Travel Tips from Around the World

AFRICAThe best adventure. The newest naturaland Chinese games, such as dai-siu and keno. Slot
thrill available in South Africa is the underwatermachines are known locally as "hungry tigers".The
shark watching. Four shark spotters at one timebest place to honeymoon. Macau's Pousada de
can spend three hours in sturdy cages, watchingSao Tiago, avenida da Republica; became a hotel
the great whites circling in search of prey. Contactin 1980-it was built 350 years ago as a fortress
Exotic Drive Tours, 45 Rosmead Ave., Kenilworth,(the Fortaleza da Barra). Every historical feature
Cape Town 7700The best Java. Kenya produceswas preserved during the transformation, including
the best coffee in the world and is one of thethe Portuguese marble, hand-painted tiles, ancient
world's leading exporters of Arabica coffee. Thestonewalls, gentle cascades, hand-carved
Coffee Board of Kenya, Mama Ngina Street,mahogany and even the trees that shade the
serves the most tempting coffee in town, as wellmulti-level terraces. Overlooking the South China
as light snacks. A light snack consists of coffee,Sea, enveloped in warm, salty breezes, the
mandazi (fried dough) and samosa (meat pie inpousada is an ideal romantic hideaway, perfect for
the Indian fashion as interpreted by Kenyana honeymoon. You could have your wedding here
cooks). Coffee was introduced to Kenya by thetoo-small weddings can be arranged in the chapel
French Holy Ghost Fathers (who liked a good cup(which holds only 15 people). The pousada is
of coffee) in the 1890s. It was developed in thecomplete with restaurants, gardens, a pool and
region north of Nairobi. African farmers werereading rooms-you never need to venture
forbidden to grow coffee until 1954. It is nowbeyond its grounds. The pousada has 20 rooms
Kenya's main export crop (which causes problemsand three suites, starting at $125 a
when the coffee crop fails). The berries arenight.MEXICOThe world's grandest canyon-and
handpicked twice a year. The second leadingmost exciting train ride. Chihuahua's Barranca del
export crop is tea. Today the region aroundCobre (Copper Canyon) is four times larger and
Limuru supports more than 100,000 African300 feet deeper than the U.S. Grand Canyon. Its
smallholders, who grow enough tea to makemountain peaks rise 10,000 feet and its valleys
Kenya the third-largest producer in the world,drop 1,500 feet. Until 1961, when the Chihuahua al
after India and Sri Lanka.CENTRAL ASIAThe bestPacifico train line opened, the canyon was
travel tip of all for the countries ending in "stan"inaccessible and known only to the isolated
Don't forget to carry a roll of toilet paper withTarahumara Indians living in caves. The train line
you. It is not yet common in Central Asia.climbs from sea level at Los Mochis on the Pacific
Bathrooms may be quite a shock. Potable waterto 8,000 feet before descending to Chihuahua. It
is also a problem in Kazahkstan. Don't drink thepasses the most spectacular scenery in
tap water. And limit your locally bottled mineralMexico-sheer cliffs that change color as the sun
water intake, because it can be very salty.sets, giant rock formations, deep gorges and
Bottled soda and juices are your best bet; they'remountain peaks. You can catch the train every
plentiful. Drink boiled water when possible; carry aday in Chihuahua at 7 a.m. or in Los Mochis at 6
canteen with you and fill it with boiled water ata.m. The cost of a one-way trip from start to
every opportunity. Carry iodine tablets for whenfinish is $80.The best place to stay in the canyon
none of the above is available and Lomotil just inis the Hotel Cabanas Divisadero-Barrancas, in
case.CHINAThe old Red Light district Until 1949,Divisadero, midway along the route. This rustic
the area west of People's Park, off Fuzhou Road,log-cabin hotel is perched on the rim of the
was the heart of Shanghai's world-famouscanyon and affords dizzying views. Several Indian
red-light district known as Blood Alley. Before itfamilies live in caves nearby. These timid people
was cleared out, it was inhabited by thousand ofsell handwoven baskets, wood carvings and
opium addicts and prostitutes. Liberation Lanenecklaces. Surrounding the hotel are trails that the
alone, then known as Meet-With-Happiness Lane,Indians follow to the bottom of the canyon, 5,000
had 34 brothels worked by more than 1,000feet below.The best place to hear the flutter of
women. From 1949 until 1954, the brothels andbutterfly wings. A three-hour drive from San
opium dens were closed, the prostitutes givenMiguel de Allende is the colorful old mining town of
new work and new identities and the addictsAngangueo. And only an hour from Angangueo,
detoxified.MACAUThe best gambling tables inup a steep, unpaved road, is the Monarch
Asia-and the ugliest hotel in the world. Macau isButterfly Sanctuary, now open to the public. The
famous for its casinos. The biggest is the Casinopark's 12,000 acres became a protected area in
de Lisboa, avenida da Amizade, in the Lisboa Hotel.1986 in response to warnings from conservation
The Lisboa is probably the ugliest hotel in thegroups that the logging operations threatened to
world, designed to look like a roulette wheel,destroy the area's unique butterfly habitat and
which it wears like a crown upon its head. Themigration site. The butterflies seclude themselves
Macau Palace, known as the Floating Casino, is ain the abies religiosas (a type of fir tree) at the
more exotic place to gamble. This red and gildedsummit of the 10,000 foot climb. When you climb
Chinese boat is moored on the inner harbor offto the top, you are overwhelmed by the noise
avenida de Almeida Riveiro. Games include bothcreated by the fluttering wings of 10 million
those familiar to Westerners, such as blackjackbutterflies.