chef.

But a group of 85 jet setting travellers -- in a real "once-in-a-lifetime trip'' -- flew around the world, taking off from Vancouver, Canada 35 days ago.

The dream holiday ended this week in Bermuda, where the group stayed at the Hamilton and Southampton Princess Hotels.

Their chartered 757 stopped first in the exotic islands of Hawaii and Fiji.

The adventure continued "Down Under'' with visits to Sydney and Alice Springs in Australia.

They stopped over in Bali, Hong Kong and Bangkok before flying past Mount Everest.

Next stop was India where they set eyes on the Taj Mahal.

In Africa, the group was treated to a safari and was able to relax in the sunny Kenyan port of Mombassa. They toured Egypt and its famous pyramids and got lost in Morocco's flea markets before being jolted back to civilisation with visits to London, England and, finally, Bermuda.

"I felt a little bit like Jules Verne,'' joked head pilot (he was one of three) Mr. Dusty Thompson, vice-president of Flight Operations for Canada 3000 Airlines.

There were no real mishaps, tour director Mr. Carl Naumoff of Fiesta West Holidays said.

Although some group members suffered a bout of food poisoning in India and one man suffered road rash in Bermuda after falling off his rental bike.

The group was no trouble, he added, being on time for all buses and flights.

And miraculously, no luggage was lost, although some suitcases were "misplaced''.

"It really has been a trip of a lifetime,'' tour member Mr. Doug Roadhouse of Toronto said. "It's just been a real wonderful experience. We had our own 747 jet, which can take up to 200 passengers, so it was real roomy because we were only about 85.'' Retiree Mr. Roadhouse said he and his wife had often talked about a world tour. After she recently died, his children spotted the Around the World Tour brochure and persuaded him to go.

He had no regrets, he said, except that his wife was not with him.

Bermuda was "a great way'' to end the holiday, he said.

"It was a real quiet time to rest up. We had a big farewell dinner and went golfing. And the people were so friendly and helpful everywhere we went,'' he said.

However, his favourite destination by far was Bali, which was also favoured by Californians Mr. and Mrs. Roy Anderson who went on the trip as a 50th wedding anniversary present to each other.

It was their third time in Bermuda though.

The $15,959 each passenger forked out for the trip included airfare, first-class hotels, meals, guided tours and transfers.

It was the first Around the World Tour offered in Canada, organiser Mr. Jeff Barlow said.

Mr. Barlow flew ahead of the group to each destination to ensure everything was in order. He was looking forward to the flight home via private jet -- with no "airplane food''.

AROUND THE WORLD IN 35 DAYS -- Some of the members of a group of 85 travellers who just ended a trip around the world, stand under the Christmas tree at the Princess Hotel before heading home. Pictured (from left): Mrs. Claire Betz, tour director Mr. Carl Naumoff, Mr. and Mrs. Milton McManus, Mr. and Mrs.

Lloyd Hatlelide, Mr. and Mrs. Roy Anderson and Mr. Doug Roadhouse.