Adventure Travel in Asia

Jan 31, 2012 14:01 - annadewinter | 344 views

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Asia is a continent of mystical, magical temples; lush tropical forests; harsh, jagged mountains; magnificent hidden monasteries; bleak scorched deserts; and vast oceanic spaces. The land beckons the adventurous traveller with its vast and mysterious countries, where Western civilisation takes a back seat and the real Asia is discovered.

Adventure travellers in Asia will never run out of places to go, exciting journeys to take and thrilling experiences to encounter.

India

Many travellers head for India, the vast sub-continental country that has extremes of terrain from north to south. Trekking in the jungles is a popular way to get to know the country close at hand, with the incredible variety of Indian wildlife, trees and plants to be explored. Jeep safaris, walking trails, elephant rides and tiger spotting can all be a part of the activities, and for the mountaineers the Himalayas encourage the intrepid to challenge their snowy slopes and icy peaks.

With its beaches lapped by the warm waters of the Indian Ocean, water sports draw enthusiasts from all over the world. Try Goa, halfway down the country’s west coast, for jet skiing, parasailing and scuba diving, amongst many other sports.

Bhutan

For a truly mystical adventure, take a trip to the little hidden kingdom of Bhutan, perched in between India and the immense space of China. Bhutan is isolated, difficult to get to, but worth it for the magnificent mountain scenery, its ancient culture and the opportunity to go mountain biking in this stunning terrain. It is the best way to get a real feel for the country and its people, but it does need a lot of energy on the rocky and mountainous roads. Bhutan’s national sport is archery, so make sure the chance to try it out is not passed by.

The South East

Southeastern Asia has Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam to explore. Thailand is a well-known destination for adventure travellers, with trekking through the villages of hill tribes a reminder of the realities of people’s lives in remote areas of the world. Move out to Phuket for beaches, with snorkelling and cave exploring as part of the adventures available.

Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia are less developed countries for tourism and so offer fantastic opportunities for exploration and discovery. The really adventurous might hire a motorcycle and take to the roads and tracks of the interior, passing over rugged mountain passes and through lush, forested valleys. It is hard to get closer to nature than this type of travelling and, for those who don’t have a motorbike licence, rental cars are another excellent option. It is worth considering hiring a driver in Asian countries, as the ways of driving are considerably more relaxed than in the West.

Indonesia and Beyond

The sprawling archipelago of Indonesia is south of Vietnam, spanning thousands of islands and including the best known: Java and Bali. Indonesia is a Mecca for surfers, with huge oceanic waves constantly rolling in and providing challenges that even the most experienced and adventurous surfers will relish.

Alternatively, travel the immense expanses of Mongolia’s alpine mountains and grassy plains, experiencing camel rides and swimming in pristine lakes far away from civilisation.

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Destination: Murren, Switzerland

Jan 27, 2012 17:00 - logan | 372 views

(2 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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Nestled deep in the Swiss Alps, Murren has a mountain view to die for. Cars are strictly prohibited within the town, allowing its inhabitants to preserve the quaint, village atmosphere. If you’re looking for Switzerland vacations Murren could be perfect. Here is a travel guide that will allow you to get to this hidden gem and enjoy its many treasures:

Getting There

Murren and the other tiny Swiss cities at higher elevations are notoriously hard to get to. If you’re taking a jet charter or major airline into Switzerland, fly into Friedrichshafen, Berne, or Geneva airport and catch a train to Interlaken. Then, from Interlaken you can get to Lauterbrunnen. From Lauterbrunnen you can take the Bergbahn railway directly to Murren.

Things to Do

- Check out the Schilthorn, where you can gaze upon snow-topped mountains plunging into ragged black rocks. The view is stunning and powerful.

- Hiking is definitely the preferred past time within Murren. Ask your concierge which trails they recommend for your endurance and skill level. There are plenty of paths that go all the way to Gimmelwald. If you’re not a fan of hiking uphill, simply take the cable car back up to Murren. The trails of this mountain town are notoriously clean, well marked, and convenient, providing rest stops and places to purchase food along the way.

- If you like to ski, Switzerland is the place to do it. Murren’s ski season lasts from about December to Easter.

- Try to plan a hike to Trummelbach falls, where you can see cascading waterfalls that fly out of the Alps from a tiny gorge.

If you are visiting France or Northern Italy, the Alps are just a train-ride away. Murren, Switzerland will blow you away with breathtaking views, wonderful trails, and a friendly atmosphere.

Logan is an adventurer who is always looking for the next amazing place to visit.

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Cooking Vacations for Culinary Travelers

Jan 17, 2012 12:17 - Regina Falkowski | 422 views

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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No cookbook can teach you how to cook better ethnic food than traveling to the country itself and learning from the locals. Whether you are an aspiring chef or just simply love to cook a cooking vacation is the best way to learn the art of cooking truly authentic cuisine. Most of the instructors are expert cooks and chefs who have been cooking for decades using family recipes and traditions that have been passed down for generations. You will learn classic culinary techniques and get hands-on cooking experience making regional cuisine and become familiar with the history and background of each dish you create.

Cooking vacations are great for chefs at all skill levels. Beginner and intermediate cooks will learn an abundance of new knowledge while more experienced chefs will be introduced to new techniques that will enhance their current methods. Cooking vacations also make great gifts for loved ones and it truly is a gift that keeps on giving. If you spoil your parent or spouse with a cooking vacation you are setting yourself up to have delicious home cooked meals for the rest of your life.

Who knew cooking could be so much fun when you do it on vacation. You will learn skills that will last a lifetime while meeting other people from all over the world who share your interest and passion for cooking. When you are not cooking up a storm you can venture outside the kitchen and take a cultural tour around the city, go on a shopping excursion or just kick back and relax by the pool. Many cooking vacations offer all inclusive packages so the only thing you have to worry about is getting there.

If you really want to impress your friends and family this year go on a cooking vacation and blow them away at your next dinner party or holiday celebration. With a spoon as a wand and new recipes to cast you will be making magic in the kitchen that your guests will be talking about for years to come. They say the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach, and maybe a cooking vacation can add a little spice back into your love life. Whether you want to win over your honey or give your mother-in-law a run for her money (or recipes in this case) an authentic cooking class may be just what you need.

There are many destinations to consider when planning a cooking vacation. You can travel to Mexico and learn how to cook using a host of chilies or make classic enchiladas. Perfect your homemade pasta sauce and meatballs at a gourmet cooking class in Italy. Say goodbye to Uncle Ben and learn how to make a savory Spanish rice from scratch. Visit Poland and learn cooking techniques for making delicious pirogues that will have your grandmother asking you for recipes. No matter what country you travel to a cooking vacation is a great getaway for any cooking enthusiast.

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Learn How to Kiss Those Winter Blues Goodbye

Jan 3, 2012 14:17 - Regina Falkowski | 570 views

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According to Harvard Medical School over 500,000 Americans, and many more with milder symptoms, suffer from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a depression that occurs seasonally, most commonly during the winter months. Some symptoms associated with SAD include oversleeping, overeating, boredom, fatigue and depression. The winter season can be a very unpleasant time for some people, and if you experience these symptoms you don’t have to hibernate any longer.

Winter is knocking at our doors, and many of you may already be experiencing early symptoms of the winter blues, but you don’t have to suffer through it. There are ways you can help ease the symptoms of SAD and have fun while doing it. You may not be able to change the seasons, but you can change the way they affect your life.

One major factor associated with SAD is the decreased amount of exposure to sunlight due to a lack of outdoor activity during the winter months. Some symptoms of SAD can be alleviated using medication or therapy, but the healthiest and most effective way to avoid SAD this winter is to get outside and leave your winter blues behind. There are many winter sports and recreations you can participate in to stay healthy this winter. Here are some great outdoor activities that will help get you out of the darkness and into the light this season.

Skiing and Snowboarding

Skiing and snowboarding are two of the most popular winter sports. Whether you like the adrenaline rush of downhill skiing or the laid back feel of cross country skiing both are great activities that will get you outside this winter. Skiing is an activity that the whole family can enjoy and members at any age can participate in. If you have never skied before, or may be a little rusty, it’s never too late to start hitting the slopes. Most mountains offer ski lessons that can teach you the basic skills needed to tackle any mountain. There are many ski resorts that can accommodate skiers at all experience levels.

Dog Sledding

Dog sledding is a unique winter recreation that will not only get you outside, but also create a memory that will last a lifetime. In the past dog sledding was used primarily for hunting and travel, but there are many places that offer dog sledding tours as a winter recreation. No experience is required and professional mushers will guide you through the snow covered terrain. Many dog sledding tours offer half-day, full-day and overnight camping trips for different levels of experience. You can even take mushing lessons and learn how to drive your own dog sled team.

Snowmobiling

Snowmobiling is a great outdoor winter activity for all types of riders. There is very little physical activity involved, so people at all fitness levels can enjoy this sport. Children who are not old enough to operate a snowmobile can still have fun riding with a responsible adult. Snowmobiling is a versatile activity that can range from a relaxing cruise to an extreme sport. Novice riders can take a tame ride and enjoy the scenery while more daring riders can speed through snow covered trails. If you don’t know anyone who owns a snowmobile or you don’t know where to ride, don’t worry. There are many places that offer snowmobile rentals and provide trails for you to ride on.

Snowshoeing

Snowshoeing in the winter is truly like walking in a winter wonderland. Hiking doesn’t have to end once winter arrives, and with the right gear you will feel completely comfortable in the cold. Simply bundle up, strap on a pair of snowshoes and hit your favorite hiking trails. It’s amazing how the same trails you walk during the spring and fall can seem like a whole new world in the winter time. There are many species of plants and animals that thrive during the winter months that you may not see during other times of the year. Best of all you won’t have to swat at any pesky bugs. If you want to test out the sport before taking the plunge on a snowshoe purchase there are places that offer snowshoe tours. They provide the snowshoes, trails and even lessons if you need them. Snowshoeing is a great activity for people of all ages. There is minimal physical activity involved, so as long as you can walk you can enjoy snowshoeing.

Bermuda Getaway

If you just can’t stand the cold there is no better way to soak up the sun than on a Bermuda vacation. This often overlooked island can easily be compared to the Caribbean with its clear blue water, tropical palms and beautiful beaches, but unlike the Caribbean, Bermuda experiences its off-season during the winter months. This means you can have the beach to yourself, you never have to make a dinner reservation, the locals will be genuinely glad to see you, and you will pay significantly less than traveling to the Caribbean. Bermuda may be slightly cooler in temperature than the Caribbean during this time, but if you’re not a keen swimmer for 1/3 the price you can still enjoy plenty of sand, fun and sun.

Stop counting down the days left till spring or praying that the groundhog doesn’t see his shadow. You don’t have to hibernate this winter and subject yourself to oversleeping, overeating, boredom and depression. You can reduce the symptoms of SAD simply by getting outside and soaking up some sun. There are many winter recreations that will take you outdoors and keep you fit and healthy this season. Find an activity that interests you or plan a winter getaway that will help you kiss those winter blues goodbye.

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Creepy, Haunted and Scary Destinations Around the World

Oct 30, 2011 22:46 - Regina Falkowski | 1,096 views

(1 votes, average: 5.00 out of 5)

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It’s Halloween and many of you may be planning a night full of thrills and shrills. Local haunted houses and hayrides are great options for a good scare (or laugh), but if you really want a heart thumping, bone chilling experience a theme park just won’t do the trick. For a real treat this Halloween consider visiting one of these creepy, haunted and scary destinations around the world. You are sure to have a SPOOK-tacular time.

Winchester Mystery House

The Winchester Mystery House is a well know haunted mansion in San Jose, California once owned by Sarah Winchester. The house is full of twisting halls, secret passage ways, windows that face inside the house and staircases that lead to nothing. There are many stories behind the madness of Sarah’s construction of the mansion. One thought is that Sarah believed she had to build a house and never finish or else she would die. Another is that Sarah believed that if the house was confusing enough to navigate spirits could not follow her around. It is also believed that Sarah fell into a deep depression after the deaths of her child and husband and built the strange house to keep her occupied. No matter what the reason was it resulted in one of the most bizarre houses in architecture history.

Sedlec Ossuary

The Sedlec Ossuary is a small Roman Catholic chapel located in Kutná Hora, Czech Republic beneath the Cemetery Church of All Saints. It is said that the cemetery grounds were once sprinkled with earth brought back from the Holy Land. This naturally attracted many people to choose the cemetery as their burial ground. With too many bodies and not enough space the church began using the bones of the dead to form artistic decorations and furnishings for the chapel. Over 40,000 bodies have been used to decorate this Church of Bones including a massive chandelier in the entrance.  

Aokigahara Forest

The Aokigahara Forest is located at the base of Mount Fuji in Japan. This dense forest is eerily quiet, and has a historic association with demons in Japanese mythology, but what makes it famous is its popularity with suicides. Since the 1950’s over 500 people have taken their lives in the Sea of Trees. These woods are littered with bodies, nooses and signs displaying uplifting words to sway the minds of the suicidal. The problem became so great that the government of Japan began annual searches for bodies in the woods. A stroll through these woods may be too disturbing for anyone to stomach.

Chernobyl

Chernobyl is a Nuclear Power Plant located in Pripyat, Ukraine that was the site of one of the worst accidents in the history of nuclear power. There were 56 deaths as a direct result of the explosion, and over 4,000 deaths in the following years due to radiation exposure. After the explosion everyone living in the area was evacuated, and for the past 25 years the nuclear site and surrounding areas have been nothing more than a ghost town. Tours are offered for those who want to see the remains of the tragic disaster, which looks like the aftermath of an apocalypse full of abandoned carnivals, hospitals, nurseries, and junk yards over run with new vegetation.

Edinburgh Castle 

The Edinburgh Castle is a fortress located in Edinburgh, Scotland that dates back to the 9th century BC. This castle is said to be one of the most haunted spots in Scotland and reports of ghostly sightings are not rare. Visitors claim to have seen a phantom piper, a headless drummer, spirits of prisoners from the Seven Years War and the American Revolutionary War, and even phantom hounds wandering in the dog cemetery. The castle is filled with dungeons, subterranean vaults, and underground passageways that would spook any visitor.

San Zhi

San Zhi is a futuristic pod like village located in Taiwan that was originally built to be a luxury vacation resort. During the construction there were numerous fatal accidents that caused the production to be put on hold. Due to lack of funding and motivation the project was never finished and is now an abandoned ghost town. The resort alone gives off a creepy vibe and it is said that the spirits of those who died during the construction are still wandering the grounds.

Gettysburg Battlefield

In 1863 Gettysburg, Pennsylvania was the site for one of the bloodiest battles of the American Civil War. The battle was a 3 day massacre that resulted in 51,000 deaths and is said to have been a turning point in the war. Due to the brutal nature of hand-to-hand combat and the high number of deaths in the area, Gettysburg battlefields are believed to be full of paranormal activity with the Devil’s Den area reported as being the most active.

Happy Halloween!

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