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Click HERE to read what two guests wrote to online TravelMag about their time aboard Nilaya Nilaya. A fantastic journey experiencing France like no other and a crew that became friends. This is what memories are made of. Thanks for everything. M & B - New York, USA To Kevin as skipper and Bud as the most able of crew, we extend our thanks for introducing us to cruising on the beautiful 'La Meuse'. Your hospitality was unbounded, your sense of humour unique and your cooking just out of this world. We wish you every success in the years ahead and will undoubtedly return to you again to check on your progress. R & P - Suffolk, England Kevin. We have sometimes sat beside canals saying "we wonder what it would be like to cruise on a barge." Well, now we have and we wouldn't have missed it for anything. The really great thing about Nilaya is that it is not just a means of transport, but your home and major life project. You have done a fantastic job with Nilaya and through your enthusiasm for river life, have enabled us to experience a little of the relaxing and beautiful Meuse. Thanks for being such excellent and tolerant hosts for the week. S & D - Victoria, Australia Long awaited and after months of eager speculation, "Kevin's cruise" has far exceeded all that anticipation. From the daily exposure to Kevin's lively anecdotes, instantaneous social comment, sardonic quips and - worst of all, his knees, this has been an immensely enjoyable holiday. Best of all we've had FUN! Master chef extraordinaire, Kevin could rustle up a 10 course meal while still organising that well known event in a brewery. We've been new places, seen new faces, countless doggies and moggies, and learnt to say hello / goodbye in 10 new languages. Eat your heart out Dame Edna fans and go for the "Kevin Experience" instead. Wish we could 'second time' and replay the week ad-infinitum, the joy and fun we've had, perhaps stop time and relish those moments and places that make life worth living. G & R - Flintshire, Wales Wow! First impressions of Nilaya were really good, only to get better each day. We've had SUCH FUN! We've tried to work off our extra 10 kilos each day by cycling but it didn't work. Back home to lettuce leaves - how boring... Already looking forward to coming back next year. We really have felt part of cosy boating family. Thank you for your efforts, friendship and hospitality. H & R's - Surrey, England This was our first tip to Europe together and it was the barge trip that really gave us the desire to come. We were not disappointed. The trip met all our expectations and offered even more, despite the rather dull weather. You made us very welcome from the minute you met us in the street in Givet to the time we left the ship. Thank you so much. Your knowledge of the Meuse and the villages along the way made the trip that much more enjoyable. Congratulations on your achievements in making Nilaya such a comfortable home for the week and I hope we get to see it again sometime in the future. We will certainly recommend you to our friends back in Australia. B & H - Melbourne, Australia Merci Beaucoup for great food, wine and company during our trip. Uncooperative weather did not dampen our spirits! Highlights included the tour of Chatel-sur-Moselle with our 80+ year old guide and tree lined canals, rolling countryside and Moselle River from Toul. Expert boat handling too. Nilaya was a comfortable and classy home for six nights. J & R - California, USA Kevin, every time we return to Nilaya, something new has happened! Hospitality as usual was lovely, no effort spared to make us welcome. We look forward to joining you again. C & B - Somerset, England The trip was unforgettable and inspiring J S - ACT, Australia We paid for a holiday but what we were graciously provided with - WAS PRICELESS. Normally to achieve this requires hours of chanting and candle burning in large brick buildings with domed roofs; throwing countless coins into a stone lined hole with a bucket and string or even dancing naked around odd shaped rocks laid out in a stone circle. Each night was filled with equal measures of joy; incredulity; surprise; French wine and delicious food. We would lay back in our oasis at the pointy end of the ship and reflect on the excitement and experiences our day on Nilaya had provided and wonder how on earth this could be repeated or bettered the next blissful day. What Kevin has transformed from concept or should we say hallucination to reality is a minor miracle and he has so obviously drawn on his incredible strengths, talents, imagination and most of all his boundless passion. Money can't buy happiness and no amount of wealth could buy anything more un-contrived or magical than our experience on board Nilaya as Kevin's new found friends. As much as we want to keep this our very own secret, we will find the highest rooftops and exploit whatever communication miracles we can muster to ensure we spread the word so as many people as possible can be touched by the "NILAYA MAGIC"! It would be criminal to keep it a secret - or would it? Thank you sincerely Kevin - We will be back! B & J, Queensland Australia Reeelaxing and calming thanks to Kevin and Stef beavering around and taking good care of our every needs. Good food and chats. Lucky too with our fellow passengers with whom we had so much in common. Nilaya has been converted with great taste - Well done Kevin! Many many thanks. S & M, Australia My horoscope for September said that the week beginning on the 9th would be "one for the memory book". It most certainly has been in the best possible way. We've had a lovely time this week on board Nilaya. The catering has exceeded my expectations and you have given a lot of thought in attention to detail such as the fresh fruit and flowers. We've enjoyed the cruising more than I expected, the fine meals and your company and have experienced a flavour of France that we would otherwise not have. Well done. Thank you... and all the best for your futures (ad)ventures! C.H & P.K, Portsmouth, England The trip on the Nilaya was a welcoming respite from our hectic touring. However for us the most memorable and enjoyable aspect of the trip was the excellent company and associated good times. Wonderful food and wine enhanced the experience. Many thanks. D & M, Australia We would like to thank Kevin for a very memorable holiday on the Meuse. His hospitality is remarkable and he makes you feel at home from day one. Nothing is too much trouble. The meals on board Barge Nilaya are first class, all due to Kevin's hard work and enthusiasm for cooking. We cannot leave without mentioning Stef's contribution (keep practicing the rope tricks!) He has a wicked sense of humour and he and Kevin make a great double act. Thank you both and we wish you well in your future ventures. Best wishes. H & S, Gloucestershire, England What can be added to the above! We second all of H & S's comments! It was a great experience, peppered with 'pomme de terrier' moments, the occasional sexy horse woman and French roosters! These have been days filled with discovery and laughter - long to be remembered. Our thanks to you both. A & E, British Columbia, Canada Kevin. Thanks for providing us with the best "self-catering" barge cruise anyone could wish for. You are an energetic, thoughtful host who allowed me a week of complete relaxation, more laughter than I've had in a year, really good food and the security and comfort of being a well cared for guest. I've wanted to do a barge cruise for 30-years and my dream has now been fulfilled. Thank you for sharing your absolutely lovely corner of heaven. As for the "redundant" crew Stef - thanks for your charming wit, scintillating repartee, and willingness to put up with three American women who can cause wine to magically disappear and drive you to drink! Have a short and fruitful winter. I hope to see you again. L. StJ, United States of America The plan was to cruise the canals of France with my two good friends. In the end, I cruised it with four good friends. Through the puns on "Mon Capitan" to the barbs of "First Mate" Stef, anyone would have thought we'd known each other for years and not just met less than a week earlier. I've learned so much about barges, French canals, cooking, British history, American politics - - and the joys of travel, the experience has been so complete that one could find oneself owning a barge before the next season begins. That is all due to Kevin's wonderful sense of people and his "lady" Nilaya. Happy cruising! L.H. United States of America All the original comments published above or within this, the Barge Nilaya website can be viewed in the visitors book that resides aboard the barge. You will find Nilaya's summer 2006 guest testimonials by clicking here
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