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I’m not much of a boat guy, so jumping off a boat in to the ocean was an interesting experience - but if you’re going to do something that pushes your boundaries, best do it somewhere as beautiful as Lelepa Island in Vanuatu in the South Pacific.
As part of a full day tour of the island by local guides, I had the chance to jump ship in to a coral garden. And as the first guy off the boat, the moment I dunked my head underwater, the dancing shimmering light was mesmerising. Surrounded by fish behind me, the reef disappeared off in to the blue distance, but that dancing light kept me immersed and captivated.
I describe it as, "Hussaini jigra chahiye Hussaini bridge cross karne k liye". It needs to have the Hussaini courage to cross the thrilling Hussaini bridge.
I could simply not go beyond the 5th step. My local guide, himself won't dare cross the third step and strictly prohibited me to attempt any dare. To our jaw dropping surprise, we saw a local 14-15 year old boy almost running on the bridge making it to the 40 something step in no time. He went to the middle of the bridge for a photo I guess. The locals “Hussaini” hunzai use it on daily basis. For them, it is an unavoidable means of connection.
One step into Hussaini bridge starts the smallest of the tensions in the suspension system. A micro sin wave has started. And your feet and your body can feel them. Every step multiplies the last effect. Imagine, just imagine the experience, keep in mind that the ice cold “Hunza river” water awaits to feast on you. Worst…. Like every bridge, it has two ends. And as I said, locals “RUN” on it. Their cat walks can surely make you jump into the river :P
I met brother Ali and Faheem from Islamabad who were travelling on bikes to explore the valley side. Ali told me back at Kamran hotel that he crossed 80% of the bridge. Ali definitely has it what it takes to cross this death daring, thrilling bridge.
The first known example of "modern style" graffiti survives in the ancient Greek city of Ephesus (in modern-day Turkey). Local guides say it is an advertisement for prostitution. Located near a mosaic and stone walkway, the graffiti shows a handprint that vaguely resembles a heart, along with a footprint and a number. This is believed to indicate that a brothel was nearby, with the handprint symbolizing payment
We had so much fun hiking on glaciers our first time in Iceland that we had to make sure we could do it again on our second trip. We went out with Aron from Öræfaferðir / Local Guide Travel Service again, this time for a glacier hike on the Fjallsjökull Outlet of the Vatnajökull Glacier. We would highly recommend their services! Please feel free to check out the link below for more information.
This morning we set out early from Heliconia in a canoe, led by our local guide through tangles of submerged trees. Our target was a remote area that was suffciently large and above the Amazonian water level to be home to larger fauna. The water by the bank was shallow and from the point where we secured the boat we had some way to walk in ankle/calf high water. Even on the 'dry' land, the terrain remained damp and squelched underfoot as my boots sank through leaves into the earth or mud beneath. Among the fauna on our wish list were anacondas - ideally to be found resting in the pools. Otherwise they might be hiding under the fallen leaves waiting to catch a passing meal. I saw none in the pools. Nor was I attacked. The main fauna we encountered were monkeys, high up in the canopy. At ground level it was the flora that was interesting - curling lianas, red palm roots, weird fungus, and local fruit, often the discarded shells of fruit popular with the monkeys above. It was a hot, sweaty walk and we relished the air current on the canoe back.
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In 2022, I returned to Colombia. The main purpose of this trip was to explore the Amazonian rainforest areas near Leticia and then on the Rio Negro. In 2007 I was in the Leticia area on a volunteering project and the 2022 trip gave me the chance to see more of the area.
As these are border areas, with the rivers travelled actually being the borders, I also visited / transitted through Brazil, Peru and Venezuela. I will create one master set / album for the entire six week trip, plus separate country albums to help viewers who are interested only in a specific country.
I also spent time in Bogota and in the Boyaca region. Overall intinerary: London - Leticia - Bogota - Villavincenzio - Rio Negro - Puerto Inirida - Bogota (incl Nemocon) - Villa de Leyva - Tunja - Bogota - London.
Carsten ten Brink is also a writer of fiction and nonfiction - for further information see www.carstentenbrink.com/Writing.html. 'The Nicotine Solution,' a piece relating to his time in the Amazon in 2022, has appeared in the US publication The Write Launch - see thewritelaunch.com/2024/12/the-nicotine-solution/. It also features several of his photos.
It's summer once again so check your local guides for Hanabi schedules.
Yokohama, Japan
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Hamhung is the main chemical city in North Korea.
The local guide told me there is no pollution in the town...In this town, they also have huge factories of Vynalon, a north korea synthetic fiber they use for the famous suits they wear. The town was on the tour as we were supposed to visit the factories...it was impossible.. renovation they said.
© Eric Lafforgue
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Quiapo Walking Tour led by local guide Carlos Celdran.
Organized by the Center for Art, New Ventures and Sustainable Development (CANVAS).
Once upon a time, my husband and I had three short stays in Lima: before and after walking the Inca Trail, and again after a trip to the head of the Amazon (more on those travels some other day), and were based each stay at a charming hotel in the beautiful coastal suburb of Miraflorés.
This let us explore some of the sights around Lima.
For the story, please visit: www.ursulasweeklywanders.com/travel/postcards-from-lima-p...
Manú National Park, Peru
Giant Monkey Frog, aka Bicoloured Tree Frog
Family : Hylidae [Phyllomedusa bicolor]
One disappointment I had in Peru, albeit a self-made one, was that I (mistakenly) envisaged being able to walk into the rainforest and find frogs. I really thought that photographing frogs was going to be relatively easy. How wrong I was. In all the time we were there I found just one and that hopped off into the undergrowth as soon as it heard me approach. So, with that admission out the way, I need to disclose that all three of these specimens were found and identified by our excellent local guide.
For our hike around Sapa we had a local guide(a lady from the local Black H'Mong village) who was extremely knowledgeable and had taught herself English through taking groups around the area. We were also accompanied by four other Black H'Mong ladies from another local village. Their role was to "assist" us along the way and is a way for them to bring in a small income at the end when we buy some of their traditional garments, bangles, bags etc.
Something that I was continually amazed by was wherever we went in Vietnam, however remote, most people had mobile phones and available coverage. This was taken early in our hike when we were a fair distance from town and she still was able to get reception.
My interview on Google Local Guide Connect
All Photos Are Copyright To Paul Saad , Unauthorised Use Is Not Allowed Without Prior Permission. © Some rights reserved ©
THE GULF OF OROSEI
from Baunei to Cala Gonone
A 40 km cliff.Vertical walls, large caves and small ravines,a crystal clear sea with deep, intense colours.The mountain guards white pearls of sand.Not simple inlets, they have magic names,
seeing them you will discover that here time has stopped.
Are there uncontaminated beaches in the Mediterranean Sea?Are there dream places even far from Caraibi?Of course! You can find them in Sardinia! The Gulf of Orosei is probably the most fascinating area of the Island and it is ready to offer you all its splendour and all the colours, scents and sensations that only few beaches in the world can boast.Far from the sumptuous society life and the world of fake-VIPs, far from the stressful “beach-umbrella fights”, far from the stereotypes but close to the beautiful and gratifying view you dream of.Are you ready to go on a binge of beauty?There's a Sardinia made of nature and real life just waiting for you!
Il Golfo di Orosei si trova lungo la costa centro orientale della Sardegna. Prende il nome da Orosei, cittadina della provincia di Nuoro situata a 2 km dalla costa nella valle del fiume Cedrino.Il Golfo è diviso in due parti morfologicamente diverse. La parte settentrionale, bassa sul mare, e composta da pinete, da lunghi arenili e dune costiere che si spingono sino al suo limite nord, ossia Punta Nera, mentre quella meridionale, costituita dalla parte terminale dell'altopiano del Supramonte, chiamato anche Supramonte marino, si estende sino al Capo di Monte Santu.
Per più di 40 km questo tratto di costa molto alta è caratterizzata da imponenti bastioni calcarei ricoperti da boschi secolari costituiti di una rigogliosa e variegata macchia mediterranea. Rimasta per secoli inaccessibile via terra, è formata da caratteristiche spiagge sabbiose e circondate da pareti calcaree verticali, incise da profonde gole scavate da antichi fiumi ora scomparsi o inghiottiti dall'altopiano carsico sovrastante.
Questo territorio rimasto è incontaminato e ricco di specie animali e vegetali di notevole interesse esi estende nei territori delle provincie di Nuoro e dell'Ogliastra.
Oltre all'omonimo Comune, sul Golfo si affaccia anche il paese di Cala Gonone dove è possibile imbarcarsi per visitare le rade incastonate nei bastion calcarei o le grotte del Bue Marino, chiamate in questo modo perché nel recente passato erano ancora dimora delle foche monache
Baunei, set on the slopes of Mount Santo, includes 30 kilometres of matchless coastal beauty. The economy, which is mainly based on farming and agriculture, today is directed towards tourism and the services that go with it that have been developing on the Golgo tableland, in the Baunei Supramonte and in the hamlet of Santa Maria Navarrese, which, positioned in the most southern part of the territory, has become a renowned seaside location.
The territory is very rich in prehistoric evidence, like for example the cave of Su Marinaiu where there are traces of the first human presence in Sardinia. The stone of Neolithic age positioned at the bottom of the rock face overlooking the built-up area is particularly important. There is a high concentration of nuragic monuments (such as nuraghes, nuragic villages, sacred areas) in the Golgo valley.
The territory of Baunei is also rich in natural attractions such as the Depth of the Golgo, an impressive chasm over 300 m deep; the Pedra Longa point, a limestone spire North of Santa Maria Navarrese 128 m high that drops vertically into the sea.
This area of Sardinia is rich in karst caves that are partially accessible with the use of a local guide. In particular Su Meraculu Grotto and the Cave of the Fig, which has been the last refuge for a flock of monk seals, can be easily visited.
The Baunei Supramonte, the subject of much Sardinian folklore, rich in holm-oaks, junipers, yews and very thick Mediterranean vegetation, hosts some rare natural species with pressing environmental emergencies.
An easy uphill leads up to the Golgo tableland, where many footpaths lead inland or towards the coastal cliffs, with the highest nest building rate of the Royal Falcon in the whole of the Mediterranean.
For the seaside lovers the territory of Baunei embraces some of the most beautiful beaches in the whole of Sardinia. Starting South, Santa Maria Navarrese beach is the first one. After passing Capu Monte Santu, with its high drops into the sea, there is Cala Goritze’, a small white sandy stretch overlooked by the 128 m high Punta Caroddi, a.k.a. Aguglia. Proceeding in a northern direction there is Cala Mariolu with really fine sand and smooth pebbles. Then there is the Seagulls Beach, a little further we find Cala Biriala with a reddish rock face. Further North Cala Sisine and the renowned Cala Luna (Cala Elune) are also worth a visit.
Pair of Spectacled owls sitting up high in the rainforest canopy where it would have been impossible to spot them without a local guide. Photo for record only.
Ingólfshöfði is a nature reserve that's home to thousands of nesting sea-birds, like puffins and great skuas. This birdwatching tour was taken with the group Local Guide, which hauls people across a massive black sand beach in a hay cart to reach the cliffs where the birds live.
She walks slowly, among her Prey, looking and watching their reaction. Testing for differences, weaknesses, before she chooses. Hungry young cubs need feeding...
They all watch her closely. She is called "The Machine" by the local guides. Why?
More our photos on 500px 500px.com/friendly-local-guides
Check out our Los Angeles tours friendlylocalguides.com/los-angeles/tours
Hamhung is the main chemical city in North Korea.
The local guide told me there is no pollution in the town...In this town, they also have huge factories of Vynalon, a north korea synthetic fiber they use for the famous suits they wear. The town was on the tour as we were supposed to visit the factories...it was impossible.. renovation they said.
© Eric Lafforgue
Ifaty-Mangily is a village about 30 km north of Toliara (Tuléar) in southwest Madagascar. Ifaty was originally a pure fishing village, but due to its favourable location directly in front of a coral reef and its proximity to Toliara, the first tourist infrastructure developed in the 1970s: the beginning of Mangily. Today, both terms are often used synonymously, although they are actually still two independent but very close villages.
On the sandy beaches of the bay of Ranobe (translated “big water”) on the canal of Mozambique, travellers have a good opportunity to relax and unwind. The water is warm and the sun shines here more than 300 days a year. Ifaty has a number of well-equipped hotels and lodges for excursions with the zebu carts (Charettes), crayfish dinners, pirogue excursions or visits to the nearby Reniala reserve and the turtle village. Due to the unfortunately unfavourable security situation in the south of Madagascar, the spiny forests of the surrounding area should not be explored alone, and it is also advisable to always be on the road with local guides.
Diving schools in Ifaty offer guided dives along various parts of the coral reef, equipment can be hired on site. For beginners to experienced divers there are many possibilities to explore the sea and its colourful inhabitants. In some places, travellers even have the unique opportunity to get in touch with sharks under water. If you are not quite so brave or simply not a diver, you will find just as good opportunities for snorkeling. In August, with a bit of luck, you might even see whales passing the coast. The road to Ifaty was paved in 2016, it now takes just 20 minutes via the Route Nationale (RN9) from Toliara to Ifaty-Mangily.
www.madamagazine.com/en/strande-von-ifaty/
Ifaty-Mangily es un pueblo a unos 30 km al norte de Toliara (Tuléar), en el suroeste de Madagascar. Originariamente, Ifaty era un pueblo puramente pesquero, pero debido a su favorable ubicación directamente frente a un arrecife de coral y su proximidad a Toliara, en los años 70 se desarrolló la primera infraestructura turística: el comienzo de Mangily. Hoy en día ambos términos suelen utilizarse como sinónimos, aunque en realidad siguen siendo dos pueblos independientes pero muy cercanos.
En las playas de arena de la bahía de Ranobe (traducida como "agua grande") en el canal de Mozambique, los viajeros tienen una buena oportunidad para relajarse y descansar. El agua es cálida y el sol brilla aquí más de 300 días al año. Ifaty cuenta con varios hoteles y albergues bien equipados para excursiones con carros de cebú (Charettes), cenas con cangrejos de río, excursiones en piragua o visitas a la cercana reserva de Reniala y al pueblo de las tortugas. Debido a la desgraciadamente desfavorable situación de seguridad en el sur de Madagascar, los bosques espinosos de los alrededores no se deben explorar solo, y también es recomendable estar siempre de viaje con guías locales.
Las escuelas de buceo en Ifaty ofrecen inmersiones guiadas a lo largo de varias partes del arrecife de coral y se puede alquilar el equipo en el lugar. Desde principiantes hasta buceadores experimentados hay muchas posibilidades de explorar el mar y sus coloridos habitantes. En algunos lugares, los viajeros incluso tienen la oportunidad única de entrar en contacto con tiburones bajo el agua. Si no eres tan valiente o simplemente no eres buceador, encontrarás oportunidades igualmente buenas para hacer snorkel. En agosto, con un poco de suerte, es posible que incluso veas ballenas pasando por la costa. La carretera a Ifaty se pavimentó en 2016 y ahora se tarda solo 20 minutos por la Ruta Nacional (RN9) desde Toliara hasta Ifaty-Mangily.
Le Paradisier
Nuestro guía local en la reserva comunitaria de Anja.
Our local guide in the Anja community reserve.
La reserva comunitaria de Anja es una pequeña área protegida en Madagascar . Fue creado por una comunidad del pueblo que lo gestiona en su totalidad. Está orientado hacia la conservación de la naturaleza, el turismo y el desarrollo económico de la localidad.
La reserva alberga la población de lémures de cola anillada más densa de toda la isla.
La reserva está situada cerca de la carretera nacional N o 7, a medio camino entre el Parque Nacional Isalo al sur y Ranomafana norte, dos de los parques más visitados del país. Esta situación probablemente esté en el origen del gran número de visitantes que se detienen allí, y corolario del éxito del proyecto.
La reserva comunitaria de Anja cubre 34 hectáreas de bosque seco, rodeada de sabanas, arrozales y huertas. El paisaje está dominado por tres grandes formaciones de granito aisladas, el Telo Mirahavavy o "las Tres Hermanas".
Anja Miray es una asociación de derecho malgache , creada en 1999. Todos los habitantes de Anja, es decir, unas 2.500 personas, pueden unirse si lo desean. La gestión del bosque le fue cedida por el gobierno malgache en 2001, en virtud de la ley de transferencia de la gestión de los recursos naturales, de 1996. En 2009, pasó la superficie de tierra bajo el control de la asociación Anja Miray. De 60 ha (concedida en 2001) a 72 ha .
El premio “Ecuador”, que premia los esfuerzos de las comunidades para reducir la pobreza a través de la conservación y el uso sostenible de la biodiversidad, fue otorgado a la asociación Anja Miray en 2012.
Sin embargo, un estudio apunta a las desigualdades de género que persisten en la reserva, destacando, en particular, que solo el 15,4% de las mujeres son social, política y económicamente autónomas.
Las ganancias de la reserva comunitaria de Anja permitieron financiar la construcción de dos escuelas y un programa de apoyo agrícola con distribución de semillas e insumos.
En 2011, la reserva de Anja recibió a 12.000 visitantes, cada uno pagando una tarifa de entrada de 20.000 Ariaris (alrededor de 5 € ), además de la tarifa de grupo de 18 € . En 2019, el turismo generó alrededor de 27.000 € de facturación. Los ingresos fueron suficientes para contratar a 85 guías y otros agentes.
es.frwiki.wiki/wiki/R%C3%A9serve_communautaire_d%27Anja
anjareserve.angelfire.com/index.html
The Anja Community Reserve is a woodland area and freshwater lake, situated at the base a large cliff. Much of the reserve is dominated by fallen rocks and boulders and there are two small caves providing habitat for bats and owls. This reserve has much sheltered habitat in the pocket of forest that has established between the vast boulders.
The reserve was created in 2001 with the support on the UNDP to help preserve the local environment and wildlife, and to provide additional employment and income to the local community.
The reserve is home to the highest concentration of maki, or ring-tailed lemurs, in all of Madagascar. The people, who have a belief in not eating the maki, used to sell the maki to outsiders. However, after finding that 95% of makis in Madagascar are now gone, the people initiated the formation of a nature reserve, effectively establishing the world's largest congregation site for makis. Due to its high biological, cultural, and natural importance, scholars have suggested the possibility of its inclusion in the UNESCO World Heritage List.
The reserve is located 13 km south of Ambalavao, between the towns of Fianarantsoa and Ihosy, on National Road 7, and is a popular stop for holiday tours operators traveling between the Antananarivo and the south of Madagascar.
Visitors are welcome, but must be accompanied by a local guide. There are two main trails. The shorter trail can be completed in around one to two hours, but you should allow up to six hours for the longer trail which includes a hike to the top of the mountain. Fees apply.
The reserve is maintained by Association Anja Miray, a local group established in response to the degradation of the forest. The association's ecotourism initiative helps to fund community works projects related to education and health alongside conservation activities. The growth of ecotourism has also helped to diversify the local economy, encouraging fish farming and tree nurseries. Previously, forest lands were being cleared for corn planting and lemurs were hunted as a source of protein. The association received support from the United Nations Development Programme (including an Equator Prize in 2012) and the Global Environment Facility.
Anja Reserve is home to about 300 ring-tailed lemurs (Lemur catta) as well as three species of lizard:
Androngo or the Madagascar Girdled Lizard (Zonosaurus madagascariensis)
Katasataka or Barbour's day gecko (Phelsuma barbouri)
Dangalia lizard (Chalarodon madagascariensis)
The ring-tailed lemurs are used to visitors, so it is possible to approach to within a few meters for photos. However, feeding them, which was once permitted, is now prohibited.
Two bizarre species of planthopper are frequently observed at Anja, and the local guides will point out these strange-looking insects to visitors as they pass by. The Flatida rosea nymphs congregate in groups and are covered in white waxy filaments. The Malagasy Lantern Bug (Zanna madagascariensis) has a white waxy dusty coating and a large orange lantern-like snout.
Purple Gallinule ~ The most vividly colored bird in the wetlands.
Seven different colors. Florida Everglades
Our travel guide and the local guide at the Cervantes monument. From a guided tour to some 'highlights' of Madrid, Spain - September 02, 2017.
I was hiking around the Eastern Rim of the Kathmandu Valley with a friend under the watchful eye of local guide, Angfula Sherpa. When I heard that the penultimate leg of our walk for the day was the ominously named “1000 steps”, I worried. In Nepal, “steps” always means up, not just forward! I can outstrip a lot of people on the flat, but present me the slightest incline, and these days it stops me in my tracks.
All along the trails, we can see the effects of the 2015 earthquake. A woman in a blanket sits in the shade of a pile of new bricks, while behind her we can see the reinforcing steel rebar that is now placed much more closely to protect new buildings from further earthquakes.
For the PhotoBlog story, please visit: www.ursulasweeklywanders.com/travel/dhulikhel-to-nagarkot...