International Travel Adventure

We’ve reached Issue 2 of our new Blogroll Express, here to bring more photos and adventure chronicles within easy reach. Comments are welcome, as we continue testing for function and accessibility. We like (apparently, so do you) - and have included more of - “Travel Troubleshooter”. Perhaps with that, and a few other items, we should add “+ News & Hints” to the title? (continued below…)

If you scroll down, or look in the archives for the articles as they appeared in ‘Issue 001′, you will no longer find the box, but the articles and photos didn’t go away. Just click “Read more…” at the bottom right corner to visit “Dan’s shared items” on the Google Reader page; the shared items are what appear in Blogroll Express. Enjoy!

As promised, here we are with another visit to China before the Olympics begin in a couple of days (08-08-08). If you’re an Olympian or a spectator, the adventure of experiencing China’s opening on the world stage promises to be nothing short of thrilling. The infrastructure, including Qingdao Olympic Village, has been ready for the influx of athletes, officials, and journalists, and Beijing and Hong Kong are welcoming spectators. Since Olympic Village opened two weeks before the Olympics, many of the photographers, journalists, TV networks, as well as officials and athletes, have already been on site for a few days to a week or more. Rehearsals for opening and closing ceremonies have gone well. Everything looks wonderful!

However, China’s outward shine is understandably lacking a bit of luster, in the minds of journalists and a few IOC officials, at this writing, because of Internet access restriction issues for journalists reporting and recording the events. This, coupled with the recent handling of the unrest in Tibet, has tarnished the otherwise (mostly) glowing sheen of China’s entrance onto the pageant walkway, as it were.

For China visitors, in any capacity, none of this should change the spirit of adventure, though, in the next weeks and months. Adventure, good or bad, positive or negative, is still adventure, and should be viewed and experienced as just that. My adventures have not all been positive, but they’ve all been adventurous! I wouldn’t expect it any other way. If all experiences, and outcomes of those experiences, are known in advance to be comfortably positive, where is the sense of adventure? Predictability is generally the opposite of adventure. “Indiana Jones” knew adventure had no bounds, and he left predictability behind in the classroom!

So, if you’re going to China anytime soon, will it be for the Olympics? Or will you go after the Olympic torch has been extinguished? Or will you opt for other adventure travel - to more far-flung parts of China - even during the Olympics? We’ve previously mentioned a few possibilities, and will discuss more distant ones sometime after Olympiad XXIX is history. China is, after all, a very large country, even if we don’t consider the large semi-autonomous regions such as Tibet or Mongolia.

Of recent interest to me was the transportation across large expanses of China, from one city to another, one province to another. There is no infrastructure of four-lane divided highways connecting distant cities like the Interstate Highway system (begun under President Eisenhower in the 1950s) does in the U.S.A. Rather, Chinese President Hu Jintao has opted to connect his country by a gargantuan expansion of the air travel infrastructure that dwarfs anything ever attempted by any other nation until now.

The recent (February) opening of the world’s largest airport terminal, in Beijing, is only the beginning; the main terminal - of three - is nearly two miles (3.2 kilometers) in length, covering approximately 10,000,000 square feet (929,030.4 square meters). To meet demand, 97 more new airports are being built (and another planned for south Beijing within ten years). And 3,200 new jet planes are being purchased.

If your adventure includes traveling to more than one main location in China - and why wouldn’t it? - your travel can be the non-adventurous part of your itinerary. With all new planes, new airports, courteous agents, free luggage check-in, flight hostesses who provide excellent service - with a smile!, and good food (yes, they have meals!), what could be more - well, mundane? Ha-ha! On top of all that, ticket prices - when bought in China - are a fraction of comparable distance flights in the U.S.A.! Does it get any better?

If you’re still unsure of anything about your next international travel - and you want it to be cheaper, safer, and more adventurous, get my free “Smart Tips Handbook” available exclusively to Registered Readers! Click the link below.

International Travel Adventure

Welcome to our new feature, here to bring more photos and adventure chronicles within easy reach. Comments are welcome, as we test this for function and accessibility. We may also keep this new format for Newshound’s contributions, as well as your direct connection to the best from our select Blogroll sources. Don’t be surprised if “Blogroll Express” even gets its own page! Stay tuned…

This post began our new feature “Blogroll Express”, and it is merely “added to”, rather than “disappearing”, as it seems. Just check the most recent issue for all current and past articles, photos, etc. Perhaps the easiest way - from here - is to check the Archives for the “Blogroll” category in the sidebar - or here. Click “Read more…” at the bottom right corner of the box. Newest material is at the top of the lists, older material requires scrolling down and/or subsequent pages. We’re looking for a way to make previous articles more readily accessible by post date.

I wanted to share a little something special this time: a unique experience that can be considered “international” by all but U.S. residents. The circumstances and remote location for this adventure make it rather unusual. While it is “off the beaten path” for most tourists, it is still in the south Utah/north Arizona scenic area that fascinates and thrills thousands monthly, usually in any season but winter. (Hardier souls do venture winter explorations, but we can’t say the numbers are as many.)

Either side of the border between Utah and Arizona are some of the most beautiful and unusual landscapes and stunning natural visuals to be found anywhere. Most people are familiar with the existence of Arizona’s Grand Canyon, even if they’ve never visited it. In the vast (mostly) wilderness area north and east of “that big ditch” are found such treasures as the five major national parks in southern Utah: (1)Zion, (2)Bryce Canyon, (3)Capitol Reef, (4)Arches, and (5)Canyonlands; and in Arizona: Canyon De Chelly National Monument, Navajo National Monument; and such spectacular areas as are found surrounding the huge Lake Powell, with its Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, mostly in Utah.

Somewhat lesser known, because of what some might consider “extreme” hiking required to reach them, are areas of interest here - along the state border area in the vicinity of U.S. Highway 89, roughly halfway between Kanab and Page. This is the area of Vermillion Cliffs, Coyote Buttes, Buckskin Gulch, and more. What Readers Digest calls the “Best Curves” are the sometimes elusive formations known commonly as “The Wave”, and “Wave 2″. Driving to the area, and parking, is in Utah; the destinations are in Arizona, roughly a 1-1/2 hour (3 mile [4.8 km]) trek from the parking area. You’ll cross the state border when you step over a barbed wire fence well into the hike.

In this area, managed by the BLM (Bureau of Land Management), access is by permit only; 20 visitors per day (10 pre-scheduled through a lottery system, and 10 “walk-ins”). Here is the BLM permit site for The Wave and other area “goodies”. Since the formations are sandstone, and therefore delicate, extra care is needed to walk amongst them. Of interest in the immediate vicinity of The Wave are “brain rocks” and “Wave 2″. Considering the hiking time to and from the area (approximately 3 hours), and finding and hiking to other nearby sites, one should allow a good part of the day - perhaps 6 hours. An early morning start is recommended.

A great time to capture the multitude of colors and their variations in photographs is the middle of the day, when there are no shadows. (Many have repeatedly described the colors as psychedelic.) However, quality photos for textures and dramatic lines can be better shot in early morning or late afternoon; given this consideration, photographers - amateur and professional - may decide to make a day of it.

Good hiking shoes, comfortable clothing for the prevailing weather (often very hot in summer - 100+° F [38+° C]), at least a gallon of water per person, and a hand-held GPS receiver are all equally important. It is a sad truth that many hikers take the time, make the effort, and never find The Wave, and some have needed assistance finding their way back out of the area; this is one hike devoid of any markers - or even a trail most of the way - so it is a good idea to keep looking back while hiking in - to have landmarks for finding your way out. The rangers allowing access will give exact GPS coordinates and a “crudimentary” (I love that “word”!) map. However, you will find the primary destination at 36^o59.77′N 112^o0.40′W, and at an elevation of approximately 5,200 feet (1,585 m). On the trek going in, you’ll gain approximately 350 feet (107 m) in elevation!

For more photos that are fine art quality, visit this link to Terra Galleria to see the work of Q.T. Luong. Check out each of the photos in the bottom row of the page, showing hikers in the midst of “wave heaven”. Skateboards? Not hardly - even if you could manage to carry one in on your hike. (Sandstone - delicate, remember?) But can you imagine someone constructing a duplicate of even part of “The Wave” just for boarding?

If you’re still unsure of anything about your next international travel - and you want it to be cheaper, safer, and more adventurous, get my free “Smart Tips Handbook” available exclusively to Registered Readers! Click the link below.

International Travel Adventure

Does anyone really go to Costa Rica for anything other than to buy and enjoy their own little slice of “retirement heaven”? If your e-mail inbox (or spam folder) is anything like mine, you’d think that Costa Rica was full of American and European retirees living out their golden years drinking genuine mountain grown coffee, playing golf, and perhaps learning a bit of Spanish to help “get by” a little more easily. Well, let’s see about that, shall we?

First, Costa Rica is one of only seven countries that make up Central America. It is even more unique in that it is also one of only five of those countries that have two ocean borders – Pacific and Atlantic. Just that, alone, makes it a very unique country to visit and explore. Then, since the country is only 10 degrees north of the equator, we must add the fact that we have rain forests and jungle. OK, it’s becoming more interesting!

As you may recall from the previous post, the Pacific Ring of Fire includes the west coasts of North America, South America, and of course, Central America. Costa Rica has eleven volcanoes, seven of which are considered “active”. The volcanoes of Costa Rica are: Arenal, Barva, Cerro Tilaran, Irazu, Miravalles, Orosí, Platanar, Poás, Rincón de la Vieja, Tenorio, and Turrialba. The 7 “active” volcanoes are: Arenal, Barva, Irazu, Miravalles, Poás, Rincón de la Vieja, and Turrialba.

Volcano Arenal, which is the youngest and most active in Costa Rica, has been continually active from 1968 to the present. It also lends its name to the country’s (nearby) largest lake. While volcanoes are not the only attractions in the country, they include some of the most active - while being “up close” visible, volcanoes in the western hemisphere. The areas surrounding active volcanoes also cater to the explorers with resorts featuring natural hot springs or ocean-side pools; relax while photographing some of the most spectacular glowing nighttime lava flows, or watching the sun set over the Pacific horizon!

Costa Rica has attained a 44^th place world ranking in the 2008 Travel and Tourism Competitive Index (first among Latin American countries). The real success story behind that is ‘ecotourism’, which capitalizes on the country’s extensive protected areas and national parks. Costa Rica is a pioneer in this type of tourism, and is hailed as one of the few countries worldwide with genuine ecotourism being offered. Fully 23% of the country is protected forests and reserves, and has the greatest density of plant and animal species in the world. Wikipedia states that while the country has only 0.1% of the world’s land mass, it contains 5% of the world’s biodiversity, due in large part to the jungles and the tropical setting of the rain forest areas.

While areas are protected, they are also “on display” for visitors. Enabling actually viewing much of the wildlife, in addition to the myriad of plant life, are “canopy tours” through the forests – both via platforms and zip lines, as well as via the “hanging bridges” that are in place. If you ever wanted to get “up close and personal” with some of the amazing wildlife here, these adventure treks not only allow it, but promote it. Many species of monkeys, turtles, birds (over 850, including eight species of parrots), sloths, reptiles, big cats, tapirs, among so many others, are ready to be spotted and perhaps photographed. The Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, alone, has about 2,000 plant species, including many orchids. Hanging bridges in cloud forest areas afford spectacular views of amazing scenery.

Other adventure activities include white-water rafting and kayaking on the many rivers, two of the most notable for such being Rio Pacuare and Rio Reventazon; several other notables include a few on the Pacific coastal drainage areas. If you’re into climbing, the highest peak is 12,500 feet (3,810 meters), while the highest volcano comes in at 11,257 feet (3,431 meters). If you prefer tropical islands, Costa Rica has its share, the largest, Calero Island being only 58.5 square miles (151.6 square km), and the most distant being Cocos Island, which is 300 miles (500 km) off Puntarenas on the Pacific coast.

All in all, I have long considered Costa Rica to be a primary destination for adventure travel in the Americas. While it has become quite popular for retirement, it has become almost as popular for romantic adventures, as well; there are many websites devoted to honeymooning in Costa Rica. Romance aside, ecotourism and adventure treks contribute most heavily to the economy, and remain the primary attractions for foreigners.

If you’re still unsure of anything about your next international travel - and you want it to be cheaper, safer, and more adventurous, get my free “Smart Tips Handbook” available exclusively to Registered Readers! Click the link below.

International Travel Adventure