Archive for the 'Views' Category
The GoPro headmount is a great way to capture the reality of a walk along the Great Wall at Jingshangling.
For adventures in China, CLICK HERE
From Shanghai we flew two hours South to Guilin – the main city of GuangXi Autonomous Province. Bordering Vietnam, the area has very hot,humid summers and cool foggy winters. Above ,we journey down the Li RIver towards Yangshuo. The cone shaped karst mountains begin here and are prevalent though Northern Vietnam and into Thailand.
On the banks of the Li River in Guilin.
Guilin, at 3 million people, is considered a large town or small city by Chinese standards.
Yangshuo is considered a village, at 300,000.
The area is very fertile,with rice paddies everywhere.
Rich in all cultures.
Some of the world’s most fantastic views.
A Fish Pedicure.
In a Very Peaceful Temple.
FOR ADVENTURES IN CHINA, CLICK HERE
We have been in Shanghai for the past two days and just now the photo uploading is working properly. Getting here was not easy. Our connecting flight from Beijing was cancelled ( as were all flights to Shanghai ) and we had to take an overnight train. Today we leave for Guilin and the wilds of Guanxi Province,South China. Here are some random photos. ArcticTropic will catch up when we arrive in Hong Kong late next week. We have been shooting beautiful video with the GoPro, but the videos would take hours to upload on slow hotel speeds.
Lamasery Ulanbaatar.
Roadside on the way back to Ulanbataar.
At the Statue of Genghis Khan.
Boom Town Ulanbaatar.
On the Plexiglass floor 1000 feet above Pudong from the Shanghai TV Tower.
FOR ADVENTURES IN MONGOLIA, CLICK HERE
Green World Adventures, in Costa Rica is one of ArcticTropic’s featured providers. As it is now the summer low season, prices are lower than in the peak winter months.
Some of the more high end trips feature luxury accommodations – great to relax after a day in the jungles and on the beaches.
Costa Rica is so close to the US – 5 hours from New York or California – only 2 hours from Miami. It is also one of the safest countries in the Western Hemisphere.
You can book directly right now by CLICKING HERE.
Only 20 minutes and 2 Euros by train from Heidelberg is the ancient river town of Neckarsteinach, The town is home to 4 castles towering above the River.THe castles were built between 1100 and 1400. Two of them are occupied by families, and two are in their more original ruined,yet climbable state.
A 14th Century Wine Cellar.
Down the Well.
High above the Neckar in Neckarsteinach.
Two days later we were on our way back Stateside on the Lufthansa A380, nonstop from Frankfurt to Miami in 9.5 hours. Even the cattle class on the lower decks was quite pleasant. The plane has the feel of being on a ship in the air. First Class seats only 9 people.
FOR ADVENTURES IN GERMANY, CLICK HERE
Explora Parques , led by Ramón Ossa Federico took ArcticTropic on an adventurous excursion to Parque Nacional El Leoncito. The first activity was dry land sailing on Barreal Blanco, a dry lake bed located at the foot of the Andes. The video above was taken as we drove at 100 mph ‘160 kph across the lake bed.
The lake bed is parched as it rains or snows only a couple of times a year.
No sound except for the wind.
The wind dies down, so the sailing is a bit slow.
The technique is not much different than water sailing.
Entrance to the giant park.
A valley oasis.
Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO), where we will vist at sunset.
A cooling waterfall. There may well be gold in the rocks.
Will almost no rain,these rocks take eons to form.
Springtime in the oasis.
Some rare clouds.
The park is near the Chilean border – the mountains offer huge mining potential as well.
As darkness fell around 8 PM we arrived at Complejo Astronómico El Leoncito (CASLEO). There are three times as many stars to view in the Southern Hemisphere than in the Northern Hemisphere. The high Andean deserts in Chile and Argentina offer the best viewing in the world due to high altitude,clear air and a total lack of light pollution due to being one of the more remote areas of the world. Even with some volcanic dust in the air from Peyhuehe the viewing was incredible. Above is a photo taken with a radioteescope.
Comet Halley in 1986.
Planet Venus in the West.
The radio telescope is for the astronomers only. We were treated to views from a smaller but very powerful telescope outside. The roof above retracts.
ArcticTropic was the guest of Doña Pipa Cabañas in Barreal, Calingasta in western San Juan Province for two nights and a day. The Inn is owned by two brothers , Ramón and Diego Ossa Federico. Ramón runs many eco and adventure tours through Explora Parques – which leads excurions to four National Parks spread out over thousands of square miles – some of the trips last several days. ArcticTropic made use of limited time by going to nearby Parque Nacional Leoncito.
The Posada is comfortable and casual – reminiscent of being in the Western United States, but with delicious Argentine food and wine.
THe rooms are simple and quiet – bu there is wifi !
ArcticTropic took a bike ride up one of the dirt roads in town on a beautiful spring morning.
Riding is also offered – with Western saddles.
A healthy and tasty dinner awaits in the restaurant – welcome protein after a long day trekking and riding. It is open till midnight.
standing on a plexiglass platform looking down 1100 feet.
Newark. The flight plan was a bit different than reported earlier. After
takeoff, we went north through New England, over Maine, then Quebec and
Western Labrador. We then went out over the Davis Strait along the coast
of Baffin Land, then crossing over the Labrador Sea and Northwestern
Greenland – then over the Arctic Ocean and went directly over the North
Pole ! Then our Northward trajectory became South. Over the Laptev Sea
into Russian SIberia, for several hours, Then across Mongolia, past
Ulanbaatar. FInally we landed in Beijing bout 3 PM. Aerial photos will be
posted later.
The Northeastern Untied States is not known as an Adventure Travel destination. Mount Washington , New Hampshire and the surrounding region is as rugged as any in the United States and is easily reachable from Boston,New York and Montreal.
The eight mile drive takes about 40 minutes in low gear, climbing to 6288 feet. The temperature drops about 30 degrees. Today, almost mid July, it was barely above freezing.
Today was also one of the first sunny days of the summer in this area. It was still not completely clear at the Summit – only 10 clear days a year there.
Above the tree line – Mt.Washington is close to the Jet Stream and suffers severe weather all year. It is the windiest place on Earth – 231 miles an hour – 374 kph !
Harley’s up the Mountain !
Our Trusty Toyota.
The weather obervatory – Scientists live here year round. In the winter ( September to June) the road is generally closed and the Summit is only reachable by Snowcat. Often there is no access at all.
Misty meadows seen upon descent.
We then drove down the Mountain and along a dirt road to the Sawyer River – a wild white water rapids flowing strong and cold due to this year’s excessive rains.
Trees are home to strange fungal formations – beautiful – but deadly – mushroom spores.
Waterfalls and rapids add to the remote feeling.
Mysterious life forms.
FOR ADVENTURES IN THE UNITED STATES, CLICK HERE