara in a bright yellow two seater plane with a mad Russian Pilot (his words) around some of the shadows of the world's tallest peaks notably Fishtail. I felt like James Bond but the evening before I was so nervous that I wrote my children a letter in case I didn't return.

Oops, sorry Julia better mention JY.Tigers in Ranthambore and listening to the peacocks there, national bird of India, so I couldn't possibly forget that I was on my third visit to magical India (change from incredible)

Hope you don't mind me highlighting TS tours, too.

Regards

Di

A fabulous boat ride in the Plitvice National Park after a 3 hour trek. The whole group was exhausted but mesmerised by the natural beauty that surrounded us and we all reflected upon how lucky we were to have such a great group with such a fabulous Tour Manager (Vlatka), in a beautiful national park. This was one of the moments i fell in love with Croatia and why i am desperate to go back!

Mark

All received - thank you for sharing these with us!

Kindest regards,

Julia

To date, my magical moment on Just You holiday was walking through the Siq at Petra and seeing the Treasury for the first time. This was more magical as I always wanted to see Petra. Taj Mahal, Niagara Falls, Sunset in Wadi Rum, too have been magical. I am looking forward to many magical moments in the future whilst travelling with Just You!

Jaya