From Staff, Wire Reports Flower baths in Bali, new smoking rules at Disney, antiquing and mystery tours, more. Through April, Voyageur Outward Bound offers challenging whitewater canoeing and desert backpacking in the Rio Grande area of southwest Texas along the Mexico border. With five to 10 other adventurers and two trained instructors, participants take on challenges while learning skills essential for backcountry travel. Depending upon which course is chosen, skills include backpacking, canyoneering, rock climbing, desert camping, and map and compass navigation. Some courses involve students in cross-cultural exchanges with Mexican communities.
Courses vary in length from one to three weeks and are geared to specific age groups.
Voyageur also offers specialized courses for semester students, couples, women and parents with children. Blossoms and oils used have healing and beauty benefits, the hotel says. The tropical ambience is enhanced with softly burning aromatherapy candles, tropical-patterned bathrobe designed by the granddaughter of the last Balinese king, and a water dipper fashioned from a coconut shell, as well as other Balinese artworks and crafts. The flower baths should be ordered at least an hour in advance. The survey also showed that 40 percent of cruise passengers were first-timers.