Imprint Tours

Thailand Tour Photo Gallery

Reid Coen — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 04:02:32 +0000

These images taken on Imprint Tour’s 2008 Tantalizing Thailand Tour – the sequence roughly equates the tour itinerary.

Imprint New Zealand Tour (part I)

Reid Coen — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 21:08:55 +0000

Imprint Tours’ first foray to the southern hemisphere was a huge success. Our intrepid group of 23 travelers enjoyed a fabulous 2 weeks in New Zealand and Sydney, Australia. Every new tour I do develops its own “theme”. For NZ, that theme was Natural Wonders and Natural Warmth. The spectacle of glowworm caves, geo-thermal wonders, and the stunning scenery and wildlife of the south island were matched only by the genuine friendliness and hospitality of the Kiwis themselves. Throw in some great entertainment (the Kiwis know how to put on a show), a homestay, wine tasting, great meals, some Maori connections, and the world-class city of Sydney and you have the recipe for a great tour.

We began our adventure in Auckland with a morning driving tour of the city. We crossed the famous harbor bridge for views from the other side, stopped for a photo op…

Elephant adventures in Thailand

Reid Coen — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 09:02:01 +0000

Whether traveling independently or on a tour, an elephant encounter is almost certainly a part of a trip to Thailand. Modern Thais recognize our western fascination with the massive pachyderms and camps, shows, and trekking have proliferated with the advance of tourism. But the historical role of elephants in Thai society has been much more than entertainment for tourists. Elephants have long been an important element of Thai spiritual, cultural, and economic life.

As a significant presence in both Hindu and Buddhist mythology elephants hold a place of profound spiritual significance. The Hindu deity Ganesh, with his elephant’s head, is the god of knowledge and remover of obstacles and is depicted on temples throughout the country. Another Hindu deity, Indra is often shown with his three-headed elephant mount Erawan. In Buddhist lore the future Buddha’s mother was only able to conceive after dreaming of a white elephant. The legend…

Vienna Wandering

Reid Coen — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 18:52:24 +0000

I finished my Rick Steves GAS (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) Tour today and had the whole day to explore Vienna. I’ve come to love the city and, as a bonus, feel like I’m still getting to know it. There is so much to see and do here and as I don’t do GAS often, I’ve had little chance to explore. I tackled two sights and one activity today: the KunstHausWien, the Hofburg New Palace Museums, and dinner in a suburban heuriger (HOY rig ur).

The New Palace Museums are OK but nothing that excited my imagination (Ephesis antiquities; arms and armor; musical instruments). The heuriger expedition was much more rewarding. Using Rick’s instructions and Vienna’s efficient and cheap public transportation, I headed out to the hills west of the city where I found lively courtyards with communal tables, live music, and great food and wine (very reasonably priced).…