Thursday 27 June 2013

Marlin Fishing, Bahamas

7).
Marlin have captured the imagination of sport fishermen since the 1930s, when well-known angler/authors Zane Grey, who fished for black, striped and blue marlin in the Pacific, and Ernest Hemingway who fished the Florida Keys, Bahamas and Cuba for Atlantic blue marlin and white marlin, wrote extensively about their pursuit and enthused about the sporting qualities of their quarry.



Relive the excitement of Hemmingway’s poignant short story ‘The Old man and the Sea’ with some marlin fishing in the Caribbean. These huge fish can weigh up to 1800 pounds making them an impressive conquest for anyone with an adventurous spirit. Chartering a boat out into the cobalt blue waters of the Bahamas is an experience that no one will ever forget.



Today, marlin fishing is considered by many anglers to be the pinnacle of offshore sport fishing, due to the size and power and also the elusiveness of the four marlin species. In the past, considerable skill and resources were required to find, hook and land marlin, particularly the largest blue and black marlin. These skills are today aided by modern technology, particularly the fast and seaworthy vessels associated with sport fishing for marlin, which have the range, speed and seaworthiness to reach distant offshore fishing grounds, and are equipped with state of the art fish-finding and navigation electronic aids.


Monday 24 June 2013

Zip Lining, Utah Olympic Park, USA

6).

Stats:

Length                                  : 1,500 feet long
Vertical Drop                        : 500 feet
Top Speed                             : 60 mph
Average Percent Grade        : 34%
Cables                                   : 4 side by side



This extreme zip lining park has one of the world’s steepest zip lines only a short drive outside of Salt Lake City. The area is also known for its excellent skiing having played host to the 2002 Winter Olympic Games so there are all sorts of spills and thrills to be had including lugeing and bob-sledding. There are also amazing tours to be had of the weird desert landscape in these parts.


Not only is this the steepest zip line in North America but it is also the steepest in the world!!!


Sunday 23 June 2013

Surfing, Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka

5).
ACCESS :
Catch bus/train/car to Hikkaduwa. Best break is 3 km south of bus/train station in area called Wewala.

Distance : Day trip       Walk  : Instant access (< 5min)

Easy to find?  : OK       Public access?  :Public access


Ultra-friendly locals, great surf and amazing food make Sri Lanka an ideal place for an adventurous surfing holiday. Although different breaks operate at different times of year, Hikkaduwa waves peak between November and March when the best swells arrive. This bay in the Southern Province also has a lively nightlife and plenty of great snorkelling on offer so that even if the waves disappear the adventure carries on.


SURF SPOT CHARACTERISTICS :

SURF SPOT QUALITY : Wave quality Normal      Experience  : All surfers

WAVE Type  : Reef-coral                                       Alternative name : A-Frame



Direction   :Right and left                                      Bottom with sand  :Reef (coral,sharp rocks etc..)

Power   :  Fun                                                       Normal length  : Short (< 50m)

Good day length  :  Normal (50 to 150m)           Best tide position  : All tides

TIDE, SWELL AND WIND :

Good swell direction  :West, SouthWest

Good wind direction    :East, NorthEast


ADDITIONAL INFORMATION :
Lovely set up, more than just surf. Good food, accomodation, nice people. Best break sits 50m off-shore, infront of a dozen guest-houses, usually full with surfers. Crowds from dawn till dusk. Water temp is ultra-warm. Consistantly 2-3 foot, maybe the odd 4-5 foot day.

Atmosphere :

Plenty of guest-houses to chose from.
You may share the lineup with a few small crocs but they don't bite often...

General :

Several of the local surfers reside here, little surf shop on the beach called A-Frame (like the reef break close to it) Good place to have repairs done and just sit and have a break.
Big wave surfing

Friday 21 June 2013

Touring, Angkor Wat, Cambodia

4).


Visit this incredible complex of temples in South East Asia which has been wonderfully preserved since it was built for a king in the 12th century. Today it remains the world’s largest religious building. Set within a vast archaeological park of some 400 square kilometres it would take you a long time to explore all the ruins properly. But as Indiana Jones and Tomb Raider were filmed here you will certainly feel as though you are following in the steps of adventurers.

Temple Inside

Angkor Wat combines two basic plans of Khmer temple architecture: the temple mountain and the later galleried temple, based on early Dravidian Architecture, with key features such as the Jagati. It is designed to represent Mount Meru, home of the devas in Hindu mythology: within a moat and an outer wall 3.6 kilometres (2.2 mi) long are three rectangular galleries, each raised above the next. At the centre of the temple stands a quincunx of towers. Unlike most Angkorian temples, Angkor Wat is oriented to the west; scholars are divided as to the significance of this. The temple is admired for the grandeur and harmony of the architecture, its extensive bas-reliefs, and for the numerous devatas adorning its walls.

Inside view of angkor temple



Angkor Wat, located at 13°24′45″N 103°52′0″E, is a unique combination of the temple mountain, the standard design for the empire's state temples, the later plan of concentric galleries, and influences from Kalinga architecture of Odisha and Chola of Tamil Nadu, India. The temple is a representation of Mount Meru, the home of the gods: the central quincunx of towers symbolises the five peaks of the mountain, and the walls and moat the surrounding mountain ranges and ocean.Access to the upper areas of the temple was progressively more exclusive, with the laity being admitted only to the lowest level.

Saturday 15 June 2013

Climbing, Mount Kilimanjaro, Tanzania

3).
Mount Kilimanjaro
Despite being the highest mountain in Africa climbing up Mount Kilimanjaro is relatively straight forward, which is probably why so many celebrities attempt it. Yet it is easy to see what all the fuss is about with spectacular savannah views and the single snow-capped peak standing out in this equatorial environment. As you ascend Mount Kilimanjaro see lush rainforest giving way to alpine scenery.



Mount Kilimanjaro Quick Facts

Height               : 19,340 ft (5,895 m)
Size                   : 60 miles x 40 miles (100 km x 65 km)
Location            : Tanzania, near Kenyan border in East Africa
Volcanoes          : Kibo, Mawenzi, Shira
Ecosystems        : Bushland, Forest, Heath, Alpine, Arctic
Nearby Cities     : Moshi, Arusha
Nearby Airport  : Kilimanjaro International Airport (JRO)


Although it is dormant, Kibo has fumaroles that emit gas in the crater. Several collapses and landslides have occurred on Kibo in the past, one creating the area known as the Western Breach.

Thursday 13 June 2013

White Water Rafting, Futaleufu, Chile

2).
The FutaleufĂș River is a river fed by the lakes in the Los Alerces National Park in Chubut Province, Argentina, crossing the Andes Mountains and the international border into Chile and opening into the Yelcho Lake.


A kayaker runs a rapid on the FutaleufĂș River on Chile
The river is known for its deep blue waters created by glacier till deposited in the river, and for its white water currents, which attract rafters and kayakers from around the world. The Chilean government has recently proposed creating a hydroelectric dam, which may jeopardize the free flow of the river in the near future.



The town of FutaleufĂș, Chile is close to the Argentine border and has a population of about 2,000. The main income for the community is fly fishing, white water rafting, and tourism.



This volcanic area of Chile has many powerful rivers which are ideal for white water rafting. As part of the southern area of Patagonia the scenery around Futaleufu is breath-taking. Meanwhile there is enough tourism to attract professional guides. The glacial water is here is cold and fresh so don’t fall in. Trips can also be combined with horse riding, fly-fishing, mountain biking and almost any other adventure pursuit you can think of.


Hiking, Boiling Lake, Dominica

1).
Dominica's Boiling Lake is situated in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park - Dominica's World Heritage site. It is a flooded fumarole 6.5 miles (10.5 km) east of Roseau, Dominica. It is filled with bubbling greyish-blue water that is usually enveloped in a cloud of vapour. The lake is approximately 200 ft (60 m) across.

Boiling Lake
This stunning Caribbean island doesn’t attract many tourists because of its understated infrastructure but what it lacks in beaches it certainly makes up for it adventure. Choose to stay in a tree house eco-complex or hike to waterfalls in the Morne Trois Pitons National Park. The highlight of ‘Nature Island’ is a Boiling lake which is only reached by an energy-sapping all day trek. Once there your guide will be happy to use thermal power to make you a nice boiled egg.



There is no road leading directly to the lake. It is approximately a 13 kilometer hike to the lake from the nearest road, passing sulfur springs, over mountains and through gorges along the way.


On July 6, 2007, adventure-film maker George Kourounis became the first person to ever cross the boiling lake from above, suspended by ropes over the most violently boiling section. This event was filmed for the TV series Angry Planet.