On April 9th, TotalAdventure arrived in Chongqing, the world’s largest city with a metro area of over 50 million people. It was my first voyage to the People’s Republic since 2014. Above is the Grand Theater.

Chongqing has become world famous for its’ fantastic building light shows, though Shanghai’s architecture is more impressive.

View from one of my hotel rooms – Raffles Center.

In another hotel room – Words of Warning !

Chongqing lights up every night.

SEE THE VIDEO AT TOP FOR ROBOTICS .

Conjoined Chryslers.

April is a perfect time to visit, as the summer can be ferociously hot at 40 C. In general it was about 25 to 30 by day and about 20 at night.

Saturday Night Drone Show .

From My 38th Floor Hotel Room.

The Mighty Yangtze.

Chongqing North Rail Station.

Floating Entertainment And Sightseeing.

A midnight meal of delicious yak noodle soup and a cold beer for 35 RMB, around US 5. One needs a minimum of 3 days to explore the world’s largest city, but could easily spend weeks seeking all its’ corners.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE !

A high speed train took me from Shanghai to Enshi in about 6.5 hours . The equivalent distance would be New York to Chicago at 1353 km. Amtrak would be over 18 hours without the inevitable breakdown. The train is not even China’s fastest , averaging only 220 kmh. .From rainy Shanghai I arrived in sunny Enshi, TotalAdventure’s last stop before returning to Chongqing and the flight to Hong Kong and then New York and Miami. DeepSeek, The AI for China, told me to go to Enshi , for a totally different China experience !

View from my beautiful $ 67 a night 460 RMB suite at the Mövenpick.

Spicy Crawfish Hotpot is the city speciality.

Washed down with cold local beer. Enshi is a late city, this was at 11 PM .

About 80 km from Enshi is the lost village of Luyuanping. Not actually “lost” ,but roadless. There are 2 ways in and out – a path that first travels along the side of a cliff followed by 1582 steps down, or a funicular elevator that takes one 2/3 of the way to and from the valley floor. There is also an electric pulley that carries freight bringing in heavy essential supplies. SEE THE VIDEO ABOVE ! There are no cars, but some golf cart type electric vehicles.

The village from above. Everyone is related to either one of two klans.

A very basic hotel for overnight hikers.

Smoked fish for dinner.

Up from the elevator.

Helpful advice.

Back in Enshi to board the train back to Chongqing.

The TotalAdventure 2026 Return To China focused mainly in Central and Southwest China . Towards the end of the trip I went to Shanghai for about 72 hours to take meetings and explore an automated machine tools trade show at the Shanghai Expo and Convention Center.

2 AM Arrival from Chengdu on Air China. At PVG Pudong.

The Bund is Wedding Central Or Wedding Selfie Central.

There are many photographers setting up paid shoots for aspiring models.

Old Shanghai. Zhonghui Building.

Fresh Meat Mooncakes. Use camera translation to read characters.

The Bund By Night.

While sunny skies were prevalent in Central China, Shanghai was cool, foggy and rainy, making it difficult to visually capture the skyline, greatly expanded since my last time there in 2013.

TotalAdventure dined at Michelin Starred Yidao Restaurant. I had three tasting courses and beer for about 600 RMB, about US $92. Above is Braised Duck’s Foot on Quinghai Lake Fish Head. A well deserved Star.

TotalAdventure went to explore interational trade first hand at the China Machine Tool Fair at the National Exhibition and Convention Center – the world’s largest at 500,000 m2 in 16 halls.

With Trade War challenges worldwide, China has pivoted to new markets and expanded current ones, as other nations extend free trade agreements to China. The US had a pavilion also.

Inside the very cool 1930s hotel the Z Hotel.

Deco Bar. Great breakfast also.

From my balcony overlooking overlooking Guangdong Rd, The room was 700 RMB, about $ 103.

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.

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 Sunday June 1, TotalAdventure arrived in Tunisia on a train from Anaba ,Algeria. Train service had been recently restored between the two countries after many years suspension. WATCH THE VIDEO AT TOP OF PAGE !

To get rhough immigration, we got off the train twice. Once for exiting Algeria, once for entering Tunisia. The border guards were quire friendly. They do not see many Americans on this route. In fact, it seemed I may have been the only non Algerian or Tunisian on the train.

The 200 KM journey takes about 8 hours.

Upon early evening arrival in Tunis, TotalAdventure walked 2 kilometers from Gare de Tunis via Rue de Paris to the comfortable ,faded and very French Hotel Majestic. TotalAdventure travels with only a compact backpack . Mobility is key on adventures like these. One can become a slave to bulky luggage.My rudimentary French is quite helpful in North and West Africa.

The Old City – Al Medina is excellent for exploring meandering alleyways and courtyards. WATCH THE VIDEO AT TOP OF PAGE !

Unlike Algeria,Non Muslims are not permitted in Mosques.

What is behind this mysterious carved doorway ?

Carved By Hand.

Behind The Blue Door. Someone opened up as I was taking the photo.

Homes are cool as they are amde of stone. Temperatures in summer go to 40 C , in early June it was around 30.

Sheep being fattened up for the feast of Eid Al Adha. WATCH THE VIDEO AT TOP OF PAGE !

About 25 kilometers North of Tunis is the Ancient Roman City of Carthage, overlooking the bight blue Mediterranean Sea.

Just to the Southwest of Sicily, Carthage was a stepping stone for Roman soldiers to North Africa.

Even today, archeologists are uncovering new artifacts ,telling the story of conquest.

While Rome flourished in the South, Northern Europe was still primitive. WATCH THE VIDEO AT TOP OF PAGE !

A 2000 Year Old House.

Tunisian Cuisine Is Very Spicy.. Lamb and couscous with harissa is a favorite dish.

The Tunisia Dinar is 3 To The US Dollar. Prices Are Much Lower Than The USA or Western Europe.

From Tunis , TotalAdventure flew Tunisair Express on an ATR-72 for a one hour flight to Malta.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE !!

TotalAdventure’s Final Stop On September’s East Asia Voyage Was Taiwan – Republic of China. I have been to Mainland China 5 times and several times to Hong Kong and Macau , including when they were British and Portuguese Colonies. Taiwan was different in two ways – it is a Democracy, though not on the level of Europe or the USA. It is also uncrowded – only 30 million people – which is far smaller than several Mainland Cities. For several years Taiwan has been “on the list” but now due to increasing tensions across the Straits ( as little as 80 miles ,120 km) ) the time to go might be now. TotalAdventure thinks it’s highly unlikely that that Beijing would attack Taipei – the economic and political fallout would be massive – but the same was said about Putin and Ukraine. Unfortunately the rule of travel these days, for many parts of the world, is to go now, while one has the chance. TotalAdventure explored Tigray extensively in early 2020- just before COVID and then a horrific genocidal war later that year. Of course , War Tourism is now a thing – a dangerous form of adventure. On this trip – Taiwan was peaceful – though often with the roar of fighter jets in the background. The island is surrounded by PRC Battleships and Coast Guard – sometimes only 30 miles, 50 km from the shore.

Money Cat is revered all over the Chinese Diaspora.

Tower 101 was the tallest building in the world 20 years ago. It is now the 10th tallest.

Some interesting architecture from 553 meters.

The Taiwanese Dollar is 31 to the US Dollar. Prices are moderately lower than the USA. Simple meals as low as $ 6 , comfortable hotel is $ 80 and luxury hotel about $ 140. (US) 100 mile 160 km fast train,$ 5.

Confucius centered Buddhism is the main religion.

Old teachings are adapted for modern life – the pursuit of success.

One of the main reasons to explore Taiwan is for the food – different , and not as exotic as Sichuanese or Cantonese , but equally as tasty. Above,Black Meat Chicken.

Very Spicy pork noodle soup.

Hot Pot.

Seasoned Scallops.

Shrimp That Were Jumping 10 Minutes Before.

Looking a lot like Ballyhoo bait fish from Florida and the Bahamas. But very tasty grilled.

“Aboriginal” Lunch.

A strange fruity dessert.

The Nationalist Flag of Kuomintang China.

From Taipei , TotalAdventure traveled by train to Xincheng, on the East Coast. The Deep Blue Pacific was calm and beautiful.

The local population, having experienced many typhoons and a few tsunamis is quite fearful of the sea, and few swim. It is a pity , because the sea, in late September , is clear and warm. TotalAdventure did swim, albeit with some caution.

Near Xincheng is Taroko National Park. One needs a car to explore – TotalAdventure hired a taxi for the whole day for 2500 NT$, about 80 US.

Massive water volume bursts through the canyons . Though the weather was dry – the rivers run fast from the ending rainy season.

The climate is subtropical with hot summers and mild winters. On the highest mountain tops some snow falls in winter.

Oriental Ambience.

On the last evening in Taipei, TotalAdventure climbed the Tomb of Chiang Kai-shek. He ruled the breakaway Republic until his death at age 87 in 1975.

The Long Flight To SFO. 11 Hours. Left Sunday Night and Arrived Sunday Afternoon.

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.

11000 KM South To Antarctica ! See the video above !

On November 29,2022 TotalAdventure and a colleague boarded an Aerolineas jet for Buenos Aires arriving in Ezezia that evening. The next morning , from Aeroparque, we boarded a smaller jet for the 4 hour flight to Ushuaia. Please see the Ushuaia article above, if you have not already.

Above is the dock at Ushuaia, where our ship, the MV Hondius departed to and arrived from, Antarctica.

Buenos Aires By Night.

Dining At The World’s Top Rated Steakhouse – Don Julio ! The 95 degree summer weather was welcome on our return from Antarctica.

Ushuaia – Time to board the ship to cross the Drake ! Read on in the series below !

Good Fortune Ahead From Ushuaia Across The Drake !

A Long Way From Miami !

The First Art Basel was scheduled for 2001. It was cancelled due to 9/11. When I my journalistic career took me to Miami in 2002 , I was privileged to attend the first one. Admission was $ 5 and we went in our bathing suits. Fast forward to 20 years later, including in the video above. It’s a very different scene now.

Back in 2002 some Argentine friends had picked up a couple Picassos and had them propped up on the floor of their Venetian Island house. Now there don’t seem to be many Picassos.

Angel Of Anger.

Big and Beautiful !

Devil In Disguise.

A Deathly Dig.

A Wall Streeter On Vacation.

Since 2002 – only one shaw did not happen – in the COVID lockdowns of 2020.

All Hail To The Great Helmsman !

Teatime Troubles.

We wished I picked up a Warhol for $2000 back in 1987 ,just before he died.

Terror Or Tyranny ?

Imperial Irony. The Forerunner of the NFT Craze. Will NFTs continue by 2023 ?,