Just a few days ago, in a widely reported story, things did get out of hand when a crowd of Sherpas fought with three foreign climbers in a dispute over fixing ropes on the route high up the mountain. In a story for National Geographic News, Brot Coburn provides good context for understanding the relationship between Sherpas and foreign climbers, one that has been and continues to be positive in almost all respects. Jon Krakauer’s bestselling book from 1997, Into Thin Air, illustrates how badly things can go wrong when the mountain gets crowded and the weather changes.

But most of us don’t need to worry about the crush of climbers on the route above base camp. Elite mountaineers climb, the rest of us hike — or trek, as they say in Nepal.

John Flinn wrote recently in the San Francisco Chronicle about his return to the Khumbu, the local name for the Everest region, after 22 years. His story, “Into Thin Hair” (retitled on the Chronicle website) brought back memories of my treks in the area, the first in 1979, the most recent in 2002. As John conveys, if he can do it, you can do it.

That’s how I feel about my treks there. If you take your time, don’t push yourself, and get into reasonably good shape before you go, you should be fine. John sure got me interested in returning. The thin air, indescribably dramatic mountains, and welcoming Sherpa culture are heady stuff. Not to be treated as a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

It is also cherry blossom season, here in San Francisco, in our nation’s capital and of course in Japan, a rite of spring and a life-affirming, annual natural event. As I wheeze through the days full of blooms and pollen I stop to think about the brutality and generosity of what we call Mother Nature.

Traditional custom this time of year in Japan is to picnic under the cherry blossoms with friends and family. Sake, poetry and karaoke often accompany a spread of bountiful treats. This year though, as the country mourns, many are avoiding conspicuous consumption and opting to forgo the annual ritual, or to tone it down considerably. The elderly mayor of Tokyo has erected signs to ask residents to avoid the spring fun as a show of solidarity for those suffering in the northeast of the country. Mother Nature, or the force in nature, whatever you want to call it, can be so cruel and so glorious. The cherry blossoms are beautiful, fleeting, and fragile…like life itself. There is poignancy this year, but certainly the pink blossoms offer a small glimmer of hope, that life goes on.

Brendan Spiegel reported on the Hauz Khas Village district, hidden among narrow lanes behind the ruins of a 13th-century mosque and royal tomb, in the New York Times.

It looks like a great place to spend a day or two on your next visit to Delhi. I want to go to the bookshop, Yodakin.

Romance is not just votive candles and soft music — it is an attitude and almost a feeling of being blessed to be alive. It is also when everything around you is “just right” because a few discordant notes (like being hassled on a perfect beach or hearing raucous noises beneath your balcony all night) can ruin the whole composition.

So what are the specific qualities that make Bali my number one choice for romance?

Gorgeous scenery and intriguing opportunities on any given day

From Ubud to Seminyak or Nusa Dua or dozens of other places there are flowers, verdant hiking paths, gorgeously set meals and intriguing shops. Sure Bali is much more touristy than it used to be, but it’s easy to become immersed in true village life even one lane off the busiest tourist section. For example, in Ubud, where there are genuinely fine shops and galleries to interest the most ardent shopper, you can go just one row behind all the shops and find village paths and dance rehearsals and religious ceremonies.

Romantic places at both high and low price points

There are places like Sura Villa in Seminyak (a busy beach village near Kuta Beach) where fifty or sixty bucks a day will get you a charming room, an outdoor kitchen and dining room, and a sunken bathtub — plus breakfast. Sura Villa is not fancy — but the small swimming pool and garden atmosphere is lush and private, and the outdoor rooms and simple breakfasts are an intimate setting and a perfect way to start the day.

If, however, you want luxury, you cannot do better than the Aman resorts. All of the expensive hotel chains, the Ritz-Carlton, the Four Seasons (and a luxe Conrad in Nusa Dua) have superb views and beach access, but in terms of sheer amazement its hard to surpass the Amans in Ubud, Candidasa and Nusa Dua.

For exotic locations, I don’t think you can beat the Ubud Aman. Balanced over a valley of intensely green and orderly rice fields, and organized into little hideaways secreted behind traditional stone doors, the creation of a private world is topped off by leaving your shoes at a door you can reach only by stepping carefully on rock pads placed over water. The rooms themselves are huge, airy and created by native craftspersons. To top it off, a good many of them have a private pool.

The other Amans are also spectacular — and the romantic touch I love the most are the way they have huge vases of tuberoses arranged so that their sweet perfume just about knocks you off your feet when you walk in.

Inexpensive and expert massage

In every hotel and in every town, there are inexpensive massages that are so reasonably priced you might want one every day (I have found them for as low as $35). You can have one masseur or masseuse or two if you want to splurge. Many of them are in rooms that face out to the sea or to fountains and the sound of running water.

I have never been in a place where so many people could give extraordinary massages at such reasonable prices. Some years ago I had one massage holding hands with my honey while each of us were worked on by two wonderful masseuses. We started out with an outdoor shower and afterwards had an outdoor bath in rose petals. Seriously romantic.

A spiritual culture and people who genuinely want you to know them, their families, their way of life

The people make Bali special. Your hotelier will suggest breakfast or lunch in a bale (a four poster “bed” that is meant for outdoor lounging and relaxation out of the sun). The people who take you to your bale or on a hike or check you in are all honestly interested in you. Whenever I met someone for more than a short while they almost invariably invited me home to meet their family!

But even if you are just watching them practice their beautiful dancing or painting or carving, they are hospitable rather than just polite. I think this spirit is also a part of most hotel staffs, and the concierges I have met in Bali have all been kind and more than superficially helpful. Ruth Zimmerman at the Conrad is exceptional and an easy person to consider a friend in about five minutes of conversation.

So there are my reasons for my first pick for most romantic place in the world — just writing about Bali makes me feel romantic…. There are many places I have visited that deserve the word “paradise” — but among them, for me, Bali is number one.

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Pepper Schwartz serves as the AARP love and relationship ambassador and is the chief relationships expert at Perfectmatch.com.

Romantic trips have a special kind of magic — but that diffuse kind of definition doesn’t give you specific guidance on picking the best-of-the-best choices for your next trip. That’s why I am going to be writing about the great places in the world for romance. I will start with my top ten in the United States and my top ten elsewhere — but it will go on from there. Right now though, I want to tell you what they all have in common — and what you should look for.

They all must have:

1. Something extraordinary, something that is the best of what you like: the most gorgeous mountains, the perfect beach, the most exciting nightlife — or the most peaceful privacy. In other words, there are many different kinds of places for romance, but the place has to exceed expectations on the criteria important to you.

2.  It has to be set up for romance, not children. There are some places that manage to do both (we will come to those eventually) but in general, one cancels out the other. You need the touches that help you focus on each other, not on kids running up and down the hallways screaming.

3. It has to have the details of romance: flowers, great sheets, or conversely, if it’s an adventure vacation that will stir your heart, great vistas, and excellent equipment so you can focus on each other, not on your leaky kayak.

4. The type of vacation you pick has to appeal to both person’s sensibilities. If she wants 1000-count sheets and he wants to be dropped in the middle of the Frank Church Wilderness to raft the Salmon, romance is dead in the water. Romance has to be a mutual agenda and the place has to make each partner’s heart sing.

5. It has to have enough privacy and enough unscheduled time for cuddling, talking and making love.

So that’s the general idea, next time I write, it will be about specific places, starting with my number one favorite, Bali.

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Pepper Schwartz serves as the AARP love and relationship ambassador and is the chief relationships expert at Perfectmatch.com.

After more than 20 years of wrangling, the Chinese government has granted the US media company the right to build a fanciful park in one of China’s largest and richest cities. A Disney park already exists in Hong Kong but the Shanghai venture will be the first in Mainland China.

The proposed park would be larger than Hong Kong’s and cover more than 1700 acres in Shanghai’s Pudong District. Residents were long ago moved off farmland in Chuansha, a part of Pudong district near the city’s main international airport, to make land available for the theme park.

Disney has been disappointed with the attendance in Hong Kong but has high hopes for the Shanghai project. Shanghai is in the midst of a huge construction boom in preparation for the World Expo, which will run next year from May 1 to Oct. 31 downtown along the city’s Huangpu River. Soon you’ll be able to add Mickey and Minnie to the mix!

Which is a good reason to find an outfitter who can handle the logistics. Some top adventure companies offer trips on the Mekong, but these are mostly cruises. For journeys by kayak, Bangkok-based river explorer Steve Van Beek brings something extra: 40 years of residence in Southeast Asia and almost as many years exploring the region’s rivers.

I first met Steve about 20 years ago when I was passing through Bangkok on my way to Nepal. A mutual friend told me I had to call him when I was there because Steve had been living in Bangkok for decades and had a profound knowledge of Southeast Asia. Despite jet lag and a short layover I rang him up, we met for lunch, and our paths have been crossing ever since.

Steve was the guy I called for news from the street when a coup took place in Bangkok. He was a source for Thai literature, a repository of cultural and historical knowledge, and an engaging storyteller. His book, Slithering South, chronicled the first full paddle descent of Thailand’s Chao Phraya River — a trip he made solo — and shed light on the characters and culture of these remote regions accessible only by water.

Now he runs tours on the rivers of Southeast Asia, primarily the Mekong as it makes its way through Laos. Outside magazine called one of his trips “one of 48 trips of a lifetime.” Joshua Kurlantzick in The New York Times reported on a startling discovery he made on one of his tours. National Geographic Adventure also featured his trips in a story about Mekong River journeys.

All of which made me begin thinking about the Mekong — in a positive light these days — and wondering if I can cross paths again with Steve, this time on the water. I’ve never been on a river trip with him, and it’s time to get my paddling skills in shape.

Tomorrow the host city of the 2016 Summer Games will be announced in Copenhagen, Denmark. The front-running candidates are Chicago, Rio de Janeiro, Tokyo and Madrid. President and Michelle Obama will be there to forward the Chicago bid, which because of their star power is leading Rio as the top pick. Rio would be the first South American city to host a games. Mexico City was the host in ’68, but Rio has captured the hearts of South America and the hopes of the continent. I have to say, sentimentally I favor Rio, but having been there I can’t quite picture how the city could pull off the Games. I visited Rio and other Brazilian cities on a fabulous whirlwind trip with my dad and two of his friend’s in the ’90s.  Security alone (every hotel room had a safe) is worrying.

I wrote a story, years ago, about Rio edging out cities in South Africa for the most crime ridden city in the world and the concern in Rio was palpable. I also remember being driven from the airport into the city, and drivers don’t stay in their lanes, they straddle; it was terrifying.  I’ll never forget driving to a beach town and on a four lane highway a crowd was gathered around a dead horse.

Now I’m not saying that the Rio bid is not sophisticated or marvelous (Rio is arguably the most colorful and fun city in the world), I just am trying to imagine all the logistics. As for Tokyo, Japan hosted the winter games in the ’90s and Barcelona in Spain was the host relatively recently too, and the U.S. well there has been Atlanta, L.A. and Salt Lake City in the last 20 years, so it only seems fair that Rio be the sentimental favorite for most of the world.

So it comes down to Chicago and Rio. For Chicago it would mean a chance to be center stage, revamp the gangster image and give the world a taste of Midwestern hospitality, but it must be said, Atlanta and Salt Lake City have hosted in the last 20 years and my heart is leaning towards Rio…we’ll see tomorrow.

Yet there are wildlife sanctuaries in India and Nepal where tourists can see them despite their dwindling numbers. Tourism brings money into local economies and can contribute to conservation efforts in and around the parks, and can provide a financial incentive to local residents for protecting the animals. But not everyone thinks tourists looking for tigers in wildlife preserves is a good idea.

Indian wildlife officials are now taking a dim view of tiger tourism, and according to reports in the Indian press, have decided to curtail it. They feel the tourists are making the tigers tolerant of humans, and thus more vulnerable to poachers.

Brian Weirum, leader of fund-raising tours to tiger reserves and chairman of The Fund for the Tiger, a California non-profit agency that has put more than $370,000 into the field in India and Nepal in the past 14 years (full disclosure: I am on the board of directors), staunchly defends tiger tourism as a way to help save the tiger rather than as a threat (see below). And Paul Kvinta’s story “Cat Fight: The War on India’s Tigers” in National Geographic Adventure raises serious questions about the competence of India’s wildlife officials.

Who’s right? If you’ve ever seen a tiger in the wild no doubt you will agree with Brian that the right kind of tourism is a good thing. And if we lived in a perfect world, tigers would have ample habitat and protection from poachers so we wouldn’t have to worry about whether our desire to lay eyes on them in their natural surroundings was good or bad. But we don’t, and if left to their own in poorly protected parks, the tigers would most certainly fall to poachers, and once they’re gone, they’re gone.

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Brian Weirum’s defense of tiger tourism:

As the Leader of a Mountain Travel Sobek Save The Tiger trip, I’ve been taking tourists to Bandhavgarh for 15 years on tiger conservation trips.  Here are some thoughts on tigers and tourism:

1. Tourism is not killing tigers — poachers, wildlife crime syndicates, and the perpetuation of the myth of the efficacy of tiger medicines thousands of miles away are.

2. The two tiger reserves in India that have lost every single tiger, Sariska and Panna, have had little or no tourism. Bandhavgarh, on the other hand, possibly the most tourist-intense tiger park has it’s tiger population flourishing in the core area. [Admittedly, when a tiger is sighted, it often gets too crowded with vehicles. In 2009 officials restricted the number of vehicles allowed in the core area and have opened up other areas for tourism.]

3. Vehicles driving around with tourists are, in effect, anti-poaching patrols, often in the notable absence of official patrolling. Word of mouth among drivers and guides are an excellent source of keeping tabs on where the tigers are and where they are not.

4. The tourism industry at any of the reserves provides income to countless individuals who might otherwise be tempted to seek money from other sources. The hotel and lodge industry has an immense financial stake in the survival of the tiger. The millions of dollars invested in the lodges surrounding Ranthambhore, Kanha, and Bandhavgarh would dry up overnight if there were no tigers.

5. Tourism could and should be used to fund and support tiger conservation. The Mountain Travel Sobek Save The Tiger trip I lead has taken 146 people into tiger country and generated more than $176,000 which we have been able to put back into the field in India and Nepal for various tiger protection programs.

6. Many people who have seen a tiger in the wild have become fierce tiger advocates and continue to support tiger conservation efforts.

7. There is a good model in Nepal that might be considered for India. A certain percentage of money raised through tourism (park fees, etc.) is available to buffer zone villages. Dr. Bhim Gurung of the University of Minnesota reports that in the Madi Valley (adjacent to Chitwan) positive community management with funding from park revenues has resulted in limiting grazing and logging and the restoration of good tiger habitat. We have initiated such a program in Meghauly village (again adjacent to Chitwan) to increase the capacity of the community forest guards to help the local rangers be the eyes and ears on the health of the forest, in effect unofficial anti-poaching patrols and information gathering sources, and to protect their community forest from illegal harvest of forest projects such as timber and illegal grazing of livestock.