Sukhothai Travel Information

The ruins of Sukhothai, one amongst the spectacular ancient cities of Thailand, lie next to the trendy city of an equivalent name. it’s a fabulous showcase of ancient Thai design in addition as a pleasant and tranquil place for bicycling. Sukhothai hosts museums, ancient markets and attention-grabbing native festivals. The nearby ruined town of Si Satchanalai offers equally gorgeous however less visited historical sights, and therefore the surrounding mountain space hosts tropical jungles, waterfalls and national parks with attention-grabbing wildlife.

Old & new Sukhothai. Located along Yom River in northern Thailand, the trendy city of Suriyothai, additionally known as New Sukhothai, is that the capital of Sukhothai province. The historic ruins of Sukhothai are located twelve km to the west from the city. They used to be the capital town of the dominion of Sukhothai that dominated abundant of Southeast Asia from the 1200s till 1400s. Originally the town was a part of the traditional Khmer Empire, and therefore the Kingdom of Sukhothai is taken into account the primary Thai state and therefore the predecessor of the trendy nation of Thailand. Today, Sukhothai may be a historical park and a World Heritage web site. the trendy Sukhothai is inhabited by Chinese and Thai folks, giving tourism facilities for the various guests who return to admire the historic ruins.

Buddha statue in Sukhothai archaeological site

Sights and activities in Sukhothai: historic attractions, jungles, markets & festivals

The main attraction of Sukhothai is unquestionably the previous ruined town of an equivalent name. Located twelve km far from the New Sukhothai, the Historical Park and World Heritage web site of Sukhothai contains an oversized walled town space of historic ruins from the thirteenth to fifteenth century, restored since the Sixties and as well as quite one hundred ninety temples, some with big Buddha statues, four town gates, ponds and canals, and remains of a royal palace. Sukhothai additionally has many stone inscriptions where historical record of the realm has been recorded. the most important and most spectacular temples within the space are Wat Mahathat and Wat Phra Phai Luang. Sukhothai Historical Park additionally includes a stimulating historical museum.

Buddha statue in Sukhothai, Thailand

Nearby sights. additionally to the Sukhothai ruins, you’ll be able to visit the equally spectacular Si Satchanalai Historic Park, located fifty five km far from Sukhothai and conjointly a part of the planet Heritage web site. It contains 134 ancient ruins and incorporates a quieter however as historic atmosphere as Sukhothai. The New Sukhothai city has fascinating markets to go to, in addition as hosts a spread of native festivals. you’ll be able to conjointly visit the Buddhist shrine of Phra Mae Ya, that contains an ancient stone figure that’s thought to represent the mother of the foremost famous king of Sukhothai, and could be a major non secular web site for the native population.

The countryside areas around Sukhothai embody jungle-clad mountains, scenic waterfalls, lovely caves, in addition as 2 national parks, Ramkhamhaeng and Sri Sachanalai that are wealthy in wildlife and supply sensible opportunities for out of doors activities like trekking and birdwatching.
Sukhothai travel info and sensible tips

Sukhothai incorporates a tropical climate characterised by monsoon winds. there’s a heat and humid rainy season throughout the southwest monsoon from could to October, and a sunny, cooler, dry season throughout the northeast monsoon from November to April.

Traveling to Sukhothai. there’s atiny low airport near Suriyothai that receives domestic flights to Sukhothai from Bangkok and Chiang Mai. However, most guests travel to Sukhothai by bus or train, because the space, located conveniently between Bangkok and Chiang Mai, has sensible public transport connections.

Local transportation in Sukhothai is obtainable by pick-up cars referred to as songthaews, in addition as tuk-tuks and motorcycle taxis. Bicycling could be a great way to tour the historical park space. automotive rental in Sukhothai is feasible through the tour operatos within the trendy city. Motorbikes also are widely on the market for rent, and conjointly bicycles are offered.

Visitor services. Most of the hotels in Sukhothai are often found within the New Sukhothai city, where there’s an honest choice of accommodation sorts. There also are several restaurants in Sukhothai’s trendy center, serving native Thai cuisine in addition as some international selections. Nightlife isn’t a significant reason to travel to Sukhothai, however you’ll be able to conjointly notice atiny low choice of bars from the fashionable city.

Safety & rules. Sukhothai could be a little place with no major security considerations. Some petty crime exists, therefore make certain to require excellent care of your belongings. keep in mind conjointly that the historical park contains several temples that, though currently in ruins, still be vital non secular places for Thais and will be revered by dressing appropriately.

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Skier sets South Pole speed record

Norwegian explorer Christian Eide has set a new speed record for traveling to the South Pole on skis, smashing the previous record by more than two weeks and setting a new standard for Antarctic expeditions to follow.

Eide set out from Hercules Inlet, located along the Antarctic coast, on December 20th of last year and proceeded due south towards the Pole, a journey of more than 700 miles. Averaging 29 miles per day over some of the harshest and most extreme terrain on the planet, the skier completed the trip in just 24 days, 1 hour, and 13 minutes, battling whiteout conditions and subzero temperatures along the way.

The previous speed record was held by American Todd Carmichael, who made the same journey back in 2008. Carmichael completed his expedition in 39 days, 7 hours, and 49 minutes, which at the time seemed like a very impressive accomplishment. Eide’s new speed mark raises the bar substantially, and is likely to be a record that will remain unbroken for years to come.

To further put Eide’s accomplishment into perspective, when explorer Roald Amundsen, who was also Norwegian, became the first person to reach the South Pole back in 1911 it took him 58 days to make the journey. He also had the benefit of doing so by dogsled. Now, a century later, we have modern day explorers covering the same distance in less than half the time and under their own power no less.

We’ve come a long way in a hundred years.

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Find your mileage runs with Mileagebrain

It’s never too soon to start planning out your frequent flyer miles earnings, and there’s a new tool out on the interwebs to help you along the way.

The concept of mileage running, to refresh you, has to do with earning *just enough* miles to achieve certain levels of status with a particular airline. If I, fancyeditor of Gadling, for example, fly 97,426 miles on American Airlines in one year, then it actually behooves me to fly another 2,574 to reach 100,000 miles and all of the rewards therein.

What sort of rewards, you ask? Well in this case, 100,000 miles on American Airlines earns me eight system wide upgrades (ie: pay $1200 for a ticket to India and then upgrade to business class, a $12,000 ticket off the shelf) priority boarding, exemption from a full range of fees and a little plastic Executive Platinum card that I can wave menacingly at other passengers.

Anyhow, mileage running is a necessary evil for many frequent travelers, and until now, finding a route to exactly fit the miles you need at the lowest price was a manual endeavour. Draw a circle 1,287 (2,574 divided by two) around your departure airport then find the least expensive ticket outside of that window.

The new robot over at MileageBrain takes much of that manual computation out. All one needs to do to find a good run is plug in departure airport, length of travel and favorite airline — the crawler then automatically finds routes that are the least expensive “per mile”.

Mileagebrain is still in its alpha release and so there’s lots of improvements still coming down the line. Plugging in O’Hare, on American Airlines, for example, yields several routes for over 40 cents a mile (yikes!) but with time and some patience the service often pulls up interesting fares.

You can check the development discussion over at the MileageBrain flyertalk thread. If you want to know more about the art of mileage running, check out Gadling’s guide from 2007.

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Biking is easier in the Big Easy

New Orleans is a magnificent city by bicycle. It’s flat, temperate for much of the year, has lots of streets with slow or no traffic, and, as reported in the Times-Picayune, a growing number of bike lanes (about 30 miles and counting). To tap into the local biking scene, start with the Metro Bicycle Coalition. From there you might check out the monthly New Orleans Critical Mass ride, and the racing group New Orleans Bicycle Club.Rent some wheels from any of several services throughout the city. I got a comfy coaster bike from Joy Ride Bike Rentals (504-982-1617). $30 gets you a bike, helmet, and lock-all delivered to and picked up from your hotel or other location anywhere in the city. That was the cheapest and most convenient of the services I looked into, but others include Mike the Bike Guy in the Touro district (4411 Magazine St., 504-899-1344); or in the Faubourg Marigny district, there’s Bicycle Michael’s (622 Frenchman St., 504-945-9505).

Now, what to do once you’re on your bike? There’s ample information online about the city’s famous French Quarter, Garden District, and other areas. For information on these and other districts, visit NOLA.com, or check the comprehensive listings offered by the alternative weekly Gambit New Orleans. That said, let me highlight a couple less well-trafficked neighborhoods, both of which happen to be just north of more famous and touristy areas.

Cruise around Central City (just north of the Garden District) and look for signs for the “I-Witness” project. Dial the main number on the sign (504-265-1116), punch in the code for that spot, and you’ll hear a story from a local about what the neighborhood used to be like, or maybe a jazz funeral that took place there. Stumble upon stories at random, or check the website for a map. (I must reverse myself to say just one thing about the Garden District. A lazy trip on the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line, which runs through the district, is one of the most sublimely pleasant experiences I’ve enjoyed in the city. You might consider taking the streetcar-or your bicycle-all the way out St. Charles Avenue to Audubon Park, which is also home to the city’s zoo.)

Just north of the French Quarter, it’s fun to cycle around the Trem (“Tre-MAY”) district, which is the setting for the HBO series of the same name. I’m a fan of the Backstreet Cultural Museum (1116 St. Claude Ave., 504-522-4806), a house museum about the Mardi Gras Indians and other black New Orleans traditions. Just a few blocks away is the New Orleans African American Museum, with small but strong art and history exhibits (1418 Governor Nicholls St., 504-566-1136). A short ride north of that is a veritable gallery of murals (commissioned by the African American Museum) painted on the pillars supporting the I-10 overpass, on North Claiborne Ave. between Orleans and St. Bernard Avenues. After your exertions riding around, go have a po’ boy sandwich or the all-you-can-eat lunch buffet at Li’l Dizzy’s Café (1500 Esplanade Ave., 504-569-8997).

A ride to the gorgeous City Park is well worth the effort (northwest on Esplanade Ave. from the Tremé, or zigzag on smaller streets). Take a relaxing ride or stroll among the oak trees that populate the park, or take a boat ride (weather permitting), or visit the New Orleans Museum of Art. For cheap eats, visit the Parkview Café. If you’re in the mood for something more upscale, try Ralph’s on the Park (900 City Park Ave. 504-488-1000), a pleasant spot for drinks (I had their tasty lychee margarita) or a meal.

New Orleans, of course, has ample festivals for bicyclists to ride to. Check complete listings here. The Mardi Gras season kicked off on Twelfth Night, January 6, and continues through Fat Tuesday, which falls on March 8 this year. Throughout the season, there are parades and parties for nearly every taste (not just those drawn to the famously raucous French Quarter). For complete Mardi Gras coverage, go here.

Eager to get deeper into the city’s culture? For a street-level look at New Orleans (and some inspiration about places to ride your bike), be sure to pick up one or more of the excellent books published by the Neighborhood Story Project, available online or at many bookstores and other shops throughout the city.

For the soundtrack to your trip, tune in to New Orleans’ “Jazz and Heritage” station, WWOZ, 90.7 FM. For safety’s sake, don’t listen on headphones while biking. Instead, check the website for listings of live music, and don your safety gear for a ride to clubs where some of the city’s superlative musicians will transport you beyond where your bike can go.

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Discover France offers Tour de France cycling tours

Cycling fans who have ever wanted to experience the challenge and glory of riding in the Tour de France are in for a real treat this year. Discover France Adventures, a company that specializes in cycling and hiking tours, has announced a host of

itineraries that will put you on the same route as the professional riders, and in some instances, just hours behind those competing in the race itself.

The tours offer two levels of difficult, moderate and challenging. These options allow cyclists of all skill level to enjoy the ride at their own pace. Competitive riders will want to go for the higher level of challenge, while those out to take in the French countryside, while still getting the TdF experience, will want to take on the moderate difficulty level.

Discover France has nine unique Tour de France itineraries available, including the Alpes VIP Tour which puts cyclists on a route between Montpellier and Grenoble that features climbs up Mont Ventoux, Croix de Fer, and the legendary Alpe d’Huez. This tour is scheduled to take place from July 16-23, and will end in time to have the riders in Paris to watch the Tour winner roll down the Champs Elysees in the Yellow Jersey. Details on the moderate version of this tour can be found by clicking here and the challenging version can be found by clicking here.

Similarly , the Pyrenees VIP Tour offers more alpine climbing in a completely different mountain range. This ride also runs from July 16-23 and features a route that wanders from Clermont Ferrand and ends in Toulouse. One of the highlights of this offering is a ride into Luz Ardiden on Bastille Day and also puts riders in Paris in time for the finish. Sign up for the moderate version of the Pyrenees Tour here and the challenging edition here.

Check out the Discover France website for a number of other Tour de France options, including some for the non-cyclists who simply wish to experience one of the premiere sporting events in the world. There are also plenty of other tours for the adventurous traveler as well, and for those who have already visited France in the past, there are some unique and non-traditional ways to experience the country in a whole new way.

As a cyclist and avid fan of the Tour de France myself, these tours are a dream come true. The thought of making the challenging climb up Alp d’Huez, perhaps the most well known mountain in the history of the race, is an amazing opportunity. Viva le Tour

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Top five immunizations for adventure travelers

Spending a lot of money to get poked with a needle may not be at the top of your pre-trip to-do list, but it should be. While some countries require proof of certain immunizations before they theoretically permit entry (details later in this post), there are a couple of vaccinations all travelers should get, barring any prohibitive allergies.

Getting vaccinated greatly reduces or virtually eliminates the odds of contracting certain serious illnesses or travel-related diseases, and helps prevent the spread of contagions. This is especially critical in developing countries, where there is generally little in the way of preventative or active health care, and lack of sanitation provides a fertile breeding ground for disease. As is true at home, infants, children, the elderly, and immuno-compromised are at greatest risk.

I consulted with Dr. John Szumowski, Clinical Fellow of the University of Washington Medical Center’s Division of Allergy and Infectious Disease, for expert advice before compiling the following list. As he pointed out, it’s tricky to generalize which immunizations are most important, since it depends upon where you’re going, and what you’re doing there.

That said, all of the immunizations on this list are a good idea if you travel frequently to developing nations, even if it’s for business or budget travel. They are especially important to have if you eat street food or visit rural areas.

The top five, after the jump.

[Photo credit: Flickr user johnnyalive]

1. Flu
With flu epidemics making annual headlines, there’s no reason not to get a flu shot. This is especially true if you fly frequently or use other forms of public transit. Think of an airplane as a flying petri dish; why risk ruining your trip, or exposing others if you’re coming down with something? If you have an underlying health condition such as asthma, diabetes, or other lung or heart disease, it’s of particular importance to get immunized.

2. Tetanus
I grew up on a ranch, so tetanus shots have always been a part of my life. Many people don’t think about getting a tetanus vaccine, however, and as Dr. Szumowski points out, “It’s under-appreciated, and worth getting prior to travel given challenges of obtaining adequate, timely wound care.” Beats lockjaw, any day.

3. Hepatitis A
“Hepatitis A is common and can occasionally be quite serious,” cautions Dr. Szumowski. “For anyone with underlying liver disease (e.g. chronic hepatitis B or C) this is an especially important vaccination.”

4. Polio
Polio hasn’t been fully eradicated in parts of the developing world, so an inactivated poliovirus booster is important when traveling to areas where it’s still a problem, such as Nigeria and India.

5. Typhoid
This vaccine can be taken either orally or by injection. Be aware that you must avoid mefloquine (an anti-malarial) or antibiotics within 24 hours of the vaccine doses.

Additional vaccines
Depending upon your destination, you may also require, by law, a Yellow Fever (tropical South America and sub-Saharan Africa), or Japanese Encephalitis/JE vaccination (parts of Asia and the Western Pacific). Dr. Szumowski recommends JE vaccine if you’re traveling for an extended (over one month) period in rural areas of affected countries.

Rabies vaccine isn’t usually recommended, but if you travel extensively in developing nations or have/expect frequent contact with animals, it’s a good idea. I’ve had a couple of canine-related experiences that have sold me on the idea. Dr. Szumowski notes that “excellent wound care and post-bite medical evaluation are still needed,” even if you’ve had a rabies pre-exposure vaccination.

Tips
It’s critical to allow ample time before your trip to allow the protective effects of the vaccines to establish themselves. Go to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s vaccinations page for more information on what’s required and epidemic updates, if applicable. Often, your GP, internist, or local drugstore can provide some of these vaccinations; others require a specialist. For locations of a travel medicine clinic near you, click here.

Carry your immunization card with you as proof of vaccination, and email yourself a scanned copy, as well. The same goes for copies of your medical insurance cards.

Practice good hygiene and get enough rest, inasmuch as possible, while traveling, to maintain a healthy immune system. Airborne and Emergen-C are great immunoboosters to carry with you.

Consider travel insurance if you’ll be in a remote or sketchy area, or engaging in high-risk outdoor pursuits.

[Photo credits: swine flu, Flickr user ALTO CONTRASTE Edgar AVG. (away); polio, Flickr user Cambodia Trust;

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Win a travel writing assignment in Istanbul

Think you have what it takes to be a travel writer, but don’t know how to kick-start your career? Thanks to a new contest from Rough Guides and BikeHike Adventures, you can test drive your potential new calling by going on an assignment with a Rough Guides author to Istanbul, Turkey.

Candidates will submit a 500-word travel essay based on a personal experience around one of the following themes: Responsible Travel, Journey in an Unknown Culture or My Big Adventure.

One person will be selected to travel, all-expenses paid, to Istanbul to work with Terry Richardson, author of The Rough Guide to Istanbul, as he researches a new edition of his book.

Prior to meeting and working with Richardson, the winner will enjoy total immersion into Turkish culture. BikeHike Adventures will provide the winner with their 12 day Turkish Delight tour highlighting most of Turkey’s iconic sights. The trip includes exploring Cappadocia by mountain bike, foot and horseback, visiting the Blue Mosque, the Hagia Sophia, the Grand Bazaar and Palace and sea kayaking on the Mediterranean past ancient ruins.

To enter, visit WorldNomads.com. The winner will be published on April 28, 2011, and travel will take place from June 7 to June 28, 2011.

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Ten destinations to skip in 2011

The new year breeds thousands of new top ten lists. The top places to see from the geniuses at the New York Times. The top best cruises from the cruserati at Frommers. Top bloggers with top status opining on the top new places that you should visit. Hey, we’re guilty of that at Gadling too, but we have to go where the hits lead us.

Fact of the matter is though, you can have a great time in almost any destination. Find the right people, open the right bottle of wine, dig through enough piles of tourists and eventually everyone finds their comfort zone, whether in Wichita or in West Africa.

That said, there are corners of this planet that we, as well-heeled travel writers are just darn tired of. Whether it’s from overexposure from the media or personal experiences, certain places just make our skin crawl, and in 2011, we’re steering clear.

Bear in mind: everyone interprets a destination differently, and your experiences and opinions may be completely out of sync with ours. Take a look at Gadling blogger’s top 10 destinations to skip in 2011, and contrast them with your own in the comments below.

10. Calcata, Italy – as told by our sociable and lovable foodmonger, David Farley

Go to Calcata, a medieval hill town near Rome perched on 450-foot cliffs, only if…you like crystal-rubbing Italian hippies, tales of the Holy Foreskin that once had a home in the local church, and smoking hash on the intimate marble-bench-lined square. Go at your own peril. You’ve been warned.

9. Kansas — as told by blogger and cruise extraordinaire Chris Owen:

Basically, there’s really nothing there to see attraction-wise. There’s the biggest ball of twine in the world somewhere there in Central or Western Kansas, I forget which one. Even the people who live there admit this. This is no secret. Off and on over the years promoters have wanted to build a “Land of Oz” theme park that never went anywhere. No interest. Even NASCAR has had limited success. I know, I lived there for half a century and always traveled elsewhere on vacation. Most people who live there do.

Great people live there though. Some of the nicest, most genuine people in America are born and bred in Kansas. They’re a straight-talking bunch who would give you the shirt off their backs once they get to know you. Kansas is a great place live, just not to travel to.

8. Kuta, Bali – as told by urban maestro Jeremy Kressmann:

Take everything good about Bali – its serene temples, idyllic beaches, and mouth-watering food – and chuck it out window, and you’ll have Kuta. Instead replace the scene with packs of drunken tourists, Bubba Gump Shrimp restaurants and an overcrowded trash-strewn beach. By all means, visit Bali, but avoid Kuta at all costs.

7. All things Disney – as told by roving archaeologist, Civil War buff and expat blogger Sean McLachlan:

Where would I skip in 2011? Anything related to Disney. All it has to offer me are long lines, high prices, and movies that distort history and mangle humanity’s oldest legends. Disney debases everything it touches, turning our heritage into a whitewashed, whites-only placebo for that sad, lost, and frustrated group of refugees that is the American consumer class.

6. Waikiki, Hawaii – as told by our favorite McLean, Mclean Robbins

Skip Waikiki. Don’t pass on Hawaii, necessarily, but bypass this much-lauded, mostly overrated strip of hotels piled so closely on top of one another, the beauty of the beach is overpowered by the sheer masses of people who pile their oiled up and newly-married bodies onto it. You’ll see far too many leis, Hawaiian print shirts and Asians in tour groups touting more cameras than your average red carpet lineup. You’ll overpay (for everything from a Coke to your hotel room) and East Coasters will suffer as much jetlag as they would after flying to Europe. But don’t pass on the island chain entirely- opt instead for the less populated North Shore, or islands like Kauai.

5. Nha Trang, Vietnam– as told by urban maestro Jeremy Kressmann:

If beaches and seafood are all you crave, then this Central Vietnamese coastal town is good enough. But the town’s laid-back vibe is increasingly crowded out by mediocre expat bars and sprawl. Instead head to Southern Vietnam’s Phu Quoc Island for a taste of some decidedly more low-key sand.

4. Miami, Florida – as told by our sociable and lovable foodmonger, David Farley

I went to Miami a year and a half ago to speak at the Miami Book Fair International. It was my first time in the city and, alas, it didn’t make a very good impression on me. I actually wasn’t prepared for the city, confusing it for a walking city and also putting too much confidence in its public transport system. I ended up having to fork out for taxis every time I wanted to go somewhere that was in a different neighborhood. I did, however, trek up to Little Haiti, hoping to eat some good Haitian. It turned out, though, that decrepit Little Haiti is about one cock fight away from seeming like the real Haiti. There was one restaurant but it looked like it had shut down around the time Jean-Bertrand Aristide was ruling the country. As my wife and I trudged through the dusty streets, men on the side of the road stopped and stared at us. Even though the neighborhood was featured quite prominently in my guidebook (Lonely Planet), I don’t think a lot of non-locals make their way there too often. Which is fine, I guess, but just don’t go hungry.

3. Puhket, Thailand — as told by video captain and tequila master Stephen Greenwood

To me, Phuket feels like the Tijuana of Thailand – packed with loud, garish bars and touts looking to scam innocent vacationers with offers to muay-thai matches and ping pong shows.

There are far better beaches and places to see in Phuket – so skip the crowds and head to the nearby town of Karon instead.

2. The Hamptons, New York — as told by budget czar Alex Robertson Textor

The Hamptons are the Upper East Side teleported to a terribly ritzy stretch of Long Island during the summer. During the season, you’ll find the same exorbitant pricing and annoying people, as well as bumper-to-bumper traffic. If you’re dead set on spending some of your summertime along the Eastern Seaboard, select a quieter corner of Long Island (or elsewhere altogether) and save some money and energy.

1. Cancun, Mexico – as told by jetsetting socialite blogger Annie Scott:

No franks. Unfortunately, when I think of Cancun, I think less of beautiful Mexico and more of drunk Americans in the street. I know it’s perfect for some people, and there’s some great food to be had, for sure, but one of the things I value most about travel is getting an authentic taste of local culture. No offense to Cancun, but if there’s any authentic local culture still there, they’ve managed to shove it under the rug enough that the screaming tourists from around the USA and beyond won’t notice it. I think that’s a shame.

[Flickr images via The James Kendall of Pistoleers and Smart Destinations

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Traveling from Africa’s lowest to highest point

Traveling through Africa is always an adventure, but a British man, fresh from a stint in the Peace Corps, has found a way to add even more excitement to a journey through the wildest continent on Earth.

Last week, Kyle Henning set out on a journey that he has dubbed as Low2High: Africa. His adventure started at Lake Assal, located in central Djibouti, which has the distinction of being the lowest point in Africa at 508 feet below sea level. From there, he got on his bike and has started an 1864 mile long ride that will pass through six countries, eventually ending up in Tanzania at the base of Mt. Kilimanjaro. If all goes according to plan, Henning will then trek to the Kili’s summit, which is the highest point on the continent at 19,340 feet.

While this sounds like a fantastic way to visit East Africa and make one of the world’s great treks on Kilimanjaro, Henning isn’t doing it purely for the adventure. The young man is also hoping to raise funds for the New Day Children’s Center in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia. The center provides food, clothing, and education for children that would normally be left to fend for themselves on the city streets. Henning has set a modest goal of raising £2,500 (roughly $4000) and as of this writing he has already managed bring in about £888.

You can follow Kyle’s trekking and cycling adventure on his blog, where he is already sharing stories and photos from the road. While he’s been traveling for more than a week already, he still has a long way to go, and plenty to see and do. Judging from his early entries however, he seems to be having the time of his life meeting locals and seeing the landscapes. Can we ask for anything more out of our travel than that?

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Adventures travel, Dreaming of alaska with kids

To tell you the truth, I haven’t thought much about Alaska until last year. It seems so many forces from all directions trying to nudge me to take notice of this vast land.

It all started from my in-laws cruise trip to Alaska. Then I started to see many of my fellow travel bloggers wrote about their trips to Alaska.

The Land of Many Adventures

At first I heard about Dave & Deb at The Planet D‘s trip on Princess Cruise. Oh.. I couldn’t tell you how much I enjoyed following their trips from their excursions in Skagway, the whale watching in Juneau or a visit to Denali National Park.

On the same cruise, Beth from The Vacation Gals also wrote about her experience that made me ooz.. ahhh.. the whole time I was reading them.

That would have been more than enough to entice me to start taking Alaska seriously. Then to find out that Kara and Jen, the other 2 authors of The Vacation Gals were also on the path to Alaska on 2 different press trips, was just too much to handle.

It was so nice to learn that ‘Yes’ Alaska is family-friendly and can be a great family vacation. It was something that I have heard differently from other people. So it’s nice to see Kara and her family had a great time in this Alaska family cruise.

I was so glad to read about their honest comparison on 3 different cruise trips to Alaska. It was a great post to use for my future research.

So today, as I participate in Mara’s Mondays Dreaming, I’m dreaming of my Alaska vacation. I don’t know when this will happen yet but I know I have a good resources to start scheming and planning. Plus I already sign up to receive a Travel Alaska book . I can’t wait to start flip through and dream about it!

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Hua Hin Travel Infomation

The seaside resort city of Hua Hin in Thailand offers nice beaches, water sports like water-skiing, sailing and windsurfing, spas, various golf courses and natural and cultural attractions a brief distance faraway from Bangkok. Hua Hin may be a widespread tropical getaway additionally for Thai individuals, and therefore the native royal family has their main palace there.

Resort hotel pool in Hua Hin, Thailand

Coastal vacation city located within the coast of Central Thailand, in northern a part of Malay Peninsula, simply two hundred kilometers south from Bangkok, Hua Hin is that the initial beach resort within the country. it’s been a renowned weekend destination for Thai Royalty since the Nineteen Twenties, and has become a preferred beach vacation center and an area for retirement and vacation homes. the most inhabitants of Hua Hin are Buddhist Thais, and there also are Chinese individuals and Western expats living in Hua Hin. The resort cities of Cha-Am and Pranburi are situated simply next to Hua Hin.

Hua Hin beach, a three-hour train ride from Bangkok, is the oldest beach resort in Thailand.

Sights & activities in Hua Hin: from beaches & nature to spas & golf courses

Hua Hin is usually famous for its beaches that offer wonderful settings for relaxing beach holidays. Besides that, Hua Hin may be a widespread golf destination, and has several different doable activities and attractions similarly. Hua Hin offers additionally smart reasonable looking with a typical Thai night market, and golf in Hua Hin may be a nice possibility with several wonderful golf courses obtainable.

The main sights in Hua Hin city are the Klai Kangwon Palace, the residence of the Royal Family of Thailand that was inbuilt 1928. different famous buildings are the previous railway hotel, currently referred to as Sofitel Hotel, and therefore the stunning previous railway station. Khao Takiap and Khao Hin Lek Fai hills have nice views over Hua Hin, and therefore the 2 nearby national parks embody stunning waterfalls and caves similarly as abundant wildlife.

Activities in Hua Hin vary from horse riding and mountain biking to go-karting and several other water sports like sailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, parasailing and kite boarding, and therefore the several spas in Hua Hin that supply an honest different for the a lot of sporty activities. a good range of activity and sightseeing tours around Hua Hin are obtainable via native tour operators.

Hua Hin travel information and practical tips

Hua Hin features a tropical monsoon climate that’s terribly heat and humid round the year. there’s a dry season from November to June, with a hot weather from March to June and cooler, a lot of pleasant weather from November to February. Rainy season throughout the southwest monsoon lasts between July and October, however even then the weather is commonly quite sunny and pleasant. it’s followed by the northeast monsoon between November and March that brings dry and cooler weather.

Traveling to Hua Hin are often done by air, road or rail.

Hua Hin features a tiny airport with regular flights from Bangkok and a few charter flights, however it’s additionally quite common to fly to Bangkok and travel to Hua Hin from there. Regular and cozy however slow trains connect Hua Hin to Bangkok and therefore the south of Thailand, and faster and a lot of regular buses to Hua Hin are obtainable from Bangkok, the Bangkok airport and from the cities in southern Thailand. you’ll be able to even take a taxi from Bangkok to Hua Hin.

Local transport in Hua Hin is handled by pick-up trucks referred to as songthaews that have fastened routes, three-wheeled tuk-tuks, taxis and bike taxis. confirm you agree on the value before entering into a taxi or tuk-tuk. automobile rental in Hua Hin is offered, and an honest thanks to move around within the region in case you’re comfy driving in Thailand. tiny motorbikes and bicycles also are obtainable for rent.

Visitor services. there’s an honest vary of hotels in Hua Hin, representing mainly upscale institutions. Restaurants in Hua Hin also are plentiful, serving Thai, Asian and Western cuisines. Nightlife in Hua Hin is quieter than in several beach resorts and cities in Thailand, however there are still a pleasant form of choices. English is spoken widely.

Safety. Hua Hin may be a safe destination with little crime, and because the King of Thailand has his residence there, security is tight. Scams and overcharging of tourists do exist, however are often largely avoided by using wisdom. Respecting native culture and faith helps you to induce respect in come, and staying out of any criminal activity will assist you to remain safe.

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5 Knowledgeable Tips for Travel Skin Care

My job takes me everywhere the globe to lecture on the most recent advances in skin care and cosmetic procedures, thus I’ve had my baggage lost enough times to accept continue luggage whenever doable. Since current rules create it robust to urge all the hair and skin care merchandise that i take advantage of through security, I’ve developed a number of tricks to make sure my ultra-sensitive skin survives the trip.

1. grasp the foundations

All of the liquids you induce the plane should slot in a one-quart, zip-top bag and no container will be larger than three.4 ounces. Tweezers, nail scissors, and alternative sharp grooming instruments are no-nos. Rules do amendment, thus check www.tsa.gov for updates before you fly.

2. verify your very important skin care merchandise

I never travel while not the five essentials:

* cleanser
* moisturizer with sunscreen
* night treatment
* lip hydrator
* hand and body lotion

Air travel dries out your skin, thus select a nonfoaming cleanser like Cetaphil or Cera-Ve that won’t strip very important fats from your skin. If you have got oily skin, prefer a sunscreen while not moisturizer, such Jan Marini Antioxidant SPF thirty, otherwise, a moisturizer with SPF is fine—I use La Roche Posay Hydraphase UV. For nighttime, you would like a product specific to your skin sort, like an acne treatment or anti-inflammatory cream. Since I actually have sensitive skin, i take advantage of Caudalie Vinosource Cream Mask, that comes in an exceedingly convenient travel kit.

3. Pack for specific destinations

Consider the climate at your destination. If it’s drier than you’re conversant in, then you would like a heavier moisturizer; if it’s additional humid, you may not would like moisturizer in the least. Those travelling to hot, sunny places or ski resorts (where sun reflects off snow) ought to be significantly vigilant concerning sun protection. TIP: Keep in mind that SPF loses its efficiency over time, thus obtain sunscreen once you’re there rather than digging out that recent tube from last summer.

4. Pare down

Figure out what doesn’t have to be compelled to go in that zip-top bag—including cleansing wipes, like those by Ponds or Dermalogica, and merchandise that are available in solid type, like bars and sticks. for instance, take a lip balm in stick type, like Hwood Beauty Pom-Rose Lip Tea, and prefer a solid deodorant and bar soap like Dove. you’ll be able to even obtain shampoo and body lotion in bar form—try the Godiva Shampoo Bar or Therapy Massage Bar from Lush. or simply skip traveling with body lotion and use the complimentary one at your hotel.

5. Be a savvy shopper

Why obtain what you’ll be able to get for free? Pack fragrance samples rather than a full-size bottle, and raise your dermatologist if she has sample sizes of your skincare prescriptions.
Where doable, take cheap merchandise you’ll be able to abandon in favor of the nice finds you discover on your trip—I’m invariably returning home with some sort of skin care discovery! Some stores, like CVS and Sephora, supply travel-size sections, and internet retailers like SkinCareRX or 3floz.com feature merchandise at several value points that meet the three.4-ounce rule.

About the author

Dr. Leslie Baumann is an internationally renowned board certified dermatologist, researcher, and NY Times best-selling author. Learn additional from her new book, The Skin sort resolution and Public tv special, Skin sort Solutions (check your native TV listings)—and at SkinTypeSolutions.com.

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Travel debate: has technology ruined travel?

Has technology ruined travel? Has our obsession with, and reliance on, gadgetry stopped us from being brave bounders climbing mountains and turned us into a horde of shuffling tweeters? To argue the question, Lonely Planet’s US travel editor Robert Reid gets into the ring with Lonely Planet’s Community Manager Venessa Paech.

In the ‘Yes it has ruined travel!’ corner, Robert says:

In the rockumentary ‘It Might Get Loud,’ White Stripes’ founder Jack White says ‘Technology is a big destroyer of emotion and truth. Yeah, it makes it easier… But that’s a disease you have to fight in any creative field: ease of use.’

He’s talking rock music, but I see travel as a creative field too. Going to a place and trying to find authentic experiences, be it hunting down a winner baguette, making friends at a soccer game, or watching the sun dip down over a lake. The best comes with time to pass, and time to absorb where we are. It’s an analog landscape.

Certainly technology makes accessing information and documenting things easy. Digital cameras allow amateurs to take hundreds of shots till they get that Coliseum shot right. Smart phones can remind us the capital of Paraguay, and let us send instant-messages, tweets or capture video. But that’s sort of the problem too. Convenience means we immerse less. Before email, when you were in a place, you were in a place.

I remember 15 years ago, having to hunt down public phones in India to give progress reports to my concerned mama back in Oklahoma. After several miscommunication hurdles in Udaipur, locals gifted me snacks in a long line in a post office. I munched and took a photo a cute handwritten sign that forbid weapons unless you were a Sikh, in which it was “OK to carry a sword on your person.” A memorable hour or so of everyday life. And I can’t imagine why I’d ever really need to go there now. I’d just send an email from the back of a cab.

Instant virtual access means less time to absorb your real surroundings. If you have just one or two chances to photograph that Coliseum with 35mm camera, and don’t see immediate results, I bet you you’ll look at the original longer. And probably see it better too. Technology may make travel easier, and I do use it, but our experiences come diminished.

And fighting the pro-technology fight, we have Venessa:

Ah technology. Everybody’s favourite straw man. When it’s not corrupting our youth and stealing our souls, it’s killing travel. In actual fact, technology is making more of us travel, further, than ever before. The age of the social web is the age of the niche – whatever our travel passion, we’ll find like-minded souls to help us make it happen. The online brains trust of traveler reviews and Google mapplications gives formerly nervous nomads the confidence to get up and go. Off the beaten track, once out of reach, is now within our grasp, with geo-smarts and real-time assistance from locals at your fingertips. Even if we’re offline when we get there, technology can make getting there smoother and richer.

Travelling alone can make some people feel vulnerable. The ability to access and manage flight details, transport schedules, instantly translate languages and check in with home while still on the road can transform trembling into intrepid.

In our unstable 21^st century, earthquakes, volcanoes, floods and tsunamis are a devastating reality of our travelling lives and can create terrible chaos. Technology is a travelers ally here too, delivering critical updates, web access when it counts, and the chance to turn misfortune into opportunity (downloading free guides if you’re stranded, or connecting on Facebook or Twitter with nearby strangers for ride or accommodation shares). Like it or not, we rely on technology to plan our travels. Our gadgets and networks help us keep it together when it’s falling apart.

Has technology changed travel? Undoubtedly. Has it killed our wanderlust? Only if we let it.

Rebuttal

Robert: I use technology all the time. I fly with e-tickets, I tweet and email and blog, take hundreds of digital shots, edit videos with breezy software back home. To shun all technology is like marching into Agincourt without a long bow. It’s the way things are going, and will continue to go. That’s fine. But no matter how hard a few try to keep fires lit on travel’s wanderlust, all that that accessibility and convenience – making it easier for more to go farther, do more – means we’ll immerse less than we used to. We already are.

Venessa: Finding those white spaces amidst the white noise is travel at its best. But it’s not technology that threatens moments of reflection and immersion. It’s speed. Remember Clark Griswold? People were rushing through destinations, checking off the itinerary and the icons at breakneck pace long before the internet. Technology offers new ways to refract and reflect, giving us tools to set our own internal travel rhythm.

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Top five luxury experiences in Las Vegas

Now over ever, visiting Las Vegas isn’t close to gambling. A stopover in Sin town lately is all regarding the headlong, hedonistic pursuit of enjoyment. Here are simply some of our prime picks for over-the-top luxury, each on and off the Strip:
1. Elevate your spa rituals

The Strip harbors dozens of fantastically artistic million-dollar spa oases. you’ll unharness everyday stresses with a Hawaiian lomilomi massage, an ayurvedic herbal tub or a chai-tea mud mask. Sweat out toxins in a very California redwood sauna, a Turkish-style hammam or a Japanese salt cave. Afterward, chill in an arctic ice space where artificial dry-ice snowflakes fall. Romantic couples’ side-by-side spa treatments are sure to bring bliss, whereas a lot of adventurous spa offerings outdoors embrace ice climbing in Red Rock Canyon or kayaking on desert lakes. the majority of the Strip’s spas welcome men similarly as girls, some upping the macho ante with high-end barber services, sports TVs within the steam space, and more.

2. Score the simplest seats within the house

All of the Strip’s a show, jam-packed with magicians, comedians, Broadway musical casts and leggy showgirls all competing for applause. For total escapism, let yourself be hypnotized by the artistry of los angeles Rêve (The Dream), where surreal vignettes swing from romantic rendezvous to eerie nightmares. Aquatic acrobatic feats and choreographed underwater ballet by scuba-certified performers are the centrepiece of a custom-built theatre, that holds a one-million-gallon swimming pool. Alternatively, hunt down a better-than Broadway show like Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular or one in every of Cirque du Soleil’s several acts – you can’t swing a cat on the Strip while not hitting a troupe of whimsically-costumed acrobats. when the show, see out the wee little hours of the morning at one in every of the city’s hottest nightclubs – if you would like the complete treatment make certain to decision ahead for bottle-service reservations.

3. style the full world on a plate

Literally you’ll eat your method round the world in Las Vegas, bouncing from high-flying French dining rooms to Japanese izakaya (gastropubs) to southwest yank chilli-spiced kitchens. In fact, typically you’ll style it all within the same place. At Mandalay Bay, Fleur by Hubert Keller (the 1st guest chef ever invited to the White House) could be a subtle, worldly defy a tapas bar. Atlantic halibut cheeks, Iberico ham, Russian caviar and Japanese wagyū beef all rub shoulders on the creative fusion menu of little plates. Red-curtained cabanas create dinner feel sort of a personal star chef-catered party for you and your friends. After-dinner affogato brings Bailey’s ice cream dramatically mixed tableside – with liquid nitrogen!
4. look and drive like James Bond

Calling Las Vegas a fashion-forward town doesn’t do it justice. International high fashion purveyors on the Strip carry everything from catwalk fashions contemporary off this year’s runways to diamond jewels. Why not pop in on Fred Leighton – several Academy Awards night adornments are on loan from the world’s most prestigious assortment of antique jewellery. in contrast to at their uptight NYC outlet, they could even allow you to strive on finery that when belonged to royalty. when you finally hit that slot-machine or video-poker jackpot, take a flashy imported sports automobile for a check drive at one in every of the Strip’s luxury auto dealerships. Vroom, vroom! If you don’t have $100,000 to drop on a brand-new Maserati, you’ll still strike a debonair 007 create whereas taking a present photo next to at least one of those high-performance driving machines.

5. Fly into the Grand Canyon

The Grand Canyon is that the USA’s best-known natural attraction. At over 275 miles long, roughly ten miles wide and a mile deep, it’s an implausible spectacle of Technicolor rock strata. Carved by the Colorado River, the canyon’s uncountable peaks and buttes and its meandering rims offer access to fantastic views – and maybe none higher than from the seat of a helicopter. From Las Vegas, deluxe chopper tours fly by Hoover Dam, an art-deco desert masterpiece, before descending 3500ft below the canyon’s west rim. Landing at a scenic viewpoint simply higher than the mighty Colorado, your pilot can run off a bottle for a champagne toast. Attention, lovebirds: you’ll exchange your wedding vows at sunset here.

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Discovery Adventures travel company debuts 2011′s Discovery Channel-inspired journeys

Armchair traveler red alert! Discovery Adventures is providing eight new Discovery Channel-inspired cultural journeys for 2011, together with Greece, Turkey, Italy, France, Japan, and East Africa. Explore archaeological sites close to Athens, visit wineries in Tuscany, safari in Kenya, or soak in hot springs within the Japanese Alps. journeys are restricted to sixteen folks, and run from eight to fifteen days. Accommodations vary from boutique hotels and inns with native character to eco-lodges.

Discovery Adventures has teamed up with journey travel business leader Gap Adventures and non-profit Planeterra to supply travelers a lot of opportunities to absolutely impact the lives of communities round the world. every trip provides travelers with a chance to go to destinations (often traveling by ancient modes of transport like rickshaw or elephant) and interact with native folks in an ecologically-responsible manner. additionally to your guide, you will be in the course of native historians, archaeologists, artisans, and naturalists. Time to induce off that Barcalounger!

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Search for missing antarctic yacht officially known as off

After nearly per week of looking, rescue groups have known as off efforts to seek out a missing yacht that disappeared in Antarctic waters last week. The ship had 3 crew members on board at the time.

The Norwegian yacht Berserk was sailing within the Southern Ocean last Tuesday when the region was beset with unhealthy storms. For unknown reasons, the crew activated the ship’s emergency locator beacon, calling for facilitate. it had been quite twenty four hours before rescue operations may start, and by that point the beacon was now not transmitting and every one tries to hail the vessel were met with failure.

At the time, it had been thought that the ship had 5 crew members aboard, however every day later 2 of the crew were found alive and well on the Antarctic continent itself. They included the ship’s skipper Jarle Andhoey, who was making an attempt to create a journey by ATV to the South Pole. Andhoey provided SAR groups with data on the the potential course that the ship was on when it went missing.

Further clues regarding the ship’s fate came every day later when a liferaft was discovered adrift within the ocean. it had been broken and missing its initial aid kit, however it had been clearly from the Berserk. It couldn’t be determined if the raft was set afloat on accident or if somebody had used it to flee the ship.

The search continued throughout the weekend, however nowadays New Zealand officers known as off the operation, dismissing all ships committed to the mission. It looks that once per week, they’re resigned to the very fact that the Berserk is gone, and also the 3 crew members on board went together with her.

The story does not finish there but, as Andhoey is currently due back in New Zealand, where he’ll ought to offer answers regarding what the ship was doing within the Southern Ocean and what safety precautions had been taken. There are some indications that the crew ignored some necessary safety rules which that will have contributed to ships demise.

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Hiking the length of the Appalachian path in 5 minutes

The Appalachian path is taken into account one amongst the crown jewels of long distance hiking. The route, that runs for nearly 2200 miles, stretches through fourteen states between Maine and Georgia and takes most hikers months to steer finish to finish. Along the means, they realize dense forests, crystal clear lakes, and beautiful mountain views that are incomparable within the japanese u. s..

For most people, hiking the whole length of the AT simply is not attainable but. we’ve got jobs, families, and varied different responsibilities that forestall us from obtaining away for months at a time. however because of Kevin Gallagher, we will all finally get to expertise the path in all of its glory. Kevin spent six months hiking the Appalachian path and has created the subsequent video, that is aptly named inexperienced Tunnel. The stop motion film was created from photos taken along the route and strung along to offer us a way of what it’s wish to hike the AT. The result’s that we will cowl the full path in barely below 5 minutes.

Warning: Watching the subsequent video could cause your feet to urge itchy and will presumably lead to the purchising of a brand new set of hiking boots. Gadling cannot be held to blame for such aspect effects. Thank you.

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A mid-season whale wars update from the ocean Shepherd

The Sea Shepherd’s Southern Ocean season – dubbed “Operation No Compromise” — is over 0.5 over and reports up to now it should be having its best season of protest ever.
How to measure? only a few whales taken by the japanese whaling fleet and no ships sunk on either facet. Yet.
Of course there is been lots of verbal slugging since the season began in December, further because the tossing of some literal bamboo spears, by the Japanese!
Lead-Shepherd Captain Paul Watson accused the japanese of creating a false “Mayday” distress decision from the Southern Ocean last Friday, claiming it absolutely was “under attack” by the anti-whalers.

Watson admits he and his gang had deployed its typical weaponry: prop foulers (wire ropes meant to wreck engines), and a good variety of stink and paint bombs – leading to the come fireplace of these bamboo spears — however that they were hardly near ramming the japanese whaling ship.

“They said they were in distress and that we were standing by,” Watson told the AP. “The ‘Gojira’ [the Shepherd's new attack ship, named when Godzilla] is correct beside them and that they refuse to answer our calls.”
Truth is, consistent with Watson, it absolutely was the japanese ship “Yushin Maru No. 3″ that nearly cut the “Gojira” in 0.5, returning simply ten feet from its hull.

Given the remoteness of the battleground, for currently all we’ve got is that the he-said/she-said issuances of the 2 fighters. however all are going to be created clear later within the year, since for the fourth consecutive season a movie crew from Animal Planet is on board documenting the campaign for “Whale Wars.”

It would seem that this year’s campaign strategy has paid off. Utilizing thee ships, a helicopter and eighty eight crewmembers the Shepherd’s have successfully chased the japanese whaling fleet over five,000 miles. Early within the season they isolated and interrupt its refueling vessel – the “Sun Laurel” – even whereas being harassed by 2 of the Japanese’ 3 harpoon boats – that have centered on trailing the Shepherd’s instead of searching whales.

Watson checked in from port in New Zealand, where he’d taken the Shepherd’s lead ship, the “Steve Irwin,” for fuel and provides. he’s optimistic concerning the season, suggesting it should be “our most successful nonetheless.”

“They have taken terribly near zero (whales),” he says, hoping this could be the last season the Shepherd’s presence are going to be needed off Antarctica, hoping its non-stop harassment can finally encourage the japanese to present up its “scientific” hunt.

Where whaling commission edicts and international protest have failed, a mix of the seaborne fights, new Japanese tax laws, falling meat sales and having been caught running a whale-meat black market, could achieve stopping whaling within the Southern Ocean.

Success has apparently been felt on the fundraising front further, since the Shepherd’s have recently raised a large electronic billboard in Times sq. depicting a breaching whale near to be harpooned. it’s the media savvy non-profit’s 1st stab at out of doors advertising.

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The 10 necessities of hiking and why you wish them

Hikers and backpackers are not any doubt already acquainted with the “Ten Essentials”, that could be a list of necessary things that perpetually|we must always} always carry with us when heading out on to the path. The list has had many iterations over the years, however the first is traced back to a Seattle based mostly outside club within the 1930′s. The club, called the Mountaineers, came up with the list of things that were most vital to our survival whereas within the backcountry and over the years it unfold to different outside enthusiasts across the country. Since those humble beginnings, the list has grown to nearly mythic standing, and whereas times could have modified, it’s still as relevant nowadays because it was when it had been initial created.

Here are the 10 things that everybody ought to carry with them on a hike of an significance.

Map
Navigation is vitally necessary whereas within the wilderness and it’s necessary, even during this day and age, that you just have a decent quality, and up to this point, map with you once you hit the path. Sure, a GPS will give abundant of identical data, however any smart outside enthusiast can tell you that you just should not rely an excessive amount of on those electronic devices. they will fail to induce an indication below thick tree cowl and when their batteries are dead, they’re solely helpful as a paperweight for your map throughout a wind storm. it isn’t enough to merely carry a map with you but, you want to even be able to scan it properly too. that’s a vital talent that ought to be developed before heading too distant the overwhelmed path.

Compass (or GPS)
Being able to use a compass is a vital side of navigation further and having the ability to use one properly goes hand in hand with having the ability to navigate with a map. a decent compass is cheap, little and light-weight and will probably be a life saver if you ever become lost within the woods. That said, this is often the twenty first century, and despite what I said regarding GPS devices on top of, they’re definitely a worthy addition to your pack, provided you do not become too reliant on the device and additionally skills to use one properly. as an example, you’ll be able to learn to conserve battery life by using your map to navigate and easily switching on the GPS from time to time to visualize your direction and plot a course. Personally, i would advocate having each with you, however given a selection, the great ol’ reliable compass is your best bet.

Sunglasses and Sunscreen
Sunglasses and sunscreen are necessary for staying healthy and cozy on the path and are helpful in all seasons, as well as winter. whereas we have a tendency to all perceive how necessary protection from the sun is throughout the nice and cozy summer months, the reflection of the sun off the snow within the winter is simply as hazardous. Sunglasses will facilitate forestall snow blindness and defend the eyes from flying debris or errand tree branches. Sunscreen keeps the skin from being fried by the suns ultraviolet lightweight, however keep in mind to use it well beforehand, because it is not abundant smart when you’ve got already been scorched.

Extra Clothing
This is one among those things that the majority individuals tend to ignore, however all over again it is a possible life saver. Carrying further layers will facilitate defend against hypothermia and permit for a few versatility ought to weather modification unexpectedly or some odd accident occur. as an example, you may be hiking along a river bank, slip and fall in, and suddenly end up soaked to the core. looking on the weather, and also the distance you would like to hike back to safety, further clothing might quite literally be the distinction between life and death. several climbers caught on a mountain throughout a freak storm have learned this lesson the exhausting approach whereas others have survived as a result of the brought seemingly unnecessary gear with them on their trek.

Don’t leave home while not the 10 necessities of hiking!First Aid Kit
This one could seem sort of a no-brainer, however it’s shocking the amount of individuals who hit the path while not even some easy band aids in their daypack. Your personal medkit can doubtless vary looking on the length and nature of the hike, however it ought to have, at the minimum, the flexibility to treat easy cuts, abrasions, insect bites, and burns. I personally have many completely different initial aid kits of varying sizes that slip into my pack on a moments notice when i am heading out on an journey that’s over one or two of hours in length.

Headlamp/Flashlight
Having a supply of illumination could also be the final thing on your mind once you begin out on a hike within the bright morning sun. however all over again, unforeseen consequences might forestall you from creating it home before dark, and if that ought to happen, you will be glad you packed a light-weight to assist notice the approach. A headlamp works best because it leaves your hands liberated to facilitate guide you along within the dark or to hold different things, however a flashlight can do nicely during a pinch further. fashionable lights are economical, bright, and cheap. Add atiny low one to your pack and likelihood is you will not even notice that it’s there, however you will be glad it’s ought to the necessity arise.

Matches (or Lighter)
Depending on weather, the flexibility to begin a fireplace might probably save your life. Bring either a group of matches or lighter along on your hike simply in case. If you are doing bring matches, take care they’re either the waterproof selection or stored during a smart waterproof container, lest become useless during a sudden rain storm. the flexibility to begin a fireplace won’t be only for heat but, because it is used to signal a probe party on you whereabouts do you have to become lost or injured within the backcountry.

Firestarter
Matches or a lighter are solely a part of the equation when it involves building a fireplace, as you furthermore mght would like one thing which will assist you quickly and simply ignite no matter it’s you are burning. Once a match is struck, the simplest firestarters can burn simply and for over a number of seconds, whereas providing lots of heat to induce things going. There are variety of fine firestarters on the market, as well as dry tinder however one among the simplest that i like to recommend could be a few cotton balls soaked in petroleum jelly. this is often a simple, cheap, and really light-weight resolution that additionally happens to be highly effective.

Knife/Multitool
A knife has continuously been an a awfully versatile tool to possess with you on any extended hike. they will be used to shave wood for the fireplace, cut through cloth or rope, perform minor field surgery, or maybe slice the evening meal. fashionable multitools, like the Swiss Army Knife, will do all that and lots a lot of due to the very fact that they usually incorporate multiple blades, screw drivers, cork screws, scissors and a lot of. Those tools is used to repair gear on the go and provide a lot of choices for when those surprising occurrences come about all over again.

Extra Food and Water
Finally, you must never head out on to the path while not bringing some further food and water beside you. albeit it means that merely throwing one or two of energy bars or an additional sandwich in your pack, you’ll be glad you’ve got them ought to your day on the path extend longer than expected. Hydration packs and smart water bottles have created it easier than ever to bring lots of water with us further, however you’ll additionally take into account packing some reasonably water treatment possibility too. A bottle of iodine tablets will create most water drinkable, albeit it does not facilitate the style or a tool just like the Steripen Traveler, is invaluable during this space too.

So there you’ve got it it. The classic list of the 10 stuff you should not leave home while not on any hike. There are a number of different recommendations that would be added, like insect repellent or an emergency blanket, as well, however this is often the list in its purest type, and also the one that the majority hikers and backpackers follow when making ready for his or her next trek. maybe you will take into account every of those things fastidiously before making ready for your next trek too.

What different “essentials” does one place into your pack?

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2011 a tough year for rhino poachers in South Africa

2011 continues to be a troublesome year for rhino poachers in South Africa
Back in January we tend to posted a story regarding 5 rhino poachers being killed in 2 separate gun fights in South Africa. A month later, things haven’t specifically improved for the illegal hunters, with four a lot of being killed within the subsequent weeks since the first story. It looks that 2011 is off to a rough begin, as barely six weeks in, and twice as several poachers are killed than in all of 2010.

The higher range of fatalities is not only as a result of the anti-poaching squads have stepped up their patrols and improved their coaching techniques but. in step with this story from the AP, the amount of poachers has greatly increased in 2011 likewise. Demand for rhino horns continues to rise in elements of Asia, where they’re used as key ingredients in ancient medicines, and as a result there’s plenty of cash to be created on the illegal black market.

In 2010, 333 rhinos were poached in South Africa alone, nearly tripling the amount from the previous year. On a recent trip to the country, i used to be told that 2011 was off to an ominous begin likewise, with a high range of illegal kills already happening this year. the final outlook for the long run wasn’t a positive one either. Rhinos are already on the endangered species lists, and they are being slaughtered at an alarming rate. It looks that as long as their is demand for the prized rhino horns, there’ll be many individuals willing to require the danger to reap them.

If the present trend holds for the remainder of the year, it looks it’s reaching to be a bloody one for the rhinos in South Africa, likewise because the men that hunt them.

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The Palio of Siena

The Palio of Siena with its exciting horse race is one among the foremost well-liked and well-known historic festivals in Italy. the competition to win the palio of Siena may be a horse race run in Siena’s fan-shaped main sq., Piazza del Campo or Il Campo.

Siena is split into seventeen neighborhoods, or contrade, every with a rider. 10 contrade participate within the initial race, July 2, chosen by a draw twenty days before the race. the opposite seven and 3 from the July race compete August sixteen. Horses are assigned to the riders by a draw 3 days before the race. There are alternative events round the days of the palio, too, beginning June twenty nine and August thirteen.

Palio Race

Race day starts with a special mass, trial runs by the jockeys, and blessing of the horses. within the afternoon beginning around 3pm there’s a procession through the historic center of Siena with costumed participants from every contrada and performances by flag throwers. The historic parade ends at Piazza del Campo.

Before the race the beginning line-up is set by lottery and horses are lined up behind a rope, the standard beginning gate. The race is regarding a thousand meters total, with horses circling the track 3 times, taking but 2 minutes. The contrada of the winning horse is awarded the palio, or victory flag. Winning the palio may be a huge honor and therefore the race is very competitive.

Enjoy these Siena Palio photos taken at the palio race in July, 2005, by photographers Joe Bauwens and Marybeth Flower.
Siena Visitor info

See our Siena Travel Guide for a lot of regarding visiting the Tuscany hill city of Siena and check our Tuscany Transportation Map for Siena’s location and the way to urge to Siena on public transportation.
How to See the Siena Palio

The palio races are terribly crowded – you would possibly be able to snag a standing place (there’s standing area for regarding twenty eight,000), however reserved seats (33,000) are sometimes sold out beforehand. you’ll watch the flag twirling from many places in town; one among the most effective however most crowded places is by the Duomo.

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National Geographic announces adventurer of the year

Last week National Geographic announced the winner of their 2011 “People’s Choice” Adventurer of the Year, handing the award over to Spanish mountaineer Edurne Pasaban who claimed the foremost votes in an internet poll of Nat Geo readers. The 37-year previous Pasaban become the primary lady to summit all fourteen of the world’s 8000+ meter peaks by successfully climbing each Annapurna (8091 meters/26,545 ft) and Shishapangma (8013 meters/26,289 ft) in a very span of simply a couple of weeks.

The full list of honorees was announced back in December and an internet poll was conducted to work out the favourite amongst readers. Pasaban, who comes from the Basque region of Spain, beat out a bunch of different explorers to require home the award. different nominees included Ed Stafford, who created headlines for walking over 4000 miles along the length of the Amazon River and Jessica Watson, the Australian teen who sailed solo round the world.

Climbing all of the world’s 8000 meter peaks is taken into account the final word challenge in mountaineering. The list includes a number of the foremost tough and deadly mountains on the earth, as well as Mt. Everest and also the legendary K2. a get few male climbers have achieved the feat, however Pasaban became the primary lady to hitch that terribly elite cluster. Korean climber Oh Eun-sun claimed to be the primary, reaching the highest of her final peak simply weeks before Pasaban. however queries stay on whether or not or not she really topped out on one in all the mountains, that has place her claim into dispute.

Conquering those peaks and winning this award did not come back while not sacrifice but. Pasaban suffered frostbite and has lost elements of many of her toes. that’s however atiny low value to purchase mountaineering immortality.

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Endurance athlete to run across Chile’s Atacama Desert

Canadian endurance athlete and adventurer Ray Zahab is in Chile this week where he has just launched an epic long distance run across the Atacama Desert, a place that is renowned as the driest environment on the planet. Zahab is making the attempt as a challenge to his own abilities, but also as part of an educational outreach program with the hopes of delivering an ongoing message to students about the importance of biodiversity to the health of the planet.

All told, the run will cover approximately 750 miles, starting in the northern part of the desert and heading south. Ray hopes to complete the expedition in a little over two weeks and will average more than 43 miles per day on foot. (That’s a marathon + 17 miles each and every day for those keeping track at home!) All of his gear will be carried in a backpack, along with the 8 to 10 liters of water that will be necessary for each day. A support team will make strategic water drops along the route, so that Zahab can count on a fresh supply when needed.

Along the way, Zahab will use satellite communications technology to interact with school children in classrooms all over the world. As part of the impossible2Possible program, a non-profit organization that seeks to educate and inspire young people through adventure, he’ll reach more than 16,000 children to deliver a message about threats to the environment. The desert will make for a stark contrast to a similar expedition that he conducted last year in the Amazon Jungle.

Zahab is no stranger to these kinds of challenging adventures. He has already run across the Sahara Desert, traveled to the South Pole, and set a speed record for traveling the length of Russia’s Lake Baikal on foot, a distance of nearly 400 miles. On each of those journeys he was joined by his partner Kevin Vallely, who was to be included on this expedition as well. But just days before the start an illness in the family forced Vallely to pull out, leaving Zahab to run the desert solo.

Caught in the rain shadow of both the Andes Mountains and the Chilean Coastal Range, the Atacama Desert is considered the driest place on Earth. The region averages just 1mm (.04 inches) of rain per year, and many areas have not seen rain throughout recorded history. One study suggests that river beds in the Atacama have been dry for more than 120,000 year, which gives you an indication of what Ray will be up against over the next few weeks.

You can follow his progress at AtacamaExtreme.com where he’ll be posting daily progress reports and updates from the field.

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