US Life Post » Adventure Travel

Call of the Wild in Corbett

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:05:03 +0000

A hidden wish of a nature lover, an adventure enthusiast, suddenly comes to the crust when one hears the deadly roar of a tiger in the Jim Corbett National Park. The attraction of a tiger pulls the wildlife enthusiasts close to the dark forests and the mere sight of the ruling creature makes the heart skip a beat. Humans are dominated by the wild in their territory and Jim Corbett National Park is the place to be if you prefer the thrill of this domination.

Corbett Tiger Reserve is situated in Uttaranchal, at a distance of around 290 km from Delhi. It is the oldest national park of India as it was opened in 1936, as Hailey National Park. The sole purpose was to preserve a variety of rare species of wildlife which were getting extinct due to reasons such as trade of animal skin. Today, the tigers count here has reached 150. Other animals that dwell here are Wild Boars, Barking Deer, Rhesus Macaques, Langurs, Wild Elephants, Indian Pangolin, Leopards, Muggars, Gharials and Spotted Deers.

The place is a bird watcher’s paradise as there are around 580 species of birds that can be spotted including Green Heron, Pallas Fishing Eagle, Common Hawk, Indian Ring Dove, Turtle Dove, Black Partridge, Whitebreasted Kingfisher, Hoopoe, Pond Heron, Rosy Pastor, Common Grey Hornbill, etc. Many migratory birds visit the Ramganga river stretch to quench their thirst. During winter season, the rush of birds flocking in the area, seems to be a common sight. Most of these birds are high altitude birds. The best season for bird-watch is during the winter months of November to March.

The vegetation of the park mostly consists of Haldu, Pipal, Mango and Rohini trees. The forests are of moist deciduous type with dominance of Sal trees. The grasslands covering the valleys of the region offer an attractive sight, where animals can be spotted easily.

Fishing and angling in the rivers of the national park, at places like Binsar and Ramgarh, are a favorite among the visitors. Go around the dark forests to observe the wildlife, while you enjoy a good jeep or elephant safari. Many forest lodges are available where you can relax at night and wake up in the nature’s lap with the twittering of birds. Even hotels and resorts, which are well-furnished and have comfy facilities are available in the national park. Other leisure activities that can be tried out here include cycling, jogging, swimming, rock climbing, rappling, trekking and river rafting.

The main places that you can visit in and around Jim Corbett include Dhikala, which is a popular tourist destination. River Ramganga flows through the Patli Dun valley near which Dhikala is situated. The Garija Devi Temple, near River Kosi, is the place where Kartik Purnima Fair takes place. It is located on the way to the hill station of Ranikhet. Also, you can visit the Corbett Museum in Kaladhungi, around 32 km from Jim Corbett, where you can have a look at the life history of Jim Corbett.

Jim Corbett National Park also organizes exciting camps for children, so that they get close to nature. They are accompanied by a team of naturalists and professionals. The park can be visited only from mid November to mid June. An overnight stay at the forest lodges would require permits from the headquarter office of the National Park,. It is advised to book the jeep and elephant rides in advance, so that they are available in time.

So, enjoy your stay in the thrilling habitat of the wild, and experience the fun of being their humble guests, not unwanted guests. The adventure begins right here…

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Race Car Vacations

admin — Tue, 19 May 2009 16:05:02 +0000

If you enjoy watching race cars or you have always wanted to race them, planning a vacation with a race car theme is a great way to learn more about the sport you love. This fun filled vacation can include a wide variety of activities including visits to famous race car museums, trips to famous race car tracks, and the ultimate thrill for any race car fan, lessons on how to drive a race car. If you are planning this vacation for someone, make sure you include tours of the race tracks during one of the races. This will be very exciting, especially if they have not been to the track before.

Fun holiday visiting museums and shops can increase your passion for race car driving. You will learn about the history of racing and where it will be going in the future. You will be able to see old photographs, read interviews, and learn more about cars and how they are made. This is an exciting vacation for any fan of racing.

There are race car tracks in various places across the United States. Visiting famous tracks in Atlanta, Georgia and Daytona, Florida is the dream of most NASCAR fans. If you plan this type of vacation theme, you need to include stops at one of these two tracks. Other tracks in Pennsylvania and North Carolina are also possibilities. Find out more about racing schedules so you can choose a weekend when races will be taking place. You should also book hotel and rental car in advance as these weekends can be very busy for tourism.

The best gift that someone who loves racing could receive would be race car lessons. You can choose from one to two week training periods where you will learn everything from the basics to taking care of a car. These courses are taught by trained professionals and you can expect to learn a lot during these lessons. For most people, this is one experience that is not easily forgotten. In order to qualify for lessons, you will need to have a valid driver’s license and a clean driving record.

When planning your racing vacation, contact ravel agents to see if package vacations are available. You may be able to get hotel accommodations, tickets, and tours of tracks and museums. This package may include rental car and airfare if you have to travel to get to the race track. Since these packages are popular, you should book your trip as early as you can. This will ensure that you will enjoy your vacation without have to worry about any of the details.

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Happy Feet Happy Traveler

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:28:08 +0000

Wear thongs/flip flops in public showers

Thoroughly and carefully drying feet and toes

Calluses, blisters and corns are all caused by ill fitting shoes and socks.

Pack appropriate shoes

Pack some Moleskin

Purchase and pack socks that are especially designed to “wick” moisture away from the skin .

Don’t puncture blisters,

Don’t self-medicate

Cut toenails straight across and even to prevent ingrown toenails.

Avoid walking barefoot in unknown or potentially dangerous areas.

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Ingrown Toenails

Kuwait As I Remembered – Six Years Later

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:28:07 +0000

Things have changed, yet nothing has changed. There are definitely many more new building here near Kuwait City, however, the desert never seems to change. There is more sand here than you can imagine. One strange aspect is the fact that in order to make cement, this sand is too fine to be used for construction. It must be imported in order for building of new housing for the many foreign workers that come to Kuwait for employment.

The annual ritual of Kuwaitis tenting on the desert continues in January and February of 2009 and starts to wind down in March when the temperatures warm up and it is no longer fun to stay in their canvas enclosures on the hot sand, as their ancestors once did, year-round. That was long ago before the advent of their oil wealth lifestyle. Now, it is only an annual tradition for Kuwaiti families who camp out and ride their four wheelers on the open desert amongst the camels that have the run of the land, their open pasture.

Kuwait seems to have many new regulations and fees in place. These translate into additional income for the state and more hassle for visitors, tourists and newcomers. Visas are now required, for those who live and work in the country. Sponsors have always been required for foreign workers.

Security at the bases has also changed. Now, there is a special access requirement on contractor badges in order to enter at the checkpoints. Today, I had to go over to Camp Arifjan to have a special code put on my military contractor identification. Later in the afternoon, I’ll head over to my new assignment at Ali Al Salem Air Base. Hopefully, my two trunks have arrived at the military post office there. I’m staying at a new hotel in Jahra called the Copthorn which is very nice. Kuwait has better accommodations than up in Iraq where I have stayed in many a tent, though some metal structures.

Kuwait is gradually building up but nothing like in Dubai where I have been many times. The new buildings here are for housing of workers, whereas in Dubai, there are numerous new skyscrapers. Kuwait’s airport is a nice modern airport but hasn’t changed much while Dubai’s changes constantly. Part of Dubai’s growth, may be due to the outside investment that is welcomed there. Also, you can still get a beer down there, provided you don’t end up in Sharjah. That city is truly a tourist destination. It is hard for me to imagine Kuwait as a tourist mecca even though it has a few good beaches just south of the city. Attitude is everything, once again.

I had been talking to a native born Kuwaiti of Indian ethnicity and he explained to me that he didn’t receive the government checks like other Kuwaitis because he wasn’t 100 percent Arab. At 40 years old, he was still not treated like one of their own. He really wasn’t bitter but it was an eye opener for me. I already knew that the Bedouin people were trying for years to receive their stipends from the country. Those people are Arabs but they travel from country to country. The attitudes are probably the reason Kuwait is what it is and Dubai’s open attitude appears to be the difference between the two places.

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Newfoundland Travels – Central Newfoundland

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:16:17 +0000

This time we went another hundred miles inland to Bishop’s Falls, anticipating a fun time at the Salmon Festival at nearby Grand Falls. Stopped at the visitor center at Grand Falls and picked up information about the salmon festival, which is rated as one of the top 100 festivals in North America. The festival lasts for one full week and about 30,000 people are expected. The major attraction this year is the band Great Blue Sea, plus other popular Newfoundland rock groups. The festival features a salmon dinner for 500 people followed by a dance, family day, and “Newfie” night celebrating the peculiarities of Newfoundland. The cost of admittance is pretty high: $32.00 for the concert, $25.00 for the salmon dinner.

We continued on to Bishop’s Falls and camped at the municipal campground at the based of the falls and the hydroelectric dam. The Exploits River is known for its salmon fishing. An angler is allowed only four from the river. For a nonresident, the fishing license is $50.00 plus the services of a guide. That is some expensive fishing. Rather catch my own fish at the market.

Today we had a choice of traveling North or South. Traveling South to the Coast of Bays was a one way trip of over 150 miles. Most of the area was mountainous and forested until the bay area. On the Southern shore of Newfoundland are many different fishing villages. The natives say the area is nice, but not worth the journey. We took the other road instead leading to Leading Tickle. The name itself tweaked our fancy (you notice I didn’t say tickle). A tickle, according the Oxford English Dictionary, is a narrow treacherous stretch of sea water usually between rocks or cliffs entering a harbor. The real origin of the word is unknown. But either the ship was being tickled from either side by the narrow passage with the rocks or the sailors were delighted to pass through this last treacherous passage into harbor when they arrived after being tossed about on the North Atlantic. So the name came to be. In Leading Tickle is a fishery were we picked up some fresh cod fish. The fish had been gutted and opened. Only some bones and skin remained. They were then going to be salted and preserved. We got our fish before they were salted, nine pounds worth at $2.50 per pound.

Because of the fresh fish, we did not want to tarry on the tickle too long. There was, however one short side trip we had to make: Glover’s Harbor. In 1879 the town entered the Guiness Record Book for the largest giant squid ever caught. This baby was over fifty-five feet in length and weighed over two and a half tons. Its tentacle was thirty-five feet long. The squid had surfaced to die. They are usually found in the deep Atlantic. Their only mortal enemy is the sperm whale. In the village is an interpretation center, which attempts to depict the life of the giant squid (a species unto themselves). Outside is a concrete replica of the squid at the place where it was brought ashore over a century ago.

The next day we left for Twillingate, Iceberg Alley. We found a campground at Peyton’s RV Resort who has 30 amp service. The converter switched over and we were back in business. Twillingate is at the end of a series of islands connected by causeways. The area is known as iceberg alley, but very few icebergs have traveled from the North this year. At the Northern most tip of the island is Long Point Lighthouse, manned by Jack May and his family. They operate an interpretive center, restaurant and gift shop. Guides show the lighthouse interior, which is still operable.

The light is fully mechanized, but the original hand cranked rotational mechanism still works. The lighthouse keeper had to reset it hourly. Also at the point are viewing stations into the North Atlantic. Visibility was about thirty miles today. We met a lady and her son who were waiting for her husband’s return from crabbing over 150 miles out to sea. He had called and said that he was about ten miles from shore and on his way in. Nothing has really changed from the olden days when sea captains’ wives would await the return of their husbands on top of widow’s walks in their homes.

The water is crystal clear. You can see different currents in the ocean by the different colored lines in the water. Puffins, gulls and other aquatic birds abound.

At the Walter B. Elliott Causeway linking New World and Twillingate Islands is Prime Berth, a functioning authentic fishing stage. David Boyd, the owner, has been fishing for over fifty years. He shows how the cod was caught, and prepared for salting in the old traditional ways, before refrigeration. Everything you want to know about the fishing industry in Newfoundland can be found here. He tried in the 60s to convince the Government to outlaw drag net fishing, by the multinational trawlers. They did not listen and the cod fisheries of the North Atlantic are now like a highway. The bottom of the ocean has been scraped clear of life and the breeding grounds have been destroyed, perhaps not to be fertile again for many generations. On the tour he shows how cod liver oil calms the waves and how the fish and gulls go after bits of fish he tosses into the bay. On a trip to Newfoundland, this is a necessary stop.

Left Twillingate and stopped at Boyd’s Cove at the Beotuck Archeological interpretation center. The Beotuck were an aboriginal tribe of hunters and gathers who became extinct in 1829, when the last woman died in captivity. Because of her the little knowledge we have of this tribe survives. Archeologist Dr. Ralph Pastore from St. John’s searched the Notre Dame Bay for remnants of this society. One day he found a clearing. Not knowing what it was, he went ashore and found the possibilities of an archeological site. After a sample dig, he uncovered eleven dwellings, including one ceremonial one. Thousands of artifacts, including stone arrow heads, various animal bones, and iron implements.

While the European fishermen were seasonal, they left for home every winter and left behind things they did not need, e.g. , iron nails, fishhooks, broken metal objects, etc. The Beotuck recycled these products, especially the heavy iron spikes and refashioned them into tools which they could use, like spear and arrow points, scrapers, etc. For over a hundred years they lived in peace, while the French in the North and the English in the South fought among themselves. When the English started to settle around Notre Dame Bay, the small tribe of Beotuck, not more than a thousand members, diminished and eventually became extinct, mainly due to disease.

The archeological dig is reached by a 1.6 kilometer trail. We took Morgana on it. She did pretty well and tried her best to walk the entire distance. But the heat and length made it impossible, especially with the proliferation of pesky piranha mosquitoes and black flies, who wanted to feast at the buffet of our bodies, even though we had sprayed ourselves.

From there we began taking the loop, route 330, around Hamilton Sound. We passed through many small villages, in which many of the residents have the same surname. We decided to camp at Musgrave Harbour. Off to the East were the Wadham Islands and to the North, Fogo Island.

In Musgrave Harbour is the Banting Interpretive Center. Sir Frederick Banting, one of the cofounders of insulin, died in a plane crash here. The wreckage and a replica of his plane are on display.

Drove up the coast to Newton, the Venice of Newfoundland, because the town is built around nine tickles (remember them?) connected by bridges. Here the Balfour family lived, a prosperous seafaring family. Since the 1960s they allow tourists to visit their estates to see how life was in those days. The family still comes and lives part of the year there. The Center consists of two houses, one built in the 1870s, which housed thirty people; the other, a Queen Anne design built in 1904. Both houses have the original furnishings and memorabilia of the families. Job Balfour’s ship was caught in a hurricane one year and ended in Scotland. He turned lemon into lemonade, by bringing home a Calvin engine and marble vanity tops. All hands were saved. The Center plays a CBC interview with Captain Balfour, which is fascinating in itself. The Center features costumed docents who portray different characters in the school house, a cod stage, and a seal hunting ship replica. One of the buildings is also used for a theater, where plays are performed regularly. Newton, itself is quite picturesque.

Drove a few more miles to Greenspond, another fishing village, which was once the capital of this part of Newfoundland. The 1904 Courthouse has been restored and costumed docents give tours of the building. There is minimal parking, especially on a Saturday, when every one seems to be fish shopping at the local fishery plant. This put great strain on Baby, the trailer, and our personal relationship.

Our next stop was Gander, once one of the busiest airports in the world. All Trans-Atlantic flights once had to stop here for refueling. Just a week ago, the Concord made an emergency landing here, because it did not have enough fuel to arrive at New York from London. London was experiencing a heat wave with temperatures around 100° F. After fueling the plane took off. The fuel condensed at the high altitude, not having enough to reach NYC. The only plane at the airport today was a US Air Force transport.

Near the airport are the ruins of the town during the W.W.II era. Nothing remains except the streets and a few signs.

Just outside of town is the Silent Witness Memorial to the victims of the air crash on December 12, 1985 of the 101st Airborne troops flying home from a peace keeping mission on the Sinai Peninsula,landed at Gander. There was a crew change and refueling, but upon takeoff, the ship malfunctioned and crashed, leaving no survivors. The cause is still unknown.

One other fact about Gander is their people. After 9/11, when the airports were closed in the USA, many planes, which had been USA bound, landed in Gander. The people of Gander and the surrounding area came to the airport and invited the passengers into their homes. This is truly the Newfoundland spirit of hospitality.

Our next stop is Botwood, where we spent the night on the old W.W.II Amphibious Air Force Base. Even before W.W.II, Botwood was an important airport. The first Trans Atlantic flight of a commercial seaplane of a Clipper landed here in 1937. This was the advent of the luxurious air service across the Atlantic. This remained until after W.W.II when sea planes went the way of the horse and buggy. A single P.B.Y. Catalina aircraft sits at the harbor today as a reminder of the town’s heritage. In the harbor is an island with a causeway leading to it, which housed defensive guns during the war.

Drove to Glen Falls-Windsor and visited the Mary March Museum, dedicated to one of the last members of the Beothuck Nation. It was interesting and emphasized the search for the Beothucks in the Exploits River Valley by Cartwright, Buchan, and later Peyton. By this time the nation was dying because of disease brought by the Europeans and many disagreements between the two cultures.

Behind the museum is a reconstructed village showing the different types of buildings the Beothuck used.

A short distance away is a logging museum, included in the price of admission to the Mary March Museum. This is one of the highlights of our trip to Newfoundland. The museum is a reconstruction of a logging camp in the 1920s, where forty to one hundred men would cut the trees for pulp wood for the mills. The camps usually were used for two years before moving to a different area. Besides the building holding the foreman’s office, galley and cooks quarters, and the bunk house, there were the blacksmith’s building and the filing shop. The filer’s job was to sharpen the axes and saws every day. He worked at night while the cutters were sleeping. There were some interesting names for their different equipment: piss quicks, bitch pot, ass reamer, etc. Each was an important item in the loggers camp.

The cutting usually continued from the last weeks in August until the snow fall. The logs were hauled to the river bank or to the river itself, if frozen. When spring arrived they were driven down the river to the mill. Finally there was a small cleanup crew to find the straggling logs up the river. The wages for the cutters was piece work, depending on the number of cords cut. The other jobs were paid wages.

Today we went to Baie Verte Peninsula (Green Bay) to see the mines and especially the Dorset Indian excavation of soapstone in Fleur de Lys at the tip of the peninsula. On the way we passed an open pit asbestos mine, which has been closed for a number of years. Mother Nature is starting to take it over by forming a lake in its center.

At Fleur de Lys is the Heritage site of the Dorset Indians from about 6,000 years ago. They pre-formed bowls, lamps, and other items in the soft rock and then removed them from the site. The tools they used were other rocks for hammers chisels, and scrapers. The soapstone, which does feel like soap had properties which held the heat and was used for cooking pots and for oil lamps. Talc is part of the rock. Today very few sites exist of soapstone. A few scultpurers use them for decorative purposes.

We made a side trip to Tilt Cove. This was once a prosperous town of over two thousand people. Today it is ghost town of only five families. The area is beautiful and isolated, the cove leading out to Notre Dame Bay is surrounded by steep hills.

Went hiking today, a beautiful sunny day. The first trail we went to was the Rattling Brook Falls trail, where a water falls tumbles eight hundred feet from the mountains. This was a short trail, only one kilometer in length, but all up stairs. Morgana came with, but tired out about ¾ of the way.

After this we drove a short distance to the Alexander Murray Hiking Trail, approximately eight kilometers in length, most of it ascending to the summit of a 1,000 foot peak. Over 1,200 stairs take you to the summit. There is also a side trip to Corner Brook Falls, only 205 steps each way. The falls seem to come out of the mountain, rather than fall over the mountain. The views from the summit of the Green Bay area are beautiful. Along the way are two more water falls, one of them named Gull Brook Falls. A hike, which was said to take only three hours, took almost five hours instead. We returned home totally exhausted.

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For Active Activity Holidays in New Zealand – Go For Wicked Water Sport Excursions!

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:16:15 +0000

If you love water sports you are sure to enjoy the following pursuits.

Kayaking

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Adventure Hoots in the Ganges

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:16:14 +0000

Ganga has a lot to offer to anybody and everybody who touches her feet with full faith and devotion. The holy river, worshiped by the Hindus, finds its mention in many of the mythological stories and ancient epics of significance. The river flows from the Himalayan ranges, purifies the land of most of North India and surrenders finally in the Bay of Bengal waters. Ganga is known for its unpredictable characteristic, as at some places its waters take the form of turbulent waves knocking down whatever comes in its path, while at other places it is calmly flowing and paving its way to the next destination.

If you are an adventure lover and want to experience an adrenalin rushing river rafting experience, you cant afford to leave out on the white water rafting in Rishikesh. This adventure sport is only for the daring, who would like to get on the challenging waves of the river, as their heart skips a beat. So, if you are that sought, then tie your head gear, wear your wet suit and life jacket, put on your floaters and get set to pierce the streams with all your strength in your arms, to win this heavy-duty battle.

Plan your river rafting trip carefully, keeping in mind the time you need for training before landing to the rushing streams and the various stoppages where you can trek and camp, if you are on a long rafting tour of about 5-6 days. Rafting point before the Tehri Dam, is the ideal location to start your expedition. Here you will encounter with grade 3 rapids in the first gorge, after maneuvering through a stretch of calm streams. In the second gorge, you will have to fiddle with 4 rapids, as you reach Devprayag. Near Kaudiyala, you can enjoy a leisurely rafting experience between the mild ripples of the river, flowing high and low in the valley, after which you can smartly take over the exciting high rapids like the ‘Three Blind Mice’ and the ‘Crossfire’. This perfect transition from high to low and from low to high rapids, will keep you guessing what to do next, and bring a new challenge at every step.

As you end your day, you can manage your camping and trekking expeditions to the nearby villages nestled in the Himalayas, carrying an amazing view of the rocky hills, green valleys and clean atmosphere. Beas Ghat, Naggar and Silver Sand Camp are some of the places used as common stopovers by rafters.

Once you experience the rules of the game yourself, you will get to know that river rafting is a perfect exercise for team-building, so don’t think you can win over this challenge alone. A perfect test of concentration, skills and coordination among the raft-mates. The team of people on the raft have to come together and match each other in movements and timing, to become a part of the majestic river, as the heart beats faster at a rate matched only by the waves of the river. There is a different magic when you are fighting together and a different sense of heroic achievement when you reach your destination, signaled by the lulled streams of the river, at the final signpost.

Ganga Rally, which is an annual rally organized in the month of February, takes place for three days. It is an exciting and stimulating experience for the adventure seekers, who can participate in various water sports and also the Ganga marathon race on the final day of the rally to win and kiss the Benaras Trophy.

The river rafting stretch is around 36 km, commencing from Kaudiyal in Garhwal to Rishikesh. It consists of 12 high rapids which can be overcome only after rafting training, which are given in the rafting and adventure sports training institutes available in the area. One should go for rafting only if he is medically fit and has not suffered from any kind of water-phobia. It is advisable to carry along basic medications like antiseptics, insulin and inhalers. Loose clothes of nylon or synthetic material should be worn to avoid any kind of discomfort due to the water temperature.

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Adventure Tours in Morocco – 7 Destinations in Morocco I Bet Can You Can’t Name

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:16:12 +0000

Exotic Morocco is as mysterious a land as you may ever encounter. From the Sahara Desert across the High Atlas Mountains that is the backbone of the country, exotic Morocco is as unfathomable as the Atlantic Ocean that washes the western shores. But what do we really know about Morocco?

How may nomads roam the deserts? Is it Berbers who live in the mountains and who are the people that ply their trades in the souks? How many destinations in Morocco can you name? I discovered places I had never heard of until I was on an adventure tour in Morocco.

Yes, I had been before and Fez (or Fes), Casablanca, the Atlas Mountains and the market city of Marrakech were all familiar to me. But these destinations in Morocco were not! I bet you can not name them before you read on. (no peeking!)?
The ?mperial City of Meknes, once home to one of Morocco’s greatest rulers.
The Roman site of Volubilis.
Merzouga in the Sahara Desert east of the Altas Mountains
The vast, impressive dunes of Erg Chebbi
The imposing Todra Gorge one of Morocco’s greatest natural wonders.
The oasis town of Ouarzazate and Ait Ben Haddou which contains the best preserved collection of kasbahs in Morocco.
The Berber town of Taroudannt and the restored Sultan’s palace within the town walls.

I bet you know more destinations in Morocco than you did a few minutes ago!?o maybe you did know and I lost the bet. You win, well done! One thing is for sure, reading about adventure tours in Morocco make me want to go again.

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Leh Ladakh Tour

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:16:12 +0000

An adventure tourist cannot miss to visit this paradise on earth, which is the highest plateau of the state of Jammu and Kashmir. One cannot stop staring with amazement, at the beauty of the snow capped Himalayas dotted with green pine trees, in the misty chilly weather.

Located at a height of 3,500 m above sea level, cupped in the lap of Himalayas, Leh and Ladakh are certainly a must visit tourist spot. The snowy peaks, the green valleys, the high peaked mountain cliffs, the lakes and glaciers all add tremendous beauty to the hill station and make it a favorite destination among leisure travelers, honeymooners and adventure tourists.

My travel experience was certainly a superb one, and i count it as my best travel experience so far. I would like to share my fun and excitement wrapped journey with you so that it can make your Ladakh trip planning a bit easier.

On day 1, we arrived at the Leh Airport and checked in a nearby hotel. After some rest and food, we explored the famous Hemis Monastery, Thiksey Monastery and the Leh Palace. Leh, the capital of Ladakh, is known as the centre of Buddhist culture, and its main attractions include the colorful hemispherical Gompas that beautify this Himalayan district in the purest of form. After the long day of sightseeing we returned to our hotel for lunch and had a leisurely stroll in the Leh Bazaar in the evening.

On the second day of our trip, we headed towards the Chumathang stop, which is known for its hot springs owning medicinal properties. Then we embark the local transport to reach Maha Bridge, on the way seeing Sumdah village, where we had a great chance to explore the local lifestyles of people. The main inhabitants of the place are Buddhists and Muslims.

The natives of Ladakh are mostly followers of Buddhism and are akin to hard labor and use of muscle strength. They are a very good hosts and are ready to help you anytime. The females of the region not only work in farms for a living but also do business, as do men, and help run the family.

From here, we move to Tsomoriri for a camping experience. Here, we were lucky to find several species of avi-fauna near the Tsomoriri lake.

On day 3 of our trip, we drove down the Indus river, across Khaltse and Shyok, and camped in the Drokpa tribe villages of Beema and Dah, to observe how the tribal community lived, dressed, how they communicated and what they ate. After lunch, we strapped our head gears and life jackets to get ready for river rafting between Spituk and Saspol. You can also try out trekking and mountaineering in the Ladakh range and the Nubra Valley.

After dusk, we visited the amazing nature’s wonder, the magnetic hill, which simply leaves people astonished when they drive up the hill at 20 kmph, with their engines off. We were told that these magnetic properties of the hill make it unique, and is witnessed even by airlines passing by the hill.

After overnight camping in the village of Beema, on day 4, we embarked towards the Pangong Lake at a height of 14000 ft, crossing the Changla Pass and the scenic beauty covering it from all angles. Then we travel to see Sheh Palace, which is a reservoir of the royal past that stayed in this palace for years. After lunch, we left for Uletokpo camp in Alchi, to tour around the Buddhist site visiting the Alchhi monastery and appreciating the colorful murals and and the absolute tranquility.

On day 5, we toured around the village of Saboo to experience the vibrant culture on the hills and to savor the local delicacies. The mouth watering dish momos, that finds its origin in Tibet, can be savored here, with hot steaming soup and spicy condiments. In the frosty weather, you will consider yourself lucky to get hold of just out-of -the-stove food that tickles your taste buds. Other local dishes include Chang, a beverage made of barley and tagi shomos, a kind of bread consumed with honey or butter.

After lunch in the village, we move to the Stok palace, to study the royal artifacts preserved in the palace museum. After sunset, we decided to go for some shopping and picked up some rare handicraft products from the Ladakh Handicraft Centre, at very affordable rates.

Hope you too have your best travel expedition of your life time, in the enchanting Himalayas.

BON VOYAGE!

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Faroe Islands Adventure, Activity and Wildlife

admin — Fri, 15 May 2009 10:16:11 +0000

Last April I took a 4-day short break to the Faroe Islands and was really taken by the whole Island experience, the places and the people.

Coming into land in the Avro RJ100 (seats only 97 people), we broke through the cloud cover to a fantastic opening view of the rugged coastline of Vaga and some of the other Islands. A good landing given the cross winds! After landing, I was off the plane, picked up my luggage and through customs within 10 minutes – don’t you love those small airports!

In 2007, the National Geographic Traveller voted the Faroe Islands the number 1 Island community in the world. Situated in the heart of the Gulf Stream in the North Atlantic, Faroe Islands lie northwest of Scotland and halfway between Iceland and Norway. The archipelago is composed of 18 islands covering 1399 km2, roughly in the shape of an arrowhead. There are 1100 km (687 miles) of coastline and at no time is one more than 5 km (3 miles) away from the ocean – the Faroe Islands is perfect for activity and adventure holidays.

The average temperature ranges from 3°C in winter to 11°C in the summer – during my 4 day stay I seemed to witness this full range of weather as the conditions changed by the hour.

From the airport, we set off on our adventure holiday with the drive from Vaga to Torshavn, which took about 45 minutes and passed through some stunning scenery, even despite the somewhat foggy and grey weather. Torshavn is the ‘city’ with 18,000 of the total 48,000 population of the Islands, but as you can imagine with that size it is relaxed and friendly, with an array of shops, cafes and bars.

I managed to visit 4 of the 18 Islands during my brief stay, with the remoteness of Koltur being my favourite, being 2.5 square km’s and with only 2 inhabitants – well worth visiting.

The Faroe Islands are just wonderful for a walking holiday, although you need to be a bit careful due to the very changeable weather patterns. The towns are interesting with some traditional houses with grass roofs, but once you are out of the towns the scenery offered at each step is super, whether it is hills, lakes or ocean. I am not much of an expert on birdlife, but even a novice can enjoy the various birdlife whilst out walking.

After the walk on day 2, I fancied a bit more activity, so quad biking was in order. The trip lasted 3 hours and followed the farmers tracks through the countryside and mountains/hills. Some plunging valleys only a few metres off the track keep your mind focused. We rose to about 600 metres above sea level, then walked up to one of the peaks at about 680 metres to get amazing 360 degree views of the surroundings. A quick change of weather saw us walking back down in horizontal hale stones and then continuing our ride back a little soggy in places – nice!

On returning to town I tucked into a good portion of lamb, potatoes and veg, one of the Faroese specialities……plus a couple of beers, of course! A local pub makes for good entertainment as the locals spring into song without too much encouragement.

I would certainly recommend the Faroe Islands as a place for an Activity Holiday or Adventure Holiday for anyone who loves the outdoors and stunning views and people. I am certainly planning on going back, as would like to visit and spend some time on the other Islands as well as getting out for some ocean adventures and fishing too. Thanks to the Faroe Islands for a great trip!