When Lewis and Clark went looking for a route to the western United States, they followed the Missouri River trying to discover its source. Likewise, John Hanning Speke discovered Lake Victoria Nyanza, the source of the Nile in 1858. Francisco de Orellana and his brother set off from Quito in 1541 looking for the lost city of gold by going down the Rio Napo until its confluence with the Amazon and followed that east until the group emerged in the Atlantic in August 1542.

Historically, humans have chosen to live close to rivers for their abundant water supply as well as for navigation purposes. Some of our oldest cities in the world were established on the banks of rivers. Over time, people have been able to become less reliant on rivers through pipelines, canals, and ground water pumping, along with faster transportation including railways and air travel. River flows are linked to livelihood, identity, sense of place, religious beliefs and ceremonies, language systems, or educational practices. If you want to immerse yourself in a culture and learn about a place you are visiting, there is no better way than to explore its rivers.

This sense of discovery and cultural exploration is why Krayton Travel has chosen to focus on small ship travel like river cruising. If you are looking for a cultural adventure, try river cruising

Krayton Travel is here to help. We have the knowledge and professional connections of a specialty travel agency. I lost my wife before we were able to retire and travel extensively, so now I encourage people to “Make memories, not regrets.TM Together we can design your dream vacations for your memories of a lifetime! It’s never too early to plan, let’s get started today…

Jeff Rasley is the author of thirteen books and has published numerous articles in academic and mainstream periodicals, including Newsweek, Chicago Magazine, ABA Journal, Family Law Review, Pacific Magazine, Faith & Fitness Magazine, Friends Journal, and Real Travel Adventures International Magazine. He is an award-winning photographer and his pictures taken in the Himalayas and Caribbean and Pacific islands have been published in several journals. Rasley has engaged in social activism and philanthropic efforts from an early age. In high school he co-founded the Goshen Walk for Hunger. In law school he was an advocate of residential renters' rights as a lobbyist and president of the Indianapolis Tenants Association. He is the founder of the Basa Village Foundation, past president of the Indianapolis Scientech Club and University of Chicago Indy Alumni Club, and currently serves as a director for six nonprofit corporations. Jeff is an avid outdoors-man and recreational athlete. He leads trekking-mountaineering expeditions in Nepal and has solo-kayaked around several Pacific island groups. He also loves to read and considers completing Marcel Proust's 3600 page Remembrance of Things Past as great an adventure as climbing Himalayan peaks and solo-kayaking Pacific islands. Jeff is U.S. liaison for the Nepal-based Himalayan expedition company, Adventure GeoTreks Ltd. He has taught classes for IUPUI Continuing Ed. Program, Indiana Writers Center, Butler and Marian Universities. Jeff is a graduate of the University of Chicago, A.B. magna cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, All-Academic All-State Football Team and letter winner in swimming and football; Indiana University School of Law, J.D. cum laude, Moot Court and Indiana Law Review; Christian Theological Seminary, MDiv magna cum laude, co-valedictorian and Faculty Award Scholar. He has been admitted to the Indiana, U.S. District Court, and U.S. Supreme Court Bars. For chairing the Indiana-Tennessee Civic Memorial Commission Rasley and the Commission received Proclamations of Salutation from the Governors of Indiana, Ohio, Tennessee and Pennsylvania. He was given a Key to the City of Indianapolis for serving as an intern to Mayor Hudnut and preparing a report on the safety conditions of all Indy Parks. Rasley has received the Man of the Year award from the Arthur Jordan YMCA and the Alumni Service Award from the University of Chicago Alumni Board of Governors. Rasley has been a featured guest on over 100 podcast, radio, and TV shows and has given programs to many service clubs, community organizations, and churches.

Entertaining stories from Wayne's Life