Expedia Group several months ago paused the global rollout of its One Key loyalty program beyond the U.S. and the UK, but it’s busy expanding the program to its B2B partners.
16.10.2024 - 16:09 / cntraveler.com
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are advised that this story may contain names and depictions of Indigenous individuals who have since passed.
Beneath the towering canopy of basket ferns and leafy fronds of Hope’s Cycad in Mossman Gorge, just 80 minutes north of the city of Cairns/Gimuy, Kuku Yalanji man Juan Walker points out an emerald-chested wompoo fruit dove. Its song echoes through this patch of the Daintree Rainforest, part of the Wet Tropics World Heritage Area, bouncing off the same boulders and branches that have existed here since the area was but a small part of the ancient Gondwanan forest that once covered the Australian continent.
We’re on the final part of our journey, which commenced four hours ago in downtown Mossman. During Juan’s Walkabout Cultural Adventures tour, we’ve tread the sandy shores of Rocky Point to dig for pipies (clam-like bivalves with mossy-toned and stone-shaded shells that shine and sparkle), cracked open and ate sea almonds, and gathered—captivated—as Juan detailed the bush remedies found where the ocean meets the sea. We learned about ingenious fish traps—a tens-of-thousands-year-old system for catching native coral trout and barramundi between tidal shifts—that decorate the shoreline, how to best throw a spear, and why certain treacherous patches of Daintree National Park are fiercely avoided by members of Juan’s community. Juan is a passionate storyteller and historian who speaks gently yet boldly, with pride and intention. He points out bent limbs of trees and gorges in their trunks; the former are directional markers, he says, and the latter scars that indicate where his ancestors carved out boomerangs. “You and me: we’re the same as this tree,” Juan says. “This rock, this water, it’s all energy. Take what you need and always put something back.”
Juan designed his itineraries based on the things he did as a young person, “integrating learning about the Country and the Aboriginal lifestyles on Country.” (Country is a term used by First Nations peoples to describe one’s connection with the land and waterways to which they and their community belong.) On his half-day tours—fueled by papaya, passionfruit, and bananas from family-owned Scomazzon's Farm Store, and his mother’s homemade damper, a rustic Australian style of bread—Juan shares the Dreamtime (stories of how the natural world was created by spiritual beings) legend of Kurriyala, the snake whose movements created the waterways of Mossman Gorge, and the skills passed down to him by family members. Juan’s tours are a conscious, careful presentation of sacred knowledge that reflects the Kuku Yalanji relationship with this land, and the living traditions that ensure its protection and care.
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Expedia Group several months ago paused the global rollout of its One Key loyalty program beyond the U.S. and the UK, but it’s busy expanding the program to its B2B partners.
Within minutes of finding our table at Papi Steak, the flashy Miami transplant at the equally flashy Fontainebleau Las Vegas, an EDM song blasts from the speakers. Our server politely excuses himself, answering the siren call.
The UK is soon set to introduce the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA), which will apply to visitors from destinations including Europe, Australia, the US and Canada.
Booking.com has made a big update to the AI trip planner on its mobile app.
There’s been a lot of big news for destinations around the world, from two Caribbean islands that began requiring new electronic entry forms to Europe’s new entry requirements being delayed yet again.
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Affiliate links for the products on this page are from partners that compensate us and terms apply to offers listed (see our advertiser disclosure with our list of partners for more details). However, our opinions are our own. See how we rate credit cards to write unbiased product reviews.
Oct 18, 2024 • 6 min read
The 70 miles of California coastline that makes up the unincorporated area of Big Sur has a storied, almost mystical allure, largely thanks to its staggering beauty. With redwood forests, stunning Pacific views, winding rivers and natural hot springs, the area has for decades attracted celebrities, artists and millions of visitors. So many visitors in fact, that these days, Kirk Gafill, the president of the Big Sur Chamber of Commerce, estimates that 90 percent of the local economy is tourism-dependent.
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