Julia
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(Member) (Topic Starter)
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Good morning JY Community members!

After Bob posted his fantastic review of his recent Iceland trip and mentioned that the Northern Lights were the highlight of his holiday, we got thinking about our Just You magical moments.

So many of you have had incredible travel experiences with Just You so we’d like to know….

If you had to pick just one moment, one sight, one highlight or one experience that took your breath away, had you caught up in overwhelming emotion, had you laughing until you cried, or something that you never thought you’d do, what would it be and why?

As well as your comments, we’d love to create a photo album, so if you have any pictures that you would like to share with us, please send them to community@justyou.co.uk.

I look forward to reading about everyone’s magical moments!

Julia

And just because it’s necessary... Sometimes we are so pleased with your comments and photographs that we may choose to include them in brochures and as part of our promotional campaigns. We reserve the right to do this, but please let us know if for any reason you do not wish us to do so.

Julie White
(Member)
Hello Julia,

I have had so many magical moments on Just You holidays that I don't think I can pick one. The Terracotta Army, in China was amazing. Riding an eleven foot elephant in South Africa and stroking a cheetah. Snorkelling in the Great Barrier Reef and seeing Ayers Rock at sunrise and sunset. In Costa Rica I did the zip wire which was thrilling, above the treetops . Seeing polar bears in the wild, although at a distant, with the added touch of seeing the Northern Lights. Waking up on New Years day and swimming in the Blue Lagoon

All these have been experienced with lots of lovely new friends which I have made along the way. There have been many highlights and I am sure I have many more to come.

Warm regards Julie

BGray
  • (Member)
(Member)
Hi Julia,

I'm glad my review sparked off a great idea! I've had so many magical moments on JY holidays, that I wouldn't have had otherwise it is very difficult to pick just one.

However, if forced to, I think I'd go with the helicopter ride over the Victoria Falls in Zambia. It was a fantastic experience - I love the exhilaration of being in a helicopter and seeing the Falls from the air was stupendous - breathtaking scenery and made me aware of how large the Falls actually are. A real bonus was flying over a length of the gorge and seeing villages and animals from the sky - we passed over a large herd of elephants and I got a whole load of fantastic photos!

I'm very much looking forward to reading other people's best JY experiences!

All the best,

Bob

nixon
  • (Member)
(Member)
Hi Julia,



Oh My so many to choose from.

Breathtaking scenery in New Zealand, the time spent at Milford Sound did actually move me to tears it really was a heart stopping moment to see such outstanding beauty. In a way I found it spiritual and moving a wonderful moment that will live with me forever.

New York I did my first ever helicopter flight on this tour over the New York Skyline, my feelings were, numb with fear and anticipation, but what sights to see once we had left the ground, amazing, I have since done many more helicopter flights. New York is a fantastic place to visit.

Kenya Safari being the animal lover that I am, to see my most favourite animal ELEPHANTS in the wild was amazing this also brought a lump to my throat and a tear to my eye, I felt so alive my heart pounding at the natural wonder of the surroundings and the animals...long may they roam this planet free and away from poachers.

Austria again outstanding natural beauty it filled my soul and just made me feel alive to be in the mountains and breathe clean air.

My magical moments are ones that touch my heart I am very lucky to have had so many moments the ones listed above have definitely been heart stopping magical moments in my life.



Cindy

daveJB
  • (Member)
(Member)
Hello Julia,My magical moments are the hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings in Egypt and the mosaics at Roman Villa del Casale, Piazza Armerina in Sicily and the amazing sun sets over the sea off the coast of the Hotel Fiesta Athenee Palace in Campofelice di Roccella also in Sicily.

But I think arriving at a new Hotel at the beginning of a holiday with all the expectation of seeing new places

and meeting your fellow travellers can be magical too.

Dave.

sjm533
  • (Member)
(Member)
'Julia' wrote:

Good morning JY Community members!

After Bob posted his fantastic review of his recent Iceland trip and mentioned that the Northern Lights were the highlight of his holiday, we got thinking about our Just You magical moments.

So many of you have had incredible travel experiences with Just You so we’d like to know….

If you had to pick just one moment, one sight, one highlight or one experience that took your breath away, had you caught up in overwhelming emotion, had you laughing until you cried, or something that you never thought you’d do, what would it be and why?

As well as your comments, we’d love to create a photo album, so if you have any pictures that you would like to share with us, please send them to community@justyou.co.uk.

I look forward to reading about everyone’s magical moments!

Julia

And just because it’s necessary... Sometimes we are so pleased with your comments and photographs that we may choose to include them in brochures and as part of our promotional campaigns. We reserve the right to do this, but please let us know if for any reason you do not wish us to do so.

Hi Julia,

My magical moment was on the Discover Apulia tour last September. We went into the Basilica in Lecce where a wedding was taking place. Just as I walked in, completely unexpectedly, a lady began to sing. Don't ask me what it was, I can't remember, but I do know that I knew it. I have never heard anything so beautiful. I stood stock still, hardly breathing, and when she had finished I turned to another lady in the group and we both had tears running down our faces. I will never forget that moment.

Sylvia

Anniejac
(Member)
An incredible moment (amongst many) on my recent JY trip to Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam was the early morning yoga session on the deck of the boat on Halong Bay. A mystical experience as we drifted amongst the limestone karsts in the morning mists to the haunting music accompanying the lesson. I felt energised all day.
Roamer
  • (Member)
(Member)
Seeing a tiger in Rathambore on the spirit of India tour last year was magical.

I realise how lucky we were to get a sighting of this beautiful animal.

So sad that the poachers are decimating this species , even in the tiger reserves.

RosieMo
(Member)
Reading Sylvia's comment has reminded me of a "magical music moment" on the Moscow and St Petersburg trip a couple of years ago. We took the train from Moscow to St Petersburg and as we disembarked from the train in St Petersburg, the most beautiful piece of music was playing to welcome the arrival of the train. It was very "Russian" - symphonic and very moving, and completely unexpected. I was very moved. The local guide told me that it was called "The Hymn to the Great City" and I've discovered that it was written by one Reinhold Gliere.

On the same day, there was also some beautiful singing in a church service at the Church of St Nicholas. Simple and very atmospheric.

RM.

Littlepaul66
(Member)
Hi Julia

I went on Route 66 on my first JY holiday and I have to say the most magical moment was The Grand Canyon. For the first time ever in my life I was lost for words. I had seen pictures and video of the canyon but it didn't compare to seeing it for real. I took many photographs while I was there and a few panoramic ones as well. I'm so glad to have seen it and I'd say to everyone who has not been to the canyon to try and go. It's EPIC.

I took many photos along Route 66 and I will email a few to you that may be suitable for your brochures.

Paul.

Julia
  • (Member) (Topic Starter)
(Member) (Topic Starter)
Hi Paul,

We'd love to see your photos!

Thank you

Julia

sjm533
  • (Member)
(Member)
'Littlepaul66' wrote:

Hi Julia

I went on Route 66 on my first JY holiday and I have to say the most magical moment was The Grand Canyon. For the first time ever in my life I was lost for words. I had seen pictures and video of the canyon but it didn't compare to seeing it for real. I took many photographs while I was there and a few panoramic ones as well. I'm so glad to have seen it and I'd say to everyone who has not been to the canyon to try and go. It's EPIC.

I took many photos along Route 66 and I will email a few to you that may be suitable for your brochures.

Paul.

Hi Paul,

I'll never forget my first sight of the Grand Canyon either - jaw dropping. We were fortunate to stay overnight and catch the sunrise - equally wonderful.

You're right, books, videos and photos do not prepare you for the actual thing.

Sylvia

jonah
  • (Member)
(Member)
Hi Julia. What a great idea because this also highlights to the less travelled of us (me) that there is so much more to explore and that we will take something personal and special away from each trip.. My magical moments so far have been seeing the Northern Lights which was a lifelong dream and seeing the Bosphorus and minarets of Istanbul sparkling in the morning sunshine from the roof terrace of the hotel - another lifelong dream.
BGray
  • (Member)
(Member)
Hi all, ok if others are going to bend the rules and highlight more than one then so will I!! Thanks to JY some of my most magical holiday experiences have included seeing a tiger close up in Ranthambore - she came very close to our jeep, watched us for a while, lay down, washed her paws and then slowly sauntered off - wonderful! In general all the game drives we did in South Africa and Botswana were fabulous, seeing the animals in their natural habitat and we saw all the big five including a fleeting glimpse of a leopard! I also have to mention the teeming wildlife in Tortuguero National Park, Costa Rica, it was like being in the lost world!

My other stand out moments have included seeing the Grand Canyon (South Rim) - the vista was too much to take in! On the National Parks tour, the flight from Monument Valley to Bryce was incredible - we flew over the whole of MV, Lake Powell, Glen Canyon before landing near Bryce - so many spectacular landscapes and I managed to get some great photos as well! I think for me it's the beauty of nature that moves me most - sailing gently amongst the limestone karst islands in Halong Bay (even if it was foggy, that made them seem even more mysterious!), the immensity of the Iguazu Falls at the border of Brazil and Argentina - 275 different falls in a double horseshoe shape, wow!! The spectacular sighting of the Northern Lights in Iceland (much better than I could ever have hoped for), coupled with the jaw-dropping food made that a real holiday to remember. I could go on and on, but thanks to JY I have seen so many wondrous sites and hopefully will see many more before I hang up my travelling shoes!

All the best,

Bob

mikew
  • (Member)
(Member)
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

janib
  • (Member)
(Member)
Hello All,

Most magical moment was walking out of the Siq, early in the morning and gazing on the Treasury at Petra. Stunned silence broken by a 'WOW'. As the sun came up and hit the Treasury, even more wows. Shame that the Americans that came in too late missed it :(

The next part of the trip was the Pyramids at Giza- another one top of my To Do list. Most disappointing as you turned and there was the sprawling suburbs and a KFC- Kentucky Fried Camel- no time to see the Sphinx properly, rushed job as it was closing early so they could set up the stage for Aida.

I quess the only other To Do was Eilean Donan, on my list since Highlander in 1986. Beautiful and another tick :)

Jan

Angie S
(Member)
I've seen a few truly memorable places and hope to see a few more.

For me, probably because it is still quite recent and therefore still very vivid, was the anticipation of working our way to Machu Picchu from the train journey, the winding road up the mountain and then the last few steps to the full reveal....a deep intake of air and the biggest smile ever....little old me was at Machu Picchu, Peru!

Angie

sallyc
  • (Member)
(Member)
There have been so many magical moments on JY trips it is difficult to narrow them down. After much thought I have got it down to three:-

3. Watching the sunrise and sunset over Uluru (Ayres Rock)

2. Cuddling a Cheetah in Zambia

1. Seeing the Northern Lights recently in Iceland. I think this tops everything as we were so lucky to have such a good sighting and our guide August knew the right place to take us (his local golf club).

Incidentally Julia, I emailed some photos of Iceland over a couple of weeks ago and wanted to check they arrived safely as they haven't appeared on the Facebook page yet.

Thanks

AbbaDave
(Member)
Hi Julia

my most memorable moments being on my first visit to Australia in 2013, spotting my first wild kangaroo in the outback and cuddling a Koala in Kuranda, as well as much inspiring sights as seeing the magical Olga's and Ayers Rock very much before my very eyes, the cruise round Sydney harbour seeing the magnificent Opera house and harbour bridge, the stunning blue mountains and the cable car ride deep into the rainforest in Kuranda which was breathtaking, seeing the Great Barrier Reef on a JY inclusive, fantastic, and the sounds of silence dinner at Ayers Rock as well as the farewell dinner on a colonial tram in Melbourne, another highlight

Peru in 2014 was another magical experience, the Train ride to Machu Picchu was something special followed by the winding bus ride up the mountain before the magical site of MP suddenly hits you, wonderful, the unusual boat journey from Lake Titicaca to see the uros floating islands was another highlight and spending 3 nights in the amazon jungle with so many activities as something I had never experienced before, wonderful memories

Julia I shall send you some pics of Australia and Peru soon if that's ok

Dave

Julia
  • (Member) (Topic Starter)
(Member) (Topic Starter)
Hi Mike, Sally & Dave,

Photos have been received thanks - they all look fantastic, thank you for sharing them with us.

Sally - I'll have a word with the guy who looks after our Social Media to find out when your album is likely to go up.

Kindest regards,

Julia