Travel Maven Blog ...... David Molyneaux posts from TheTravelMavens.com

Cruising Southeast Asia, encountering a headhunter, chilling laws in Brunei, a bogus bump at the Equator

One advantage of cruising to ports of distinctly foreign cultures is the opportunity to stretch your comfort zone, the level at which you function with ease and familiarity.

A big turnout for sunset at a Hindu Temple in Bali, Indonesia (Photos by David G. Molyneaux, TheTravelMavens.com)

The result is that you can experience both worlds — soft adventures of exploration off the ship during the day, then basic vacation necessities, such as a fine meal and a comfy bed, back onboard for the evening.

All of the above came into play during a recent cruise in Southeast Asia, where I walked in the woods of Borneo with a headhunter, unintentionally insulted the Sultan of Brunei, and ceremoniously crossed the Equator at sea.

Truffle hunting in France highlights Bordeaux river cruise

Truffles, the fruit of a fungus, are an acquired taste, which is much easier to acquire than the truffles themselves.

These delicacies cost a pretty penny in restaurants, and finding their natural wooded whereabouts, hidden just below the surface of the ground, is a learned and lucrative craft.

This is a truffle, says Edouard Aynaud, who knows where to find them (Photos by David G. Molyneaux, TheTravelMavens.com)

Searching in the wilds of Europe for free truffles is a highly elusive activity.

So, when Viking River Cruises offered truffle hunting as an optional excursion (at about $120) from its Viking Forseti, during a one-week voyage in the Bordeaux region of France, the quick answer was “yes.”

Our “hunt” was a resounding success, as the excursion included the leadership of a master guide, known in France as the Truffle King, and his dog Farah, trained as a truffle sniffer.