What we’re about
Welcome to the group! Houston is HUGE and only getting bigger. So for newcomers it is a daunting task to do anything. For locals...well they tend to stay in their local community and not venture out much. This group will explore familiar haunts along with periodically checking out some new areas of interest. We're always looking for new Assistant Organizers with new/fresh ideas. If you are willing to host events, please email me with your ideas. I would love to hear from you!
Should you need help finding a home, I would love your help you. Just message me and I'll get back with you promptly.
All the best,
Nermine, Realtor®
ThisPrettyHouse@yahoo.com
Upcoming events (4+)
See all- Ultimate Botswana Safari & Best of Cape Town, South Africa!Kanisa Road, Arusha
May 10th - May 19th
Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club ( http://www.photoflytravel.com/ ) have put an amazing, unbeatable Botswana safari combined with the best parts of Cape Town in South Africa!
E-mail joinus@photoflytravel.com for the DAILY ITINERARY!
Sign up here: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/botswana-okavango-safari-cape-town-group-tours/
It’s clear we just can’t get enough of Africa based on everyone’s requests and how quickly these trips are filling up! This is a trip designed to experience the finish line of Africa's greatest migration - the Okavango Delta! Millions of animals and hundreds of species find their way to this part of Botswana to soak up the waters revealed annually by natural flows.
After several days of luxury safari, the trip continues to South Africa's tourist paradise - Cape Town. The city is one of the most popular places to visit on the continent. Expect to enjoy dramatic coastline, vibrant city life, historic sites, Table Mountain, and a trip west of the metro area along the world-famous garden route.
This is going to be a photo dream trip in style with luxury boutique accommodations, all-inclusive in Botswana, plenty of included activities, and so much more!
Email us to see the daily itinerary at joinus@photoflytravel.com
- 9 nights/10 days of Botswana safari and South Africa touring
- All-inclusive Botswana, 4 lunches & 5 dinners in South Africa
- Glamping and boutique properties throughout
- Wildlife: elephants, buffalos, antelopes, lions, leopards, giraffes, wild dogs, birding, and MUCH more!
- Multiple included flights
Botswana's Okavango Delta - 4 nights
"Welcome to one of Africa’s most extraordinary places. There is something elemental about the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Okavango Delta: the rising and falling of its waters; the daily drama of its wildlife encounters; its soundtrack of lion roars, saw-throated leopard barks, and the crazy whoop of a running hyena; and the mysteries concealed by its papyrus reeds swaying gently in the evening breeze." - Lonely Planet
From the luxury tented camp in the bush of the country, we'll be able to enjoy Africa's wild in total comfort.
- Daily game drives or other safari activities
- Private chef
- Incredible photo opportunities
- World-class animal viewing
- Local drivers & wildlife guides
South Africa's Cape Town - 5 nights
"A coming-together of cultures, cuisines, and landscapes, there's nowhere quite like Cape Town, a singularly beautiful city crowned by the magnificent Table Mountain National Park. And one can’t help but be seduced by the glorious natural beauty of the Garden Route. The range of topography, vegetation, wildlife, and outdoor activities is remarkable, not to mention the world-class vineyards & stunning beaches." -Lonely Planet
There is A LOT to see and do here, this is what we have planned.
- Cable Car up Table Mountain
- City highlights private tour
- Traditional cooking demonstration and lunch
- Harbor cruise to photograph seals
- Visit to Boulder Beach's penguin colony
- Kirstenbosch botanical gardens
After a few days exploring the city, we'll be heading west towards Hermanus along the world-renowned Garden Route finishing in one of the country's wine region.
- Abalone aquaculture tour
- Fernkloof nature reserve
- Wine tasting safari
- Beautiful scenery with photo stops
- All taxes, transfers, & fees included
- Airfare is not included, ask us for help. Flying into Maun International Airport (MUB) & out of Cape Town International Airport (CPT)
- Roommate pairing to save money
- Email us to see daily itinerary at joinus@photoflytravel.com
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Join Us!
*For our solo travelers I will pair you up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy is requested.
Price: $5,695
Single Supplement: $1,550
Deposit: $600
Go here to sign up: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/botswana-okavango-safari-cape-town-group-tours/
- Wonders of Japan!Tokyo, Tokyo
May 10th - May 19th, 2024
Our friends at PhotoFly Travel Club ( http://www.photoflytravel.com/ ) have invited us to a one of a kind adventure throughout Japan!
E-mail joinus@photoflytravel.com for the DAILY ITINERARY!
Sign up at: https://photoflytravel.org/tour/japan-group-tours/
Our Japan group tours are chock full of diverse activities including unique cultural experiences, fantastic landscape & people photography, and all the beautiful temples and architecture which make Japan so iconic. E-mail us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!
- 9 nights/10 days throughout the highlights of Japan
- Breakfast Daily
- 1 Lunch, 3 Dinners (Welcome Dinner & Farewell Dinner)
Tokyo: 2 Nights
Everything that you have heard about Tokyo is true – and it is not. For if ever there was a city that you could not confine to one definition, this would be it. Tradition and technology stand side by side in this city that can be whatever you want to make of it.
Highlights:
- Privately guided tour throughout parts of Tokyo including Akihabara, Asakusa Kanon Temple, Sensoji Temple, Meiji Shrine, Shinjuku, and more
Takayama: 2 Nights
Mountains in Japan were once believed to be the sacred dwelling places of divine spirits. The Hida, Kiso, and Akaishi ranges, known collectively as the Japan Alps, rise majestically in northern Honshu.
Highlights:
- Privately guided tour throughout Takayama
- Takayama Morning Market
- Takayama’s Old Town
- Optional Hida Folk Village Tour
The Japanese Alps & Her Wonders; Stunning National Park Walk, Hot Springs, & Waterfalls
Highlights:
- Japanese Alps of Kamichochi
- Shinhotaka No-Yu Hot Springs
- Hirayu Great Falls
Hiroshima & Charming Miyajima Island: 1 Night
Hiroshima is a city that needs little introduction. Despite its tragic past, Hiroshima is now a bustling and vibrant city which has risen phoenix-like from the ashes. No visit to Hiroshima would be complete without sampling okonomiyaki, a Japanese savory pancake. While in Hiroshima we’ll take a ferry ride to Miyajima Island where the world famous Itsukushima Shrine is located.
*Privately guided tour of Hiroshima:
- Memorial Peace Park, Museum, & A-Bomb Dome
*Privately guided tour of Miyajima Island
– Vermilion Torii Gate & Optional Itsukushima Shrine in Miyajima
Kyoto: 4 nights
Filled with tradition, Kyoto is the ultimate destination for anybody who wants to soak up time-honored Japanese culture.
Highlights:
- Privately Guided Tour of Kyoto:
– Kinkakuji Temple (Golden Pavillion)
- Okochi Mountain Villa
– Monkey Park Iwatayama
– Gion District (The Old Geisha Quarter) & Optional Geisha Photo Shoot
– Free time in Kyoto to explore on your own
– Fushimi Inari Shrine
*Japan is wonderful country to see by train and of course they are world famous for their advanced bullet train system. For many of our journeys between each city we visit, we’ll use this fun and efficient way to travel the country. This is one place where local public transit is a lot faster than using a vehicle!
- All transfers, rail tickets, transit passes, entry fees and activities as listed in the daily itinerary, & taxes included!
- Tour Leader and photographer to help those interested in photography throughout this Japan group tour
- International Airfare is not included. We are happy to help you find a good flight as always! (Flying into Narita International Airport in Tokyo (NRT) and departing from Kansai International Airport (KIX) in Osaka)
E-mail us at joinus@photoflytravel.com for the daily itinerary!
Join Us!
*For our solo travelers I will pair you up with someone of the same sex unless single occupancy is requested.
Price: $3,895
*Single Supplement: $825
Deposit: $600
Go here to sign up: http://www.photoflytravel.org/japan-group-tours/
CST 2101181-40
- $$ Texas Gulf Coast Wetlands | Full Day Kayak Eco-Tour | Historical Double BayouJob Beason Park, Anahuac, TX
$299 per adult full day guided eco tour
Small group size: minimum 4, maximum 6
Includes premium guiding services and touring kayaking gearDuration: Full Day (9am to 5pm) | Paddling Time: 5-7 hours | Paddling Distance: 10-12 miles | Itinerary is tailored to guests' desire, fitness level, group dynamics, weather conditions, etc. | Best for outdoor enthusiasts comfortable with vigorous exercise | No previous paddling or swimming experience required - instruction provided!
THIS TOUR CAN BE RE-SCHEDULED AT A DATE CONVINIENT TO YOU.
PRIVATE EVENT, PREPAID REGISTRATION REQUIRED.
WE TAKE APPOINTMENTS.TOUR SIGNIFICANCE: Take the off-beaten path to learn about the human history and development along Texas Gulf Coast. Explore low-lying marshland and the historical Double Bayou, located near the old Fort Anahuac in East Texas, a scenic and historical bayou ending in the Trinity Bay (east of Galveston Bay).
Double Bayou is a two-pronged clean and meandering bayou with East Fork and West Fork converging at Job Beason Park.
Job Beason, for whom the park is named, was the keeper for Double Bayou Lighthouse in the early 1900. He was found floating face down in the water in December 1909. The hurricane of 1915 destroyed the lighthouse, and it was not rebuilt.
The lower 3 miles of West Fork has been dredged to allow traffic for shallow-draft commercial barges. Shrimp boats often moored in this section.
Cattle ranching is the most obvious use of the coastal grassland along the bayou now, although historically there was rice farming, often wiped out by saltwater flooding during tropical storms.
The stream banks are forested with aged oaks, elms, gums, cypress, and pine trees providing wind and wave sheltered waters and shade to paddlers.
Usually, there are lots of birds to be seen. When we paddled it last, we greatly enjoyed the natural scenery and relaxed on the quiet waters. It was peaceful and lovely tour!
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Sign up early!!
A RSVP “Yes” on Meetup merely states your interest.
Seats fill up quickly - the tour is cross posted on several platforms.***TO SIGN UP & CONFIRM LOGISTICS CALL 832-686-3231 ***
Call Constantin to confirm logistics, gear size, set up expectations, fill out waiver and to process payment.
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WHAT TO BRING:
Bring drinking water and a pack a lunch and snack. Bring with you a towel and a set of dry clothing to change at the end for a comfortable ride home.
Dress only with synthetic clothing. Wear outdoor, fast drying, non-cotton/synthetic clothing like hiking pants and shirts. Long sleeve shirts and long pants prevent sunburn and insect bites.
Bring water shoes/closed toed sandals; old sneakers work great. No crocs, no flip-flops, no rain boots. Wear paddling gloves or cycling/ workout gloves to prevent blisters and sunburn on hands.
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UNDECIDED? Check out our recent Double Bayou photos here:
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CREDENTIALS: This tour is organized by Constantin Platon, an experienced outdoor educator, geology professor, and happy camper with 25+ years of experience, and the following current certifications:
ACA Trip Leader & Eskimo Roll Endorsements
ACA Level-3 Coastal/Sea Kayak Instructor
ACA Level-3 River/Whitewater Kayak Instructor
ACA Level-2 River Canoe Instructor (Solo & Tandem)
Sierra International Wilderness First Aid
NOLS Wilderness First Aid= = =
PLEASE REPLY WITH YOUR PHONE NUMBER!
I am excited to share with you from my expertise, and I look forward to paddling together!
Constantin
[Call/Text: 832-686-3231]Born to Paddle!
LET'S GET SOCIAL!
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1022107514968636
Do you have in mind a Different Drill, Date or Destination? Let's chat!!
We also run team building events, birthday parties, church functions, historical and eco tours, overnight camping excursions down the river, across the lake and weekend long adventures at sea along the Texas Gulf Coast, and more advanced skills classes focused on sea kayaking, SUP and canoeing.
Let's get in touch!