Christian Bobst | Meskel in Lalibela

Photo © Christian Bobst-All Rights Reserved

Meskel is an annual religious holiday in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church commemorating the discovery of the True Cross by Queen Helena (Saint Helena) in the fourth century. It  is celebrated for two days beginning September 26th, and commemorates the legend that in the year 326, Queen Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, discovered the cross upon which Christ was crucified.

It is in Lalibela, one of Ethiopia's most religious towns, that Christian Bobst photographed the ceremonies and rituals observing this fascinating religious festival. During the ceremony, a priest rubs the pilgrims with the holy Lalibela Cross to heal diseases or drive out devils of the bodies of the believers. The Lalibela Cross is thought to date to the 12th century and is considered one of Ethiopia's most precious religious and historical heirlooms.

Christian tells me he used two Fuji X-T1 camera bodies and prime lenses between 14mm to 35mm, as well as using the cameras' wi-fi capabilities to capture high angle shots. He also appreciated the lightness in weight,  smaller size and the retro look of the Fujis.

He also tells me that during the ceremony, one of the pilgrims saw the pictures on the screen of Christian's iPhone while taking the high angle shots on the X-T1 he had perched on a monopod. The pilgrim liked the photographs so much that he persuaded the presiding priest to allow Christian to photograph right in the center of the crowd.

Christian Bobst is a Swiss documentary photographer who originally studied graphic design. For almost 15 years, he worked for advertising agencies like Young & Rubicam/Switzerland and Jung von Matt/Germany as an Art- and Creative Director, before deciding to move on into documentary photography in 2010.  He now works as a freelance photographer, and is a member of 13 Photo in Zürich.

The Rest of Everest Episode 103: A River Runs Through It

Another excellent new episode of The Rest of Everest with Josh Butson and Ben Clark joining Jon Miller to continue telling us all about their adventures on Annapurna IV, where they hope to not only summit, but also make the first descent on skis as well.

When the video opens, we join the guys, along with the third member of the third member of their team, Tim Clarke, in base camp. This episode is called A River Runs Through It, and we soon learn why, as a series of small trenches dug through BC and into the main tent itself, allowed for the free flowing of water thanks to the spring melt off, to make it's way down the mountain.

We continue to get a look at life in base camp for the team, as they prepare their gear for their assault on the mountain and share their thoughts on the climb ahead. The team is in good spirits as they discuss the challenges of high altitude climbing, with Ben talking about getting in the right frame of mind and having his body move and breathe on the mountain.

THe last six or seven minutes of the episode gives us great shots of the mountain and shows the team as they set off for their first acclimatization climb on Annaurna IV. It also gives us our first look at how they use their skis to help them climb as they "skin up" the slopes through deep snow. The video of the mountain itself looks great, and we can now expect to get into the meat of the climb.

Next week we'll get to see the process of establishing high camps on the mountain, which should be very interesting for those of us who follow these big climbs.

Mui Ne - Phan Thiet

Mui Ne holds a great deal of memories for me as it is the ideal break from Saigon when the activity and the clamor all gets an excessive amount of - if it was simply a smidgen closer! 

A wonderful shoreline with an always becoming piece of resorts covering the coast, Mui Ne strikes a decent harmony between having sufficient stimulations to support a long weekend and being stuffed. The lodgings lie between the ocean and the street, with numerous restaurants lining the inverse side of the street. 

Luckily most of the resorts are low climb and overall secured by a lot of rich green foilage - most have made a decent attempt to make alluring arrangements around their cottages, and the result is that from the shoreline there is not without a doubt confirmation of the blasting development in inns - regardless it figures out how to look disengaged and quiet, without a cement obstruct in sight. 

Mui Ne - Phan Thiet

It has an extensive variety of restaurants, with the neighborhood shacks giving a percentage of the freshest, least expensive and tastiest fish you will discover in Vietnam, and a lot of people high-class restaurants offering first rate Italian, European, Indian and Thai cooking styles. 

There's a lot of bars as well, and hot rivalry implies you can regularly discover two mixed drinks for $2 around dusk - an immaculate approach to end a dazzling day. Some, in the same way as Jibes and Wax bar, are decently associated with the watersports group and regularly run huge shoreline parties on Saturday nights. The nature of music being played is by all accounts on the up as well and it is one of the few spots I have seen expats disregard their cool and have a decent move. 

There are watersports abundantly as Mui Ne has reliably great winds, and it has turned into the kite surfing capital of Vietnam. There's a lot of windsurfing as well, and for the less courageous of us it implies a lot of visual amusement as you watch individuals flying 20-30 ft into the air while tasting a cool mixed drink and appreciating the breeze. 

No excursion to Mui Ne is finished without an outing to the sanddunes, where adolescent youngsters with remarkable English abilities sway you to slide down the hills at incredible speed on plastic mats - its extraordinary fun however bear in mind to tip the children - the angling town of Mui Ne is extremely denied. 

There's likewise a sandstone "ravine" at the once again of the rises to investigate, a 'pixie stream' to find and some wild, confined shorelines in the event that you drive up past Mui Ne to the headland, where you can see the angler conquering the waves in their corracles.

Related link: Travel Vietnam

Climbing The Atlas Mountains

The TImes Online posted a story a few days back about trekking the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and more specifically a winter climb up Mount Toubkal, a 4167m (13,671 feet) peak that is the tallest in Northern Africa.

The story opens by saying that most climbers going to Africa head to Kilimanjaro to claim the highest peak on the continent, but there are other mountains that are more technically demanding, and far less crowded. Enter Toubkal, a mountain that offers spectacular views of the Atlas Range, the Sahara Desert, and even the Atlantic Ocean. During the winter months, Toubkal requires the use of crampons and ice axes, although once acquainted with those tools, an experienced and conditioned trekker should be able to challenge the summit. All told, the winter climb takes about four days, depending on conditions on the mountain.

The Atlas Mountains have gained an excellent reputation for themselves as a great place for hikers of various skill levels. There are guided treks that pass through villages and offer up some great scenery, and there are more serious ones like this climb that focus on reaching the summit of a peak or two. For anyone interested in going to Morocco, these treks offer the opportunity to explore the remote countryside while still mixing in some cultural experiences.

The article gives good information on when the best time to go is, as well as a link to the guide service they used on their climb. Looks like I have another trip to add to my list!

7 days - Discover South Vietnam

The Southern Part of Vietnam is a very surprising part of Vietnam. Given an alternate intriguing chance to encounter the liberal society which is demonstrated apparently through the idealistic way of life, vacationers will completely find numerous agreeable unique focuses.

The excursion from the airplane terminal to your inn will take pretty nearly thirty minutes and is a diverting background brimming with riotous movement and a huge number of motorbikes. Weighing in your lodging and revel in your extra time in the most energizing city in Vietnam

Related post: Vietnam travel

On entry you will be guided through the renowned shafts utilized by the comrade guerrillas amid the Vietnam War. The shaft system extends in excess of 250km and reaches out to three levels underground giving you a surprising knowledge into the hardships, strength, determination and dread of a guerrilla war. You will come back to your lodging at roughly 6.00pm.

The Mekong Delta is viewed as the rice dish of Viet Nam, creating frequently three yields of rice a year and a plenitude of new tropical tree grown foods, for example, longan, jackfruit, sapodilla and pineapple. The Mekong begin in Tibet and trips through seven nations before arriving at Viet Nam where it parts into nine tributaries and exhausts into the South China Sea.

Today, you will go by watercraft investigating the forceful Mekong, watching stream life and examining numerous neighborhood luxuries, including the elephant ear fish, for lunch. Go on wide and restricted tributaries, visit plantations and neighborhood produce ranches. After an unwinding and liberal day come back to Saigon around 4:30pm.

After breakfast, your auto will lift you up and exchange to Mui Ne inside a couple of hours. Weighing in your lodging and revel in your extra time here.

You can invest your time alongside the shoreline to delight in the sun-ocean sand and stunning views in Mui Ne.

Viviana Peretti | Happy Pride

Photo © Viviana Peretti-All Rights Reserved

I was out of town so this was the second time in a row that I've missed photographing the annual New York City's Gay Pride parade. The neighborhood I live in witnesses the end of the parade, and the cornucopia of characters who participate in it, as well as those who come to watch it, provide incredible images to those photographers who prefer to shun the parade itself, and congregate in the West Village for more close and personal street photography...as I did in 2012.

That said, I'm glad to have seen Viviana Peretti's Happy Pride iPhone photographs of the event, which are much more personal than those I've seen so far of the event.

For those who don't know, June was chosen as LGBT Pride Month to commemorate the Stonewall Inn riots, which occurred at the end of June 1969. As a result, many pride events are held during this month to recognize the impact LGBT people have had in the world. The Stonewall is a gay bar at 43 Christopher Street in New York City, and is traditionally where the parade comes to its end.

Viviana Peretti is an Italian freelance photographer based in New York where in 2010 she graduated in Documentary Photography and Photojournalism from the International Center of Photography (ICP).

In 2000, after graduating Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Anthropology from the University of Rome, she moved to Colombia where she specialized in photojournalism and spent nine years working as a freelance photographer.

Viviana has received fellowships and awards from the International Center of Photography, the Joannie M. Chen Fund in New York, CNN, the Fondation Bruni-Sarkozy in France, FotoVisura, the University of Salamanca, the Spanish Embassy in Colombia, the Photo Museum in Bogota, and the Colombian Ministry of Culture. In 2010 she has been selected for the Eddie Adams Workshop, Barnstorm XXIII. In 2013-2014 Viviana has been an Artist-in-Residence at L’École Nationale Supérieure de la Photographie (ENSP) in Arles, France.

Her work has been published in a number of international media outlets including The New York Times, Newsweek, BBC, CNN, L'Oeil de la Photographie, New York Magazine, Le Journal de la Photographie, and L'Espresso.

Primal Quest News: 2008 DVD now available and Twitter Feed!

A few tidbits on Primal Quest to mention while I'm still working on catching up this week. First, the Primal Quest 2008 DVD is now available to order on the PQ website. The DVD contains 4 episodes, each 26 minutes in length, covering the entire race as it went down last summer in Big Sky Country. The film crew that covered the race is amongst the best in the world at covering adventure sports, and they've worked on projects such as the Eco-Challenge, Survivor, The Deadliest Catch, and more. The DVD can be ordered from the PQ Store by clicking here. I got my copy last night, but haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but may go for a Primal Quest watch party with friends this weekend.

Yesterday we also posted a story that was put together by the folks out in South Dakota that re-affirms that adventure racing, and Primal Quest, are not just for men. Fans of the sport already know that some of the best racers are women, but the article does a great job of highlighting that for new fans of the sport as well.

Finally, PQ has had a Twitter feed for some time, but it has mostly gone quiet in recent months, but I'm going to change that, and start using it as a tool. If you're interested, you can follow the feed by clicking here. And my friends who knew about my reluctance to use Twitter can now continue to laugh at me once again.

NG Adventure Blog Interviews Ed Viesturs

The National Geographic Adventure blog has posted an excellent interview with Ed Viesturs, who recently announced his return to Everest, officially coming out of his retirement from climbing 8000m peaks.

Ed was lured out of retirement by Eddie Bauer, who is launching a new line of outdoor gear called First Ascent, a move back to the company's roots, which were once entrenched in outdoor adventures.

In the interview, Viesturs talks about emphasizing teamwork in mountaineering, and beyond, his thoughts on the current economic recession, and assessing risk, both on the mountain and in business. He doesn't talk much about the specifics of his expedition to Everest, which will mark his 11th time on the mountain, where he'll be going for his 7th summit.

Ed will be climbing with an exceptional team this time around. He'll be joined by Dave Hahn, who has ten successful trips up the Big Hill, giving him the most summits of any non-Sherpa mountaineer. Peter Whittaker, the son of the famous climber Lou Whittaker, and owner of Rainier Mountain Guide, will also be on the expedition, along with Melissa Arnot, Seth Waterfall, and Chad Peele, making this an all-star affair.

Obviously this expedition is going to get a lot of media attention. Afterall, Viesturs is probably the highest profile American mountaineer. He's the only American to top out on all 14 of the 8000m peaks, and he's done so without oxygen. I'm sure we'll be hearing a lot more about this one in the press, and from Eddie Bauer in the weeks ahead. Ed and the team will head to Kathmandu on March 25th.

Paddler Circumnavigates The Falkland Islands

Kayaker Marcus Demuth of New York City, became the first person to completely circumnavigate the Falkland Islands, finishing up the 615 mile paddle in 22-days on the open water.

According to Paddling Life, before Damuth's successful attempt, three other similar attempts failed. Two British special forces teams and an American team all tried to the journey, but each of those teams failed in no small part thanks to the crazy, unpredictable weather in the region. The Falklands sit less than 600 miles north of Antarctica, and 300 miles east of Cape Horn, which means cold, powerful, sustained winds buffet the islands.

The unpredictable weather in the Southern Ocean isn't the only thing that Damuth had to contend with on his journey. He also had to navigate through mine fields. Some of the waters surrounding the Falklands still have left over mines from the Falklands War back in the early 80's, and Marcus was forced to navigate using two maps at times. One of those maps was a nautical chart showing the way, and the other was a map of the location of the mines provided by one of the British teams that had previously made the attempt.

You can read more about the Falklands Circumnavigation at Demuth's website, where he has more stories from his days out on the water and plenty of photos too. Great story, and very cool expedition. Congratulations to Marcus for his successful journey.

Thaipusam | Yeo Kai Wen

Here's an interesting and compelling photo essay on Thaipusam, the Hindu festival celebrated mostly by the Tamil community during January or February. It's mainly observed in countries where there is a significant presence of Tamil community such as India, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, Mauritius Singapore, Indonesia, Thailand and Myanmar.

This particular series of monochrome photographs were made during Thaipusam at Sri Thendayuthapani Temple in Singapore, by Yeo Kai Wen and was featured by Exposure.

It's unusual to see Thaipusam photographs in black and white as it's a colorful festival, with devotees shaving their heads and undertaking a pilgrimage along a set route while carrying out various acts of devotion, which may include self-mortification by piercing the skin, tongue or cheeks with skewers.

The photographer, Yeo Kai Wen graduated from the School of Film and Media Studies with a Diploma in Mass Communications in 2009, and is now specializing in documentary production, print and photojournalism.

Exposure is a storytelling platform specifically created for photo sets which are described as 'narratives'. It appears to have an extremely simple and easy to use editor that lets you drag and drop photos into your browser, and then add headers, body text and captions between photos. The posts feature full-bleed images and imaginative fonts and white space. Three Exposure posts are free, but for unlimited posting, custom domains, password-protected posts, and more, one has to shell out either $5 or $10/month, depending on the package chosen.

Himalaya Spring 2009 Update:

We're just days away from climbers descending on Kathmandu, and in this eleventh hour they are no doubt hurriedly packing and picking up last minute supplies. Meanwhile, in the Nepal, another ritual of spring seems to be taking place, as the Maoist once again are disrupting travel in the country.

According to ExWeb, who posted their own Himalaya wrap-up today, unrest and general strikes in certain areas of Nepal, from Maoist rebels no less, are already having an impact on the region. It seems Nives Meroi and her husband Romano Benet have been forced to change their plans thanks to the protests. The duo had been planning on heading to Kangchenjunga, one of the three remaining 8000m peaks left for them to conquer, but apparently, Nives and Romano sent their BC team on ahead to begin preparing their campsite, and they were detained by the rebels and turned back. Looking to avoid conflict, the Italian climbers elected to switch mountains and head to Annapurna instead. Nives still needs a summit on Annapurna in her quest to become the first woman to summit all 14 8000m peaks. At the moment they are in Kathmandu, where they report a severe shortage of water and power, but they'll head to the Annapurna region by the end of the week, where they'll await their team and gear.

Also heading to Annapurna is Valeri Bavanov and climbing partner Victor Afanasief. They are also in KTM at the moment, and while they're all set to leave, and expected to be gone by now, they're having problems finding any porters to hire. Apparently a number of porters were expected in the city by now, coming from villages in the countryside, but they've also been delayed by the Maoist strikes. Valeri and Victor feel confident however that they will find the porters they need soon, and will head for the mountain, where they intend to climb the West Face this spring.

It looks like not everyone has given up on the North Side, as ExWeb is also reporting that a combined team of Indian and Tibetan climbers have been issued a permit to scale the mountain from that side. With the borders still closed, it remains to be seen if the Indian climbers will receive access, but perhaps they will get special dispensation due to the nature of their climb. Eight members of the team also intend to ski down from the summit following their successful climb. Considering how quiet the North will be this year, it is going to take a lot of work to fix the lines.

Billi Bierling, who will be climbing Everest with Himex this year, lives and works in Kathmandu, where she reports that there was finally some rain over the weekend, helping to bring down the amount of smog and dust in the air. That should help make it a bit easier for all the travelers who will be headed to the city soon, although if the water shortages are as bad as they seem, anyone heading there soon should be prepared for the worst.

Last week I briefly mentioned Lori Schneider, the woman who suffers with MS, but still has her sights set on an Everest summit this year. If successful, she'll also have bagged all of the Seven Summits as well. Today, Alan Arnette has posted a great interview with this very inspirational climber to his Everest 2009 page. Scroll down further and you'll find a letter to Alan from Ang Tshering Sherpa, founder of Asian Trekking, who has some interesting things to say about what's happening on Everest this spring, including the Eco Everest expedition that will be working hard to clean up the mountain.

Continue scrolling even further on Alan's page, and you'll find that we already know when Summit Day will be this year. According to Scott Parazynski, whose gone into orbit five times on the space shuttle, we can expect to see the first teams on top of Everest on May 14th. Of course, that's just his best guesstimate, and one that he's using on his schedule, but it's the best we've got right now. The fact that it's more than a month and a half away, and there are dozens of factors that will play into which date is actually picked, shouldn't matter at all. ;)

To everyone headed to the Himalaya this week. Have fun, travel safe, and drop by the Rum Doodle for me. :)

Virgin Global Row Update: Rowing and Reading

Reading the latest updates from Olly Hicks on the Virgin Global Row website leads me to believe that the British adventurer has finally found his rhythm and gotten into a routine. He continues to make good progress, after struggling early on, and his tracking system shows that he is generally moving in a south easterly direction these days, far better than the backwards drift he was experiencing just days after he launched.

For those that haven't been following Olly, he is attempting to become the first person to circumnavigate Antarctica in a row boat. He plans to be at sea for approximately 18-22 months, with a couple of resupply stop overs mixed in as well. The planned route has him dropping south below the 50th degree, before proceeding east, crossing the South Pacific Ocean, round Cape Horn and through the Drake Passage, before heading towards South Georgia. If all goes according to plan, Olly will arrive there in June of this year, where he will take on supplies and wait out the winter before heading out once again.

In his latest blog posts, Olly talks about his long days behind the oars, some better than others. He mentions that he has seen only one ship so far on his journey, which is not unusual that far south, and he seems to be passing the time by reading a lot. I'm not sure how many books he brought along with him, but he's knocking them off at an alarming rate. In today's dispatch he notes that he completed three books today alone, and since I'm pretty sure Amazon doesn't have express delivery to the Southern Ocean, he might want to pace himself some.

It's good to see that Olly has fallen into a bit of a routine and is continuing to making progress. He'll need to stay focused and upbeat, as he's obviously got months of paddling ahead of him before a real break, but for now he seems content to go about his daily work and pass the hours while not rowing in any way that he can.

Coc Ly | Report Seven | The People of Tay Bac

Coc Ly Market. Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

I had not been to Coc Ly market before, so yesterday's morning's excursion was somewhat of a novelty. Coc Ly Market is held weekly on Tuesdays, and is predominantly frequented by the Flower H’mong. While only 35 kilometers from Bac Ha, it took us about 3 hours to drive from Sa Pa. It's smaller than the Bac Ha market that's held on Sundays, and doesn't have its 'charisma'.

Sa Pa Market. Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

Returning to Sa Pa, after a quick lunch of Pho Ga and Bun Cha in Lao Cai, we were out for an afternoon of street photography. A drizzle was starting to develop; auguring heavier downpour in the evening. Unknown to me at the time, but Typhoon Kalmaegi would soon arrive to the north of Viet Nam, drenching the north.

In contrast to the ambulatory photography style I adopt while at the markets, I spent the afternoon in the Sa Pa market in one or two locations.  I chose a spot where I thought there'd be interesting foot traffic...adjust my settings,  pre-focus my camera (I used the Leica M9) and wait patiently for some interesting scene to develop.

Note: Typhoon Kalmaegi did indeed hit the region and I had to cancel our trip to Xin Cheng market due to reported landslides, heavy downpours and muddy terrain which could have made the trip unfeasible for our van.  Currently in Lao Cai at the Swiss Bel hotel...a new, modern and posh hotel, where we probably are the only residents.

Photito Travel | Travel Photography

Photo © Photito Travel-All Rights Reserved

I'm not sure where I stumbled on Photito Travel's website...probably on Zite.

It's a veritable cornucopia of travel photography from a wide range of destinations...close to about 20 or so, including Sri Lanka, Egypt, Morocco, India, Norway, Israel and Ethiopia...to name but a few.

I chose to feature Photito Travel's Vietnam in this post, principally because of this lovely woman's portrait, and because I shall soon be leading another photo expedition to North Vietnam.

But don't restrict your viewing just of the Vietnam gallery...but knock yourselves out this weekend with an virtual endless galleries of wonderful large sized (for the most part) images of these 20+ destinations. It'll prepare you for whatever your international travel plans are...and whet your appetite for more.

The people behind Photito Travel are Spencer and Vibeke, a husband and wife team of travel photographers. They've been doing this type of travel photography-reportage for over 11 years. They author an interesting blog named Photito Travel Blog, which was included in 2010 by Lonely Planet in its Blogsherpa Program; a collection of travel blogs dedicated to wanderlust.

I shall peruse the various galleries this week end, and I recommend you do the same. You won't regret it...especially if it's raining!

Peter Ansara | Winner of The Travel Photographer's Street Photography Contest

Photo © Peter Ansara-All Rights Reserved

Photo © Peter Ansara-All Rights Reserved

Photo © Peter Ansara-All Rights Reserved

I'm happy to announce that Peter Ansara of Tacoma, WA has won The Travel Photographer's Street Photography Contest. The win was quite decisive, and was determined by the readers of this blog who gave Peter's photograph (top) the most votes.

The two top black and white photographs were made in Seattle, Washington while the third was made in Monument Valley, Arizona.

Peter retired from the United States Air Force with 25 years service in 2002, and has photographed for some 35 years. He loves street photography and photographs in Seattle 3 or 4 times per month. He also runs and operates a non profit organization in Tacoma, Washington.

The runners-up were Jeff Oftedahl and Anthony Pond.

Congratulations to Peter who will soon receive the WotanCraft Ryker Urban Classic 001.

Travel HaNoi - HoChiMinh 7day 6 night

Upon your landing in Noi Bai Airport, you will be gotten and moved to inn in Hanoi for weigh in and unwind. On the off chance that time license, we visit old Quarter then delight in Water Puppet Unique show. Unwind and stay over night at inn after dinner

08.00 am get up at lodging and exchange to Halong Bay, stop on course to respect the scene picture; you may take picture of wild ox kid. Land in Halong at early afternoon, leave on private Junk, pontoon screw will welcome you uncommon fish lunch, watercraft journey 4 hours around the sound to visit Dinh Huong island, Ga Choi island, Dog island, Sail island, visit Sung Sot hole, Turn once more to harbor toward the evening for private vehicle exchange again to Hanoi for overnight

After breakfast at lodging, begin city visit with Hochiminh Complex for visit Hochiminh Mausoleum, Hochiminh Museum and One column pagoda. Keep on visitting Literature sanctuary, the first University in Vietnam in sixteenth century. Eat in one of well known restaurant in Hanoi.

Related post: Vietnam travel

PM: Visit ethnological gallery then have cyclo in the old quarter, after that you are exchanged to the air terminal for flight to Hue at 17.25, upon landing in Hue, you will be grabbed to inn for unwind

AM: Visit Royal Citadel which was built by Emperor Gia Long in the style of French military modeler Vauban amid the first many years of the nineteenth century. Before leaving the site of Imperial city we visit Imperial Museum, a lot of people valuable items which were rescued from the Imperial city then we visit Khai Dinh Tomb.

Drive to Hoian through Danang and visit Cham Museum & Marble Mountain in transit. Evening you are allowed to visit Hoi An, a major Asian exchanging port in the seventeenth and eighteenth hundreds of years whose structural engineering and loose way of life has changed minimal through the years. Take a mobile voyage through the antiquated town focus to visit the previous dealers 'homes, the 400 year-old Japanese Covered Bridge and the bright market.

You are exchanged to airplane terminal for flight to HCM City leaves at 8.00, upon landing in HCMC; you are grabbed to visit some alluring places, for example, the Reunification Palace which was the previous habitation of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975. Near the royal residence are some striking French frontier structures including the Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. We additionally visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnant Museum before proceeding to the clamoring Ben Thanh Market where everything and anything is available to be purchased!

Everest Trek 2009: Preparing For The Trek

I've mentioned the Everest Trek 2009 a couple of times before. It's being led by Jon Miller from The Rest of Everest video podcast and Chris Marquardt of the Tips From The Top Floor podcast which is, for my money, the best photography show on the Internet. The trek combines adventure travel, in the form of a hike up to Everest Base Camp on the South Side, with a photography and videography workshop as well.

The latest episode of Tips From The Top Floor has Jon and Chris chatting for roughly 40 minutes about the trip. And while most of us aren't going to join them, the trek has been sold out for months, the podcast is quite interesting for anyone who is considering an Everest trek of their own.

The guys touch on a variety of topics, including some discussion on gear, both outdoor and video/photography related. They talk about how to get your batteries recharged in the Khumbu Valley and the effects of cold on those batteries. They also discuss conditions on the trail in regards to cooler temperatures and altitude.

This episode is definitely worth listening to, even if you don't typically follow the TFTTF podcast. (If you're into photography you should be!) There is just a wealth of information for those preparing for a high altitude trek and specifically one to Everest BC. My only problem with the episode is makes me wish I were going along all the more.

You can find the episode on the TFTTF website here or subscribe directly to the podcast in iTunes here.

Travel to VietNam - Highlights of VietNam

Investigate Vietnam's key destinations and get a taste for the rich society and history. Find Hanoi's pilgrim style, the World Heritage Site of Halong Bay, Hue's Ancient Citadel, Hoian's quietness and the advanced clamor of Saigon on this 8-day travel that takes you from north to south or the other way around.

Welcome to Hanoi: Vietnam's clamoring provincial capital. Your aide and driver will reach you outside the stuff case of Noi Bai Airport and take you to your inn in the downtown area. Toward the evening, go out for a stroll around the middle, going by some of Hanoi's primary attractions: the Opera House, Old Quarter, Hoan Kiem Lake and Ngoc Son Temple. At night appreciate a conventional Water Puppet Performance – a remarkable Vietnamese Art structure hailing from Southeast Asia's wet-rice society – emulated by a welcome supper at one of Hanoi's finest restaurants.

Dinners: Dinner.

Settlement: Hotel in Hanoi.

Delight in a half day to investigate Vietnam's beguiling capital, before driving through the field of the Red River Delta to the supernatural Halong Bay. With its wide tree-lined lanes, French pilgrim construction modeling, quiet lakes and old oriental pagodas, Hanoi is a mixed blend that offers something for everybody. Your city visit will take you to Hanoi's key destinations: the Ho Chi Minh Complex (Ho Chi Minh's Mausoleum and stilt house), the close-by One Pillar Pagoda; the Temple of Literature, the Fine Arts Museum. Toward the evening, leave the clamor of the enormous city and drive to Halong Bay (3 to 4 hours drive).

Suppers: Breakfast.

Convenience: Hotel in Halong.

Today you revel in a day journey on Halong Bay: an UNESCO World Heritage Site and characteristic wonderland made out of bulging limestone islands and shining turquoise waters, placed in the Gulf of Tonkin. After breakfast at the lodging, you are exchanged to the Halong harbor to board your private garbage journey for a 4-hour venture. Journey along the cool waters, between approaching, limestone outcrops to visit Dau Go "Cave of the Wooden Stakes", where, in 1288, one of Vietnam's most well known commanders, Tran Hung Dao, put away many stakes before doing combating the attacking Mongolian armed force. A short walk away, visit the newfound Thien Cung Cave ("Grotto of the Heavenly Palace"), popular for its stalagmites and stalactites. Relish a crisp fish lunch, served ready for cruising once again to Halong City, where your auto will be holding up to take you to Hanoi for your flight to Danang. Upon landing, exchange to your inn in Hoian.

Suppers: Breakfast, Lunch.

Facilities: Hotel in Hoian.

Drench yourself in the quietness and appeal of this tired riverside town. From the sixteenth to eighteenth hundreds of years Hoian was a flourishing global port frequented by Chinese, Dutch, French, Japanese, Portuguese and Arab brokers, who came to exchange the superb silk still delivered in the locale. Today, Hoian is an unwinding resort prevalent with sightseers for its diverse structural engineering, gifted tailors and various bistros. Take a half-day strolling visit through the thin slowing down of the aged town focus, going by Chua Ong Pagoda, the Chinese Assembly Hall, the 200-year old Tan Ky familial house and the well known Japanese Bridge. After lunch, take a short pontoon excursion to a close-by island and visit a handiwork town spend significant time in ceramics. Come back to the lodging in the late evening and appreciate a free night at your relaxation.

Suppers: Breakfast, Lunch.

Convenience: Hotel in Hoian.

Related post: Vietnam travel deal

Withdraw Hoian for the grand precipitous drive to Hue. Stop at the emotional Hai Van Pass, the high partitioning line between the atmosphere zones of North and South Vietnam, to appreciate the breathtaking perspectives and at the angling town of Lang Co for a beverage. Use the evening on a restful strolling visit through Vietnam's aged capital city, going by the Royal Citadel, Thien Mu Pagoda and the Mausoleum of King Tu Duc (an imitation of the lord's royal residence assembled for the following resurrection of the ruler), before investigating the Imperial Museum and Dong Ba Market.

Dinners: Breakfast.

Settlement: Hotel in Hue.

Eat at the lodging then drive to Phu Bai Airport of Hue to get your flight to Vietnam's advanced city: Saigon. Land in the late morning and appreciate an introduction visit through Ho Chi Minh City's clamoring roads on the way to the lodging. Eat at a downtown restaurant of your picking then set out on a guided city visit. Visit the War Remnants Museum, research Vietnam's late history at Reunification Palace, visit the close-by neo-Romanesque Notre Dame Cathedral and the City's Center Post Office before passing by the luxurious Opera Theater and the City Hall. At long last, wind up at the Ben Thanh Market, where sellers show an unfathomable exhibit of merchandise and painstaking work, engaging each taste.

Dinners: Breakfast.

Settlement: Hotel in Saigon.

Day 7: Saigon – Mekong Delta day excursion.

Today you go to the Mekong River Delta on a day outing to investigate the rich society and lavish fluvial scene. After breakfast, your aide & driver will reach you at your lodging and take you to Cai Be. Begin your visit with a visit to Cai Be's vivid skimming business sector, cruising among the nearby canal boats stuffed-brimming with leafy foods. Visit some neighborhood workshops then revel in a tasty lunch served at an aged house (in excess of 170 years of age!) in the cool shade of A Binh Island's plantations. Toward the evening, take a customary paddle boat and wander deeper into the wide open, gliding through limited trenches to revel in the quiet surroundings. Stop at a nursery enclosure to find how ranchers along the delta create their reality well known products of the soil. The journey closes around 3:30 PM in Vinh Long. Your driver will reach you at the dock and take y

Vietnam Travel - Vietnam Express Southbound

Dive into the illustrious past of Hue, Meet agreeable merchants in Hoi An, Explore Ho Chi Minh City on a cyclo, Discover the rich Hanoi Old Quarter, Enjoy a watercraft visit on wonderful Halong Bay, Paddle along the Mekong Delta on a sampan visit

Encapsulate enchanted Vietnam on this conservative visit from the pioneer appeal of Hanoi to the rushing about of Ho Chi Minh City. Taste espresso with local people in Hanoi and shop up a storm in the Old Quarter, voyage along emerald waters on a Halong Bay watercraft outing, go through old-world Hue and Hoi An, and lose all sense of direction in the hurrying around of Ho Chi Minh City. This is an endeavor loaded with magnificence and differentiation that presents Vietnam as a nation of mind boggling sustenance, enthusiastic local people, staggering landscape and cosmopolitan urban communities.

See more: Vietnam travel deals

Hanoi is well known for its serene lake settings, French-pioneer construction modeling, antiquated sanctuaries, delightful food and as the resting spot of the adored previous pioneer, Ho Chi Minh.

Halong Bay is a position of surreal magnificence, with ethereal limestone islands sticking out of jade waters and environmental caverns and grottoes cut out by time. At night we revel in an execution of the novel Water Puppets.

As the previous majestic capital of Vietnam, Hue holds the fortunes of Vietnam's imperial past and is an inquisitive blend of clamoring avenues and peaceful settings.

With light lit roads, dynamic markets, talented tailors, artisan shops, antiquated houses, beautiful sanctuaries and wonderful grins, Hoi An is a Vietnamese wonderland.

Earlier known as Saigon, Ho Chi Minh City is an energizing and element city overflowing with road merchants, cyclos, sanctuaries, shops and provincial structural planning.

Read more: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/vietnam/visits/little gathering visits/vietnam-express-southbound?abv=current#ixzz3fdhqvlp9

New Record Kayak Drop Set!

Yesterday, kayaker Pedro Oliva set a new world record for the biggest kayak drop ever, going over the Salto Belo, which translates to "Beautiful Falls", on the Rio Sacre River in Brazil, and plunging some 127-feet to the water below. Oliva is part of a team of paddlers who have been scouring the region looking for big drops to make just such an attempt, and catch it on film.

The falls are in a remote region, and it took the help of some Brazilians living in the area to lead the team to Salto Belo. Once there, they had to set up a 40 meter repel to drop down and scout the landing zone, where they determined that while the drop could be potentially lethal, the sheer volume of water coming over the falls would probably soften the landing, allowing the paddler to escape unscathed. It is estimated that roughly 5000 cubic feet of water per second go over the falls.

When he made the drop, Pedro's team timed him at 2.9 seconds in the air and reaching speeds of roughly 70mph. The epic drop also breaks the old record of 108 feet set back in 2004 by Ed Lucero on Alexandra Falls in Canada. That drop was equalled on the same falls in 2007 by Tyler Bradt.

Thanks to the Outside Blog for the heads up on this one and for the photo. If you look really close, you can see the tiny spec of a kayak going over the edge.