VIKING CREATES MAGIC FOR JACKIE AND JIM Tales From Our Sails “Our most memorable experience thus far on Viking of time. “There’s no other way that we’d be able to visit so many amazing places,” they say,
cruise lines occurred as we were sitting on the top deck as our ship pulled out of the dock in Budapest one evening,” Jackie and Jim tell us. “The evening was dark and the entire city was lit up. ‘Time to Say Goodbye’ by Andrea Bocelli was playing, creating the most magical and memorable experience thus far.”
The couple enjoys the new ships and many amenities, and they love the small number of travelers aboard each ship. It makes for an intimate experience and provides the greatest opportunity to meet other travelers and create lasting friendships. “If we had to choose between river and ocean cruises, we couldn’t make a decision,” Jackie and Jim tell us. “Each has its own special features, and we have enjoyed every Viking cruise that we’ve been on completely.” Above all, it’s the planning that makes the Viking experience so great, and according to Jackie and Jim, it all starts with Carol and her team at Imagine Going There. “She is a special individual with so much knowledge and experience of the cruises to share. Well before you board the ship, while you are cruising, and after you return, she’s always in touch, making sure you enjoy Viking every step of the way.” Jackie and Jim, thanks for sharing your experiences with us! Your enthusiasm and passion for Viking and adventure are contagious!
The Brandt’s have sailed on five Viking ocean cruises and three river cruises. They told us, “Before we experienced Viking, we had taken other cruise lines, but after our first Viking experience, our next eight cruises were all Viking, and we have another one booked for next fall,” Jackie and Jim say. If you haven’t yet experienced the magic of Viking cruise lines, this adventurous couple highly recommend that you give it a whirl, as it’s an amazing way to pack a lot of adventure into one trip while visiting dozens of places in a fairly short period
The Furry Friends of the Fishing Industry HOW BANGLADESHIS USE OTTERS TO HARNESS THEIR CATCH
If you wander down a riverbank in southwest Bangladesh, you might happen upon a squealing, squeaking crate of
and paddle furiously after schools of fish, encouraging them to swim into their owners’ nets.
river otters. The otters aren’t in danger. In fact, they’re the pampered helpers of the region’s fishermen and women, who’ve trained them to herd fish.
According to the publication Roads & Kingdoms, Bangladeshi fishers can
catch more than 20 pounds of fish per excursion thanks to their otter helpers. Locals breed otters specifically for this purpose, raising them just like Westerners raise dogs and cats. This otter-human partnership is an important part of Bangladeshi culture. The fish the otters bring in sustain their owners through lean times and help them survive periods of famine.
Yes, that’s right — just as we use herding dogs to corral sheep and cows into pens, people who fish in Bangladesh use otters to drive fish, crabs, and prawns into their nets. The practice dates back hundreds of years — and it’s impressive to watch.
First, in the dead of night, the Bangladeshi anglers load crates of
otters onto their boats and head out to fish. Each otter wears a small rope harness and leash attached to a wooden pole. As soon as the boat reaches the fishing area, the fishermen release the otters. They dive into the water
To learn more about this fascinating human-animal partnership and see a video of the otters in action, head to YouTube and search
“Bangladesh otter fishing.
2 • www.ImagineGoingThere.com
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