BLOGGING... FROM THE HEART www.tauck.com/travel-blog


BEAR HUGS IN CHINA, PANDA-STYLE


Travel is many things – those small moments that make a trip extraordinary, sharing the experience with those you’re on the road with, and of course the stories. It’s been a year of innovation at www.tauck.com – including our new Travel Blog, updated weekly with special stories sharing favorite Tauck travel experiences, behind-the-scenes stories, top ten lists, pop culture tie-ins and so much more. You’ll find excerpts on these pages from readers’ favorites:


HOW WE PUT THE FAMILY IN IRELAND


by Tauck Tour Architect Dawne Andrews, who developed “The Best of China” – a new tour for 2013:


In my role as a product manager for Tauck, I have the privilege of road-testing unique experiences for our guests in some pretty exotic locations. I am always delighted by the genuine hospitality I receive wherever I go, experiencing warm welcomes, even bear hugs, from the locals. I’m not talking about the kind of all-encompassing embraces that traditionally define bear hugs, although the ones I experienced on my visit to the Chengdu Panda Breeding Research Center in China’s Sichuan Province were no less powerful. After feeding the pandas and hearing about all the wonderful work and progress the Center has accomplished in their quest to save these beloved panda bears, the magical moment of actually holding a baby panda was dawning.


I was asked to put on what can best be described as medical scrubs so I


could safely hold one of the Center’s precious panda cubs. I couldn’t help but break into a huge smile as I first set eyes on the baby, a little ball of black and white fur about 7 months old and truly beautiful. As the staff placed him into my arms, it was a natural, maternal instinct for me to hold him close and cuddle. His warmth radiated against mine as he rested his head on my shoulder. He gently took hold of my hand with his furry paw and looked intently at my fingers. Once the novelty of looking at my fingers wore off, he switched his focus to my face and I found myself staring into these deep pools of dark brown eyes flecked with gold. The only ones who existed at the moment were the two of us.


I fed him sticks of bamboo all the while cameras and flashes were clicking away. He wasn’t bothered in the least and was far more concerned about getting every last morsel of bamboo into his mouth. When the time came to hand him back to his keepers, I’ll be honest and let you know it was difficult. This was an experience and moment that you want to last forever.


by Brand Manager Sharon Bell, who developed our new Tauck Bridges family journey “Ireland Forever.”


...Initially, we made sure that we included the key iconic destinations on our Ireland family vacation, like Dublin, the Cliffs of Moher, the Ring of Kerry... but I quickly found that it was the unique, lesser-known elements that we created from the ground up that were personally so inspirational to me. Like the local potter we met in Kinsale who had never hosted a large tour group, but instead taught pottery to local kids in an authentic 17th-century stone farmhouse. We swapped a few stories, shared with him our hopes for the enrichment that kids get when they engage in authentic, hands-on activities… And the end result? He will show Tauck guests how to throw pottery on a wheel and make Celtic jewelry – and he’ll share some amazing stories that he has acquired throughout the years about the history of pottery in Ireland. And then… he has invited our groups to have lunch in his studio!


We wanted to include something on our Ireland family trip that was different, something that would be unique. And when we road-tested Ballymaloe Cookery School, we found it. To learn the art of Irish cooking, the kids will make Irish soda bread while the adults make starters and entrees. And then our families will gather together to share their creations (that were carefully supervised, of course) in this beautiful farm setting. And one of the best parts? The owner’s uncle will serenade with Irish tunes during our lunch. For me, this was the “wow” moment that I look for on every trip. One more example is the way our families leave Ireland – their last night will be spent at an Irish farmhouse celebration complete with homemade food, Irish step dancing, storytelling and a sheep dog demonstration. This is another one of those authentic moments – I love that we chose to say goodbye this way, with a way true to Ireland.


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