Archive for the 'Climbing' Category
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE !
On November 2, TotalAdventure departed Miami on Air Europa bound for Tenerife in Spain’s Canary Islands. After a 3 hour layover in Madrid, the there was a 3 hour flight to Tenerife, changing the clock back one hour to GMT.
The Canaries are a chain of volcanic islands about 100 mile, 160 s km off the coast of Morocco. While Spain is located in the Iberian Peninsula of Southern Europe, the country is also is on the African continent in the Enclaves of Ceuta and Melia ,surrounded by Moroccan territory. The Canary Islands erupted from the volcanic Mid Atlantic Ridge, although it is not quite the mid Atlantic, like the Azores, Iceland or Tristan da Cunha. The climate is moderate, subtropical and dry, influenced by the nearby Sahara. While the Atlantic offers year round swimming and surfing, the peak of El Tiede is covered with snow in winter.
Upon arrival at Aeropuerto Tenerife Norte I was transported to Hotel Silken Saaj Maar. in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. This is the view from my room .It’s fun to ride the waves in the rock pools below.
In the evening we toured the center of Santa Cruz.
Baptismal Font.
Fresh tuna is landed daily in the island’s many harbors.
A subtropical night in the Eastern Atlantic.
The next morning, November 4th, after an invigorating swim in the waves of the rock pool below the hotel, our group left for the seaside town of Garachico. Before touring the town and inspecting some great boutique hotels, TotalAdventure rode bigger waves in volcanic rock chutes there. SEE THE VIDEO AT THE TOP OF THE ARTICLE.
We then went to the lovely Hotel San Roque.
We enjoyed a poolside lunch of local Canarian delicacies.
After lunch we drove from sea level to over 2000 meters in the Chinyero region. From the volcanic forest we could look down upon the ocean and to islands beyond.
Volcanic El Tiede is 3718 Meters ( 12188 ft.) and until recently spewed out hot lava ,taking over many parts of the island. The last big eruption took place in 1909 – a split second in geological time. SEE THE VIDEO ABOVE OF THE LAVA IN THE FOREST FROM THE 1798 ERUPTION.
1798 Lava Flow.
On Wednesday November 5th with checked out of our hotel in Santa Cruz and drove high up into the misty mountains of Parque Anaga. SEE THE VIDEO ABOVE. While Tenerife has very little rain, passing clouds leave mist on the trees making the forest green.
Ferns grow along the forest floor,giving an appearance of a rainforest in a desert climate.
A truly exotic part of Spain. The islands are part of Spain like Hawaii is part of the United States.
Park Information.
Later we stopped to explore the town of San Cristóbal de La Laguna,
A pre-lunch pickup -A Barraquito – coffee with condensed milk and Licor 43.
Bananas are the main cash crop of Tenerife, supplying all of Europe.
Sunset over the cliffs of Tenerife Sur.
The next day our group was supposed to kayak along the cliffs, but high wave warnings caused cancellation. KAYAKING FOOTAGE IN THE VIDEO AT TOP OF ARTICLE.
For our last two nights our group checked into the Hotel Mynd Adeje..TotalAdventure had a very comfortable room, fast wifi,and ocean view, two pools – one on the rooftop and dinner served until Midnight – a reason I love Spain.
A excellent and healthy dinner.
On our final day, November 6, we ventured again into Parque Nacional El Tiede.
The mountain in early November. 5 weeks later it was covered in 1.5 meters of snow.
A high desert landscape, sometimes snow covered in winter. One can be in the snow in the morning and swimming at a warm sunny beach in afternoon.
In volcanic areas there is no uniform landscape. Random rock formations are created according to lava flow.
Tenerife is 2.5 to 3 hours from Madrid. At this time there are no direct flights from North America., but easy connections are made through European capitals. TotalAdventure left Miami on a Sunday night and was in Madrid the next morning, in Tenerife by afternoon on Air Europa.
Special Thanks To Our Host Tenerife Tourist Office.
Special Thanks To Our Guide Dario López !
Special Thanks To Newlink España . They represent top tourist destinations, including Tenerife,La Palma Malta,Peru,Qatar .Jordan, South Korea and Hungary.
TotalAdventure invites active adventure companies to post packages in our marketplace. Go to TotalAdventure Website and click BECOME PROVIDER.
TotalAdventure invita a empresas de aventura activa a publicar sus paquetes en nuestro mercado. Vaya TotalAdventure y Clique BECOME PROVIDER.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE !
On the cold spring morning of October 4th TotalAdventure arrived in Santiago, Chile on the way to three separate adventures in the 6000 kilometer long nation. After spending the weekend with a boarding school friend, I was joined a pre-Adventure of the Adveneture Travel World Summit in Cajon de Maipo , a beautiful mountain region just west of Santiago. The theme was adventure in the countryside, followed by two days of exploring Chile’s capitol.
Our Adventure Crew. Names and links to companies will soon be listed here.
Our first activity was rafting down the Rio Maipo. The rapids were fast, about Class 3 ,withspring snowmelt from the glacial mountains. The runoff is dark with sediment and doesn’t slow down until summer in December. Company : NatExplora. WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE FOR EXCELLENT RAFTING FOOTAGE !
That night we drove up to 2500 meters to observe the Southern Hemispher stars – three times as many as are visible in the Northern Hemisphere. While I was not able to capture photos through the telescope lens – I did see the rings of Saturn for the first time !
The next morning was canyoneering – rappelling down the side of waterfalls .
We drove high into the valleys ,where strong October spring sunshine melted the snow above. Just a few days before the snow levels had reached down to our level.
A panorama shot of the valley.
Though were are at 9000 feet, 2700m the terrain was once part of a seabed.
Evening festivities at the local community center of Maipo.
Like the USA, German heritage is common in Chile.
In a small valley village.
East towards the glaciers.
Our group enjoyed many local festivities and the excellent wine of the region. Soft adventure here.
A view from the room at Cascada de Las Ánimas. Much like a treehouse looking at the surrounding forest and mountains, with decent WiFi.
The very cold pool which apparently warms in summer.
We descended from the mountains to the vineyards.One of the world’s largest producers – Santa Rita.
They have a historic museum with ancient Inca artifacts – Here – a cuy.
Nearly 40 years old !
The hotel features a billiards room.
A chapel.
A gourmand dining room.
A lunch worthy of a Michelin Star.
A palette to Japan.
After lunch , a tasting of the whites. We had Tinto ( Red) with lunch.
We arrived back in the capitol on time for sunset from the top of Latin America’s tallest tower – Sky Costañera – 300 meters – 980feet 82 stories tall. Impressive for a major earthquake zone ! VIIEW THE VIDEO AT THE TOP !
From the 82nd Floor of Sky Costañera.
La Moneda – The Presidential Palace.
Many Cathedrals dominate this Catholic City.
On Sunday, October 12, predawn transport to the airport, thistime the domestic side, for our 4000 km 4 hour flight to Puerto Natales for the Adventure Travel World Summit.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE !
On Sunday October 12 TotalAdventure soared over the Andes, above the Patagonian Icefields , the world’s largest in the temperate zones, for a 4 hour flight from Santiago to Puerto Natales.
Over 700 delegates from all 7 continents flew in to this remote spot on the Planet to take part in the 20th Adventure Travel World Summit . TotalAdventure took part as a buyer. We buy trips to sell to our worldwide following of adventurers. TotalAdventure has been to over half of the ATWS events – Seattle 2006, Whistler 2007, São Paulo 2008, Lucerne 2012, Swakopmund 2013, Puerto Varas 2015, Anchorage 2016,Salta 2017, Gothenburg 2019,Sapporo 2023 and now, Puerto Natales for 2025. 2026 is in Quebec City.
Shannon Stowell is Our Leader. of the Adventure Travel Trade Association. He estimates about 50,000 Adventure Travel leaders have taken part in events over the years. The industry is estimated to generate $1.16 Trillion in revenue annually worldwide generating many millions of jobs. Tourism is the 2nd largest source of jobs in many countries, especially poorer ones. The ATTA’s message is one of sustainability . Travel enterprises should have minimal effect on the environment, recycle and reuse whenever possible, hire local people as guides and storytellers. Most members are small entrepreneurial companies.
One of the main events at ATWS is the marketplace. Agents and providers meet each other to sell amazing worldwide experiences.TotalAdventure had 30 meetings leading to 18 new listings. Here I meet with Pia Abboud of Discovery Beyond Borders, Lebanon.
I first came to the Far South of Patagonia in February, 1991. I drove to Puerto Natales from Rio Gallegos, Argentina. I was one of 5 cars to cross the border that day. This photo is on Glaciar Moreno in El Calfate, Argentina. 35 years later, I am happy to report that the nature has not been changed much – due to strict and well planned conservation and sustainable tourism. Of course there are many more hotels, restaurants and tour companies catering to adventurous travelers from all over the world. Also technology is far more advanced. That’s a Sony Hi-8 video camera – considered quite advanced for the time with 480 lines . I had a custom made battery belt that powered it all day. To edit, I had to rent a $ 200 per hour studio in New York. Now I shoot on a GoPro 12 with up to 5300 lines and edit on my MacBook Air with FinalCut Pro.
My next trip here, in September 2022 , for Adventure Next took me on the 4 day W Trek. You can read about it HERE.
TotalAdventure has explored 106 countries. Torres del Paine is perhaps the most beautiful place on Earth. Torres del Paine is the broken end of the Andes, stretching 12000 miles North to Alaska via the Rockies.
Empty land makes for pure mountain rivers going from glacier, to lake to river to another lake and eventually into the icy Pacific.
The water runs very fast and very cold. SEE THE VIDEO AT THE TOP OF THE ARTICLE.
Tens of thousands of gallons per minute.
ATWS held a huge welcoming party at Torres del Paine National Park. A huge asado of local lamb was amazing – eaten right off the bone, Large helpings of pisco helped attendees endure the numbing cold, rain and sleet.
For our entertainment – Chile’s top band – Los Jaivas !
A small cottage along the fjords of Puerto Natales. Firewood is needed year round.
The weather never truly warms up due to proximity to Antarctica and a frigid ocean. He we see the southernmost reaches of the Pacific Ocean. When people think of the South Pacific, they imagine palm fringed tropical paradises. Not here. October is spring but still 3 C with 60 kph winds. The fjords often have floating ice chunks . wWnter lows in July can be -22C 0 F and in summer rarely goes above 22 C 72 F.
51 43 South.
Parihuela- a seafood stew of local delicacies.
Swans and their offspring.
Downtown Puerto Natales.
From Puerto Natales it is not possible to drive to the rest of the country without driving though Argentina. Navimag Ferries take cars and people on an amazing two day journey to Puerto Montt through stunning fjords.
From Puerto Natales, TotalAdventure flew North to Puerto Montt for the third and final phase of Adventures in Chile.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE !
On Saturday October 18, at the conclusion of the Adventure Travel World Summit in Puerto Natales, Chile, TotalAdventure flew 2 hours north to Puerto Montt, with other delegates, where we were greeted by Scarlett Riquelme of Mawida Adventures. From the airport, we departed for Huilo Huilo Reserva Biólogica a vast privately held expanse of 60,000 hectares of forest,lakes,waterfalls, hot springs and the volcanic Andes Mountains.
The Northernmost region of Chilean Patagonia from 40 to 38 South Latitude, and 72 to 73 West Longitude.
We arrived at the amazing Huilo Huilo Hotel,where we would reside the next two nights. The hotel is huge with wild architecture, yet blends in perfectly with the huge silent forest around it.
Private Balcony In The Forest.
After a morning hike by the waterfalls, our group took an amazing fast boat ride on Lago Pirihueco. The lake is part of the Ruta Lagos Y Volcanes. You can experience the motion in THE VIDEO UP TOP.
Guanacos graze peacefully within the Preserve.
Our Group. of Travel Professionals. The women were faster hikers than the men.
Huilo Huilo Sunset.
An evening foray into the reserve to view the waterfalls under lights. October water volume is very high due to spring snowmelt.
By summer the water slows to a trickle.
We descended steep slippery trails with headlamps.
From Huilo Huilo, our adventurers moved North, towards Pucón.On the way we bathed in the very hot springs of the Termas Geométricas. There were many pools, ranging in temperature from 37 to 44 C. The water felt great on a cold 8 C rainy day.
The next 3 nights were at the beautiful boutique Hotel Aldea Naukana in Pucón.
The Mapuche Tribe are the original people of Central and Southern Chile. Despite challenges from European invaders and settlers, their culture has remained intact, with some modern conveniences. We spent a morning in a small village learning from one of the elders.
A traditional lodge,where we dined inside.
Bread is prepared in the firepit.
We played Palin, a game very similar to field hockey.
Now the real adventure begins. Class 3 rapids on the Rio Trancura.
SEE THE VIDEO UP TOP TO EXPERIENCE IN MOTION !
Spring Snowmelt – Water is 7 C. ( 45 American temperature)
A Roller Coaster Ride.
On the final day we ascended Villarrica Volcano, 2860 M , 9380 Feet. One of Chile’s most active volcanoes, the last major eruption was in 2015, with a plume of lava and ash just last year in 2024. The Andes are actually part of a 12000 mile chain of mountains beginning in Alaska and ending at the Drake passage. The Ring of Fire, around the Pacific Rim, is largely volcanic.
Warning !
Experienced guides lead the expedition.
The early morning cold ,about -2 C made the snow crunchy and icy. By nid morning it has softened in the strong spring sunshine.
Only 4 Kilometers, but takes several hours due to 45 degree slope.Many people ski up and down, which is much faster.
Once again, the women were in the lead. The summit was reached by mid day. SEE THE VIDEO AT THE START OF THE ARTICLE.
Mawida Adventures ( TotalAdventure Logo is automatically stamped on all media) is the leading agency for adventure in the Pucón Region. Right now Mawida offers an amazing trip : Volcano Trilogy. The next trip is from December 1st to December 7th . Enjoy the long sunny Southern Hemisphere summer days as you experience the adventures above, but with three volcanoes ! $ 2576 US. Contact Us Directly with any questions.
Since The Algerian War of Independence against France from 1954 to 1962, Algeria has been off the travel radar. Although close to Europe and bordering heavily touristed Morocco, not much is known about the vast nation, 9th largest in the world, by the traveler community. Years of instability followed the Revolution, and Algeria was often aligned with movements unfavorable to the West. Income from vast oil and gas reserves provided income for the government and its’ people making the necessity for tourism a low priority. Above Is The Interior of Emir Abdelkader Mosque iin Constantine.
Indeed, even as tourism is opening up, it is still quite a process to procure a visa. TotalAdventure had to submit, along with the form and two photos – work and residential history, name and birthplace of parents, passport, driver’s license, 3 months of bank statements, complete itinerary with name and address of hotels ( changeable ) and reservation plan for transport in and out of the country. Once this is all submitted with the US $ 160 fee,it’s approved in about 7 business days. My visa is multiple entry and good for two years – I shall return !
Algeria is 99% Islamic. The Mosques are beautiful and also open to non-Muslim observers.
Just after Mid Day Prayers.
Street Scene.Algerians are extremely friendly and happy to meet foreigners. Never are there aggressive sales tactics.
A Sealed Portal.
Sharia Law does not apply. Alcohol is permitted in private,but not widely availabe ,except in international hotel bars. About half the women wear the hijab, while many also wear modest Western style attire.
TotalAdventure’s hotel in Central Algiers. The city architecture is Parisian with an Arabian mix. SEE THE VIDEO AT TOP OF PAGE !
An interior of an apartment building.
Fending Off Pirates And Infidel Invaders.
The National Post Office. The postcards I mailed from there have yet to arrive
Notre Dame d’Afrique. Beautiful Moorish design to blend in with Mosques. Algeria is 1% non Muslim – including Catholics and Jews.
SEE THE VIDEO ABOVE FOR A GREAT EXPERIENCE OF ALGIERS !
The view from Notre Dame d’Afrique.
The Martyrs Memorial , high above the city. Underneath is an amazing museum of the Revolution, however no photos are permitted.
A Fighter Against France.
The Algerian Dinar is officially 130 to the US Dollar ; the street rate is 220. This makes prices very low compared to the USA or Western Europe. By paying in cash your hotel rate can be less than half. Large delicious meals are $8 to $ 10, with several courses, coffee and mineral water. Do not keep any more than for souvenirs, as the currency is unconvertible anywhere.
Lunchtime. Tasty lamb and chicken kebabs.
My lunch order was about $3.50 and could not finish it.
Red and purple olives, like I’ve never seen before.
About 120 km West of Algiers is the ancient seaside Roman City of Timgad. It was built around 100 AD and is mostly in original form – nothing has been rebuilt.
Arches With A Seafront View.
Timgad overlooks the effervescent Mediterranean . Algeria has great potential for resorts, but let’s hope it doesn’t happen the way it has in Europe.
There are so many coliseums in the Roman Empire that they must have been a chain.
The Royal Mausoleum of Mauretania, also known as Kbor er Roumia, is a large, circular tomb located near Tipasa, Algeria. It was built in the 3rd century BC and is believed to house the remains of King Juba II and Queen Cleopatra Selene.. The monument is a significant example of Numidian funerary architecture and is a UNESCO World Heritage site, SEE THE VIDEO AT TOP OF PAGE !
On Tuesday May 27th TotalAdventure hired a car to Bou Saada – about 4 hours southeast of Algiers – The Gateway To The Sahara. Temperatures in summer reach 50 C , but it was only 36 on this late spring day.
Center of Bou Saada.
Poolside Lunch At Hotel Caid.
A Very Fertile Stork.
Modesty And Beauty.
From the desert we ascended to the eastern highland city of Constantine.Perched upon the mountaintops it is united by chainlink suspension bridges. Above, is Algeria’s second largest – Mosque of Emir Abdelkader.
Islamic Stain Glass.
Minarets Reaching To The Heavens.
Children Taking Part In Bismillahkhani – Introduction To Learning The Quaran.
Open To Everyone.
Travelers -Your Phone Is As Important As Your Passport. Soon Even More So. See http://www.adventuretravel.ai To See The Future Of Travel.
From Near And Far. The Gorge Is 150m Deep.
By Night From Igherssan Restaurant.
Lamb With Couscous.
Sparkling Water Cocktail.
Arabian Nights.
SEE THE BRIDGES IN THE VIDEO AT TOP OF PAGE.
On the final day in Algeria I explored the Roman Ruins of Tiddis, in the hills about 40 km from Constantine.
I had the entire site to myself – a benefit of being in sparsely visited Algeria.
Ancient tales live on.
Shelter From Summer Sun And Winter Cold. It snows in this part of Algeria.
Nightfall in Constantine.
The Crescent Moon Heralding The Arrival Of Eid Al Adha.
On Sunday June 1 , TotalAdventure boarded the Anaba – Tunis Express, only recently resumed running after many years. Three hours later I crossed the border into Tunisia . We will soon return to Amazing Algeria !
On April 21, TotalAdventure flew from Miami to Campos Grande, Brazil , the Capital of the State of Mato Grosso Do Sul, via Sǎo Paulo. Our international group of travel industry buyers, suppliers and journalists was hosted by the Adventure Travel Trade Association , Estado do Mato Grosso do Sul, Adventure Travel companies in our host town of Bonito and EMBRATUR for Adventure Elevate Latin America 2025.
Our first morning out of Campo Grande, our team rappeled down the Inferninho Waterfall. We literally came through the waterfall! WATCH THE VIDEO UP TOP TO EXPERIENCE !
Afterwards we had a scenic 3 hour drive to Bonito. Along the way we saw a herd of capybara walking and feeding in a vast field by the highway. Capybaras are the world’s largest rodent at up to 150 pounds or 68 kilos. Unlike their undesirable smaller cousins, the grass eating capybara are friendly. Their range is from the Amazon to Patagonia.
From a great distance we observed an anteater. Photos of this elusive creature are hard to get. They live on ants and termites and are prey for jaguars and pumas. Their range is from Honduras to northern Argentina.
We also saw ostriches. A bit smaller than the African version ( about 2 meters in height) the Southern Hemisphere birds are known as Rhea in South America.
Our leader Rogerio Alves with the propetieress of Bacuri Restaurant, one of the many amazing restaurants in Bonito. It has specialties like Brazilian Picanha steak and grilled local river fish including Pacu. Rogerio is a Bonito native who is an amazing guide. his knowledge and expertise of the region are limitless. You can check out his information HERE.
Thursday April 24th was a fascinating day underground . In the morning our group descended down hundreds of stone steps into the Gruto do Lago Azul.
Ancient stalactites hang from the ceilings.
Looking out and up to the jungle above.
That afternoon was an experience like no other – Abismo Anhumas ! One is lowered 72 meters ( 234 feet) by a powered rappel almost like a rope elevator. It is dark, eerie and silent in the subterranean underworld. The lake reminded me of the River Styx, in Greek mythology, where spirits cross into Hades. Video was difficult ,as the GoPro does not do well in the dark. Nevertheless you will see some interesting footage in the VIDEO UP TOP.
Unfortunate animals, such as deer have sometimes fallen down the hole, which is not easily found in the forest.
Once in the cave we donned wetsuits and snorkeled in the dark waters. Some people scuba dived many meters below.
The next morning we were off for a day at Boca Da Onça .It was a day of hiking through the sometimes rainy forest, rappelling 90 meters down a cliff and swimming by amazing waterfalls. VIDEO UP TOP will portray these experiences in detail.
The final day we snorkeled in the the Rio Da Prata. The above photo is from a nearby waterfall. The Rio da Prata has the world’s best freshwater snorkeling in the clearest waters of the world. It is like a giant aquarium where one swims and floats for several kilometers. THE VIDEO UP TOP OPENS WITH INCREDIBLE UNDERWATER SCENES OF FISH IN THE RIO DA PRATA.
And finally it was time ot get down to business – the Business of Adventure Travel and Ecotourism. Gabriella Stowelll opened the Adventure Elevate Latin America Conference. Gabriella, who hails from Brazil, now resides in Colorado with her husband Shannon Stowell, President and Founder of the ATTA. For two days ,on Monday Arpil 28 an Tuesday April 29, there were speeches, seminars and one on one meetings between companies. TotalAdventure met with Brazilian adventure companies from the Bonito region, and also outfitters from Bolivia,Chile,Guyana,Colombia,Argentina, Peru,Ecuador and Paraguay. Paraguay is less than 100 km from Bonito.
Leonardo Persi is the Coordinator for Ecotuorism in EMBRATUR – the Ministry of Tourism for Brazil. He spoke of the amazing natural treasures that Brazil has to offer – the Aamzon,The Pantanal, the Atlantic Coast, Fernando Da Noronha, Bahia – in the world’s 5th largest nation ! Brazil is also practicing and promoting sustainable tourism. Our travel professionals can get the word out to the rest of the world – many in the USA only know of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.
The night before the events, the Town of Bonito hosted a huge party for a local and international crowd. The Brazilian Beef was amazing !
Bonito – the Center of Tourism in the Pantanal – is a laid back country town – with amazing food just like big Brazilian cities.
The Brazilian Real currently trades at 5.62 to the US Dollar. Prices are moderately lower than the USA and Western Europe. Electronic payment is accepted almost everywhere.
Our Amazing Adventure in Mato Grosso Do Sul had come to an end. LATAM has flights everywhere in Brazil, all of South America, and direct flights to all of the Americas, Europe and Southern Africa. Above is Campo Grande airport.
TotalAdventure arrived in Colombo in the early morning hours of March 2,2023. It had been nearly three years since the first attempt to travel to Sri Lanka had been made, The Pandemic made travel in 2020 impossible, until late in the year when a two week quarantine was imposed – a traveller would have to spend two weeks in a government approved hotel and then be tested. Upon release, travel within the country was still restricted and many temples and other public places remained closed. In mid 2021 the quarantine was dropped and TotalAdventure booked the flights and obtained the visa. Three days before departure the quarantine was reimposed and so TotalAdventure cancelled. In early 2022 TA once again booked – only to be stopped on a false positive of a required covid test. Now – with the world once again open ( more or less) I flew from Miami to Qatar and then on to Colombo.
The Business Class upgrade was very welcome for the 5 hour DOH-CMB leg, after 15 hours in coach from Miami.
Colombo is a mix of Colonial buildings of the British Raj, modern high rises and temples dating back centuries.
The food is amazing. Go to local places like the Curry House. Stay away from tourist locations that have bland imitations and western dishes.
My lunch was very spicy, varied and delicious -everything fresh. Sri Lanka is not as vegetarian as India. The food is eaten by hand . This dish was about $ 3.
Traditional with modern – the bizarre building in the background is reminiscent of Pyongyang.
After a day and a half in Colombo, it was time to head in-country. The 4 hour train ride from Colombo to Kandy cost 350 rupees – about $ 1. On top of a country station lives a monkey family – obviously influenced by 1980s. punk fashion.
Kandy is home to the Temple of the Tooth – Lord Buddha’s Tooth !
Like The Ark of the Covenant in Ethiopia, one cannot view the actual Tooth, but just have faith that they are very close to it. It sits in a gold box in a vault behind the altar.
TotalAdventure stayed at the Queen Hotel – a charming relic of the Empire. Inside, little has changed – slowly moving fans, British food like mutton chops, cool gin and tonics at the bar.
Hotel Message – keep balcony doors closed, lest mischievous monkeys come in and steal your belongings – they love cameras and jewelry.
After a long and colorful train ride – standing room only for 7 hours,TotalAdventure arrived in Ella The train goes as high as 8000 feet, 2500m – where we viewed the high, cool misty tea plantations that stretch for hundreds of kilometers. . You can see the journey in the VIDEO at the beginning of this article. The town of Ella , at about 1900m, is warmer than the mountaintops but much cooler than sea level. 75/25 in day and 61/16 at night. The countryside is exotically amazing, while the town caters to tourists and their money.
From Ella TotalAdventure hired a car for the ride to Udawalawe National Park – home to several large elephant herds. Elephants are well protected in Sri Lanka – there is very little poaching. However elephant rides are still permitted in some tourist areas – Do not engage in this cruel practice ! The magnificent creatures suffer greatly – as strong as they are ,their backs are not built for carrying heavy loads. Since they naturally refuse this activity – they are beaten into submission to force them.
At the watering hole. A great place for a swim on a hot day – which is every day of the year in Southern Sri Lanka.
Highly intelligent sentient beings. The Hindu Elephant God Ganesh is the God of Wisdom.
Besides the National Parks – elephants live in the wild in many forests throughout Sri Lanka.
From Udawalawe the driver took me to the tranquil Indian Ocean village of Talalla. Monday,March 6th was a Full Moon – and in Sri Lanka every Full Moon Day is a Holiday ! The surfing here is fairly good ,though onshore winds make for some afternoon chop. The hotel was quite nice as you will see in the VIDEO.
As wave conditions were not optimal, and not much to see while snorkeling, TotalAdventure moved on to Batticaloa on the East Coast the next day. Finally, a town with no Westerners ! Above, Nandi the Bull.
Whereas the South and West are more Buddhist , the East and North is more Hindu. There is also a large Muslim community.
Commerce and Holiness Come Together.
Batticaloa is home to the Laughing Fish, or Singing Fish who reside in Batticaloa Lagoon, seen in the VIDEO. In reality, they probably croak, which can be heard in some tropical bottom feeders.
A delicious place even for carnivores like myself. Food is flavorful and filling ,unlike Western oriented vegan food – more bland and unvaried. The hotel was very comfortable, with a beautiful pool. There were giant ballrooms, hundreds, of rooms and a huge restaurant. I was one of 5 people there.
On the way to Trincomalee there were several beautiful mosques. TotalAdventure did visit one in Batticaloa that you can see in the VIDEO. Sri Lanka is 70% Buddhist, 13 % Hindu, 10% Islamic and 7% Catholic.
TotalAdventure went further up the coast to Trincomalee – where Lord Rama sits high on the cliffs looking out into the Indian Ocean at Thirukoneswaram Kovil .
Ravanna prays from atop the cliffs.
All Powerful Kali – Goddess of War.
TotalAdventure Becomes Holi.
A clifftop treat of healthy refreshing juice. About 75 cents.
Many world times – none of them right. Sri Lanka i in a half hour time zone.
Wise Ganesh.
In A Seaside Temple.
The final destination before returning to Colombo was Sirigiya Rock Fortress. According to TripAdvisor :
There’s a reason UNESCO ranks Sigiriya as the 8th Wonder of the World.. Sigiriya is a stunning ruins of a castle build atop a tall rock mountain. An engineering marvel, water was piped from the pools at the base of the rock mountain, all the way up to the castle.
200 Meters or 625 feet doesn’t sound like a lot, but it’s half an Empire State Building at a 60 degree angle.
Ancient City high above the jungled plains.
It’s lunchtime above the pond on the fortress top.
Some similarities with Mexico and Central America.
An ancient swimming pool ?
200 Meters Below. The climb up was great practice for climbing the stairs of the Himalayas in Nepal , right after Sri Lanka. What I thought would take hours only took about 45 minutes.
The dry (relatively ) jungles spread out below.
TotalAdventure had hoped for one last train ride – to Colombo. Alas , the train engineer for the Trincomalee to Colombo run was sick that Sunday, so once again I had to hire a car – $ 80 as opposed to $ 2.
A Final Night In Colombo – And It Was Off To Nepal In The Morning ! Mini – Shanghai Tower.
This February 2023 , TotalAdventure was invited by the Adventure Travel Trade Association to join an ATTA market activation program in collaboration with Alliance de l’Industrie Touristique du Québec and Bonjour Québec and their regional partners.
On February 8th, I arrived back in Montréal for the first time in five years. I had a free. day before the delegation arrived , so I set out to explore the snowy city, which I know fairly well. I walked from our excellent Hotel d’Uville to the beautiful Mont Royal Neighborhood.
‘Notre Dame de Montréal.
A Painting Of Early Quebec settler and First Nations life in Eglise Saint-Jean-Baptiste. It is a very politically charged subject for good reason.
Afterwards I enjoyed an excellent Moules Frites in the Vieux Cite. That evening the rest of the delegation arrived.
Early morning Friday, February 10th, our bus departed for the Lanaudière Region for the first of several snowshoe adventures. I had not been on snowshoes in 30 years – on the old ones that looked like giant tennis rackets. The new kind are simple and sporty – allowing for fast tracking over very deep snow – usually two meters or more.
We enjoyed a delicious lunch at Auberge Lac-à-l’Eau-Claire, in Saint-Alexis-des-Mont. Afterwards we went ice-fishing – see in the video above , even getting to eat our catch afterwards , flash cooked on the spot.
Ice Fishing.
At days – end , our crew was welcomed at the Sacacomie Hotel overlooking frozen snowy Lac Sacomie- with. maple whiskey in carved ice shot glasses. After downing the shots ,we threw the shot glasses over the side, towards the lake.
Winter Sunset over the lake.
Early Saturday morning, a bright sunny – 14 C ( about 9 F) we were off and running – with the dogs ! They are pure intelligence, enthusiasm and strength – nothing delights them more than pulling a fully loaded sled through the woods ,across the lakes and over the steep hills. The dogs have small houses – but rarely sleep in them – they prefer the warmth of a burrowed hole in the snow. They eat twice daily – a small breakfast before mushing – then later a large pot of hot meat and water – many calories to sustain their strength.
Eager To Run !
Lac Sacomie
The next morning we were off to Quebec City – truly France in North America.
The Winter Carnaval. Quebecois love the outdoors in winter – they enjoy it as much or more than summer.
Quebec A Nuit.
Here the Fleur de Lis takes precedence over the Maple Leaf.
Above the mighty St.Lawrence – linking the Great Lakes to the Atlantic.
After First Nations storytelling at Ekionkiestha’ longhouse in nearby Wendake, we had incredible First Nations cuisine at their restaurant.
On Monday morning, February 13th, we explored Parc national de la Jacques-Cartier. First we biked , then we hiked, then biked again. Uphil in every direction — or so it seemed. The snowy forest was spectacular and silent. It was TotalAdventure’s first time Fat Tire Biking. I found it much like being on a stationary bike at the highest setting – great workout.
That afternoon we were day guests at Hôtel de Glace -rebuilt every winter at Village Vacances Valcartier.
Each guest room has different theme – you can see them all in the video above. One thing in common though – it is cold – the room temperature is about -4 or 25 F. Understandably almost all the clientele are couples.
The season lasts into March . Then a movie shoot will take place before dismantling and forced melting by April. While winter lasts well into April and perhaps May, the warming sun can weaken the structure.
A Cold Way To Fry !
On Valentine’s Day, The Adventurers voyaged to our most remote area of the trip , Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean, stretching northward from the St.Lawrence. While some did back country skiing, we did cross country skiing on the Saguenay River.
The water underneath the ice is 100 meters. Fresh water on top and salt down below- allowing a unique opportunity to catch both salt and fresh water fish in the same spot – inside a nice warm hut warmed by a wood stove, where you can cook your catch.
The next two nights were in the igloo village of Imago Village.
Our final day outside was in the Vallée des Fantômes. Named because the forest looks so ghostly in the deep deep snow that covers the five meter trees by more than half.
Cat wheels are the only way mechanized transport can bring people into the park.
On the final day , in Chicitoumi, at La Pulperie de Chicoutimi , TotalAdventure met with
https://www.nibiischii.com/fr/
https://www.attitudenordique.com
https://www.sepaq.com/pq/mva/index.dot?language_id=1
https://saguenayaventures.com Saguenay Adventures already has a trip up on TotalAdventure https://totaladventure.travel/trips/255714
https://aventurerosedesvents.com/index.php/en/
https://www.quebec-cite.com/fr
https://www.equinoxaventure.ca/en/
https://www.laurentides.com/en
TotalAdventure spoke on a panel discussing sustainability requirements . TotalAdventure is highly committed to sustainability with minimal development.
And the next day, we flew from Bagotville to Montréal to our respective destination in the USA or Canada. Only US and Canadian companies were invited to participate. Quebec is ideally situated from fly or drive vacations from the Northeastern USA – it’s only 5 hours from New York, and borders Maine !
In Late July TotalAdventure was invited to take part in AdventureNEXT Patagonia by the Adventure Travel Trade Association and SERNATUR – the marketing section of the Chile Ministry of Tourism. 32 Adventure Travel marketers were invited from all over the world to experience far-off, far South Chilean Patagonia.
12 of us were chosen to participate on the rugged World Famous – “W Trek” an extensive 4 day hike through Torres del Paine National Park. The trip was with Chile Nativo.
The adventure began the night of Labor Day . 8 hours on the LATAM flight bought us from a humid 90 ( 32C) degree night in Miami to a bright late winter morning in Santiago. There, it was 38 (3C) degrees.
4 hours more on Sky Air bought us to Puerto Natales. Latitude 52 South . As we go off the plane it was snowing, with fresh snow on the ground and 0 C 32F. After a night relaxing and dining at Hotel Lago Grey , we we boarded a ferry to take us about 15 km to Grey Glacier at the other end of the lake.
Grey Glacier is a tongue of the Patagonian Ice Sheet – the world’s third largest after nearby Antarctica and Greenland.
The lake it melts and calves into is a constant 2 C – a person will die in just a few minutes if they fall in – losing consciousness after 2 minutes.
After we left the ferry ( see video) our Group dropped off our things at camp. The tents were already set up. It was super-cold – note the frost signifying subfreezing temperatures at mid day.
Above us and about 20 km distant, are the Torres del Paine. 9800 feet 3015m high, formed by magma ejecting upwards from under the Earth. Many think these mountains and rock formations are the end of the Andes. They are not ! This is the Paine Mountain Range, formed just 1 million years ago, not 64 million like the Andes.
A glacial tongue/
We ate our excellent lunch, packed by Hotel Lago Grey on top of a rock escarpment overlooking the glacier.
After lunch it was time to kayak. Everyone got suited up and went off exploring the icebergs. Big Foot Patagonia runs the excursions with all equipment. Credit:
We endured a very chilly night in the tents. Even with down sleeping bags it was cold. We had a hearty breakfast in the morning inside the camp shelter. The sun does not rise until almost 9 AM in September , so it was still like night.
Thursday, September 9th, began with a 5 hour trek across Glaciar Grey. Followed afterwards by a 12 km hike to the next camp.
Under the guidance of Big Foot Patagonia. Credit:
It is a long rocky uphill hike just to get to the glacier. Credit :
Across the crevasse . Credit :
After getting off the ice, it was time to hike to the next camp. The group did not arrive till evening and then it was off to sleep.
The third day was truly magnificent. The skies were mostly clear, with warmer temperatures.
At The Foot Of Cuernos del Paine. Credit :
Onwards & Upwards ! Credit :
Los Torres From Lago Pehoe.
Los Torres From The Lookout Point, after an 18 km hike.
Imagine Skiing Through The Chute – could be done with a hang glider for the cliff down below. The tallest of the Cuernos del Paine was only recently climbed for the first time ever. The rock is soft and chalky – making it very dangerous to hammer in pitons.
Te final day led to a luxurious hotel – welcome after camping out.
Sunset In Puerto Natales. There For A Night Before Exploring The Fjords.
At 6 AM on Wednesday, October 11 we left Uyuni Town and headed south 3 hours to the southwestern corner of Bolivia – not far from where the country meets with Chile and Argentina. There, we left the highway and would not see a paved road until the return to Uyuni two and a half days later.
The only settlements were some mining and farming villages.
Llamas, a distant relation to camels, are a source of wool and meat, are semi – domesticated , grazing for scarce vegetation and sometimes return to pens, herded by dogs and farmers.
Spring snowmelt brings some drinking water.
The land is rugged and never dips below 12,000 feet. By this time , TotalAdventure is quite comfortable with the altitude. We stopped at a hot springs at mid day. Please view the video above to see it. Swimming was balmy at 105 degrees ( 41C) while there air was around 40 ( 5 C).
Climbing higher, we reached Laguna Verde. The green color comes from a high concentration of arsenic. Swimming in or drinking from the lake can be fatal. There are no fish ,birds or four footed animals anywhere near the lake.
Close to 16,000 feet we reached the remains of winter snows, that actually can fall in the summer as well. The strong dry wind and strong subtropical sun three miles above sea level evaporate it into strange shapes.
The ground underneath is always frozen.
From underneath the frozen ground comes boiling sulphur clouds. All of the Bolivian Altiplano borders the Pacific Ring of Fire.
Llama and quinoa for lunch. Tough and lean, but tasty and very healthy !
A steam vent.
Rock formations that look manmade but aren’t.
We spent the night at Hotel Tayka. See more in the video. Amazingly at 15,500 feet, ten hours over very rugged dirt tracks from the nearest paved road , that such a hotel can exist. Comfortable beds, reasonable heat and solar generated hot water (quick shower) .Oxygen is kept behind the front desk for those in need.
The next morning we explored several lakes that were home to huge flocks of flamingos. Most people think of flamingos as a bird of the tropics – but here they thrive in very cold temperatures.
A coyote enjoys some llama meat.
San Pedro de Quemes from another Tayka Hotel.
The town store closes early, but has the essentials.
On The last night in Bolivia, TotalAdventure looked forward to Salar de Uyuni the next day.