Himalaya Spring 2009 Update: Puja Ceremonies and Through The Ice Falls!

Lots of stuff happening in the Himalaya while I was off the grid. So hard to get caught up when you haven't had Internet for days during one of the busiest times of the year in terms of adventure.

First up, by condolences go out to the friends and family of Piotr Morawski, the young climber from Poland who, at the age of 33, had already made quite a name for himself in the climbing community. I'm sure for most of you this is old news, considering he perished last week, but I'm still catching up, and this was sad news indeed. It seems Piotr fell while descending from Camp 2 on Dhaulagiri, and slipped into a crevasse. He had six 8000m peaks to his name, including the first winter ascent on Shisha Pangma with Simone Moro back in 2005.

In other news, it seems that the Ice Doctors have gone to work creating a path through the Khumbu Icefalls, allowing the climbers to make their first forays onto the upper portions of Everest. As you no doubt already know, the Icefall is part of the glacier that extends down the mountain, and is continually moving and shifting its position. This opens up large cracks and crevasses, and each year a new path through the region, the most deadly on the South Side, has to be built using a series of ladders, which are set down over the openings, allowing the mountaineers to pass by waking across, stepping on the rungs. Many say it is a scary portion of the climb, but it is done multiple times throughout the climb as the teams go up and down the mountain establishing their camps and acclimatizing. According to Alan Arnette's Everest 2009 page, the first teams have moved through the early portions of the Icefall to get use to the process, which can be, in Alan's words, intimidating.

ExWeb is also reporting that the Icefalls may be completely open as early as today, although some reports are indicating that the last 200 meters or so are giving them particular troubles. Once the route is finished, the teams will be free to begin establishing Camp I just on the other side of the Falls.

Alan also reports that many of the teams have now had their Puja ceremonies as well. The traditional religious ceremony is conducted for each team before they begin the climb up from base camp to show respect for the mountain and to ask for safe passage to the summit and back. For the Sherpas who are integral to any successful Himalayan climb, and for the experienced mountaineers who have climbed in the region in the past, it is a very important part of the process.

The action is heating up on some of the other peaks in the Himalaya as well, with ExWeb saying that teams have established C1 on Manaslu, where a Koren team is expected to make a summit push in just three days. I'm assuming that's from a different route, or they're going up in Alpine Style in a fast climb. Meanwhile, German Luis Stitzinger has announced that he intends to ski down Dhaulagiri from at least 8000m and possibly the entire mountain, depending on conditions. It would be the first ski descent of that mountain.

Finally, Joe Puryear and David Gottlieb have announced that hey will have a go at Lunag Ri, which they are calling “the highest unclimbed permissible and independent mountain in Nepal.” There are several mountains in the region that are higher, but are off limits, with no permits being issued, because of the religious significance of the places. It should be fun to follow their progress over the weeks ahead, as they go for the first ascent.

Tibet Closed Off on 50th Anniversary of Uprising

Today marks the 50th Anniversary of the uprising in Tibet against Chinese rule, and to mark that occasion, the Chinese have closed off the borders to foreigners. Little information about what is happening inside the country has made it's way out, although there have been some rumors of protests taking place.

The March 10th uprising in 1959 was an attempt by the Tibetan people to gain their independence following their annexation by China a few years earlier. The Chinese put down the uprising through military force, and thousands (some would say tens of thousands) were killed in the process. It was this event that caused the Dalai Lama to go into exile in Dharamsala, India, along with more than 30,000 other Tibetans.

Yesterday, as I wrote about today on Gadling, the Chinese President once again banished the already exiled spiritual leader, beyond a "Great Wall against separatism". A move that was meant to build unity and nationalism in China and Tibet.

What this all means for climbers, trekkers, and other tourists heading to Tibet, is that the borders are expected to remain closed at least until the first of April. After that, we'll have to take a wait and see attitude. Considering there are still a few expeditions scheduled for the North Side of Everest, which will be inaccessible if the borders remain closed, there will be many watching with curious eyes to see how things unfold. If the country remains peaceful, then perhaps it will reopen on schedule and those planning on visiting the Himalayan country will once again be allowed in. Lets hope that it turns out that way.

Travel MaiChau Escape - VietNam travel

Find the excellence and intriguing societies of Vietnam's good countries with an overnight visit to Mai Chau. Just a 3-hour drive from Hanoi, this wonderful area is described by karst teeth, towering mountains and rich rice paddies. Go through a night with a slope tribe family and trek through the moving field, inundating yourself in the marvels of Mai Chau valley. Venture out of the way and experience Mai Chau's loose slope tribe life and amazing landscape. This Vietnam bundle visit is made to demonstrate the best of the north's excellence. Obliging little travel time, it is the ideal break from Hanoi or expansion to a Vietnam visit

Related post: Vietnam travel deal

Your driver and aide will reach you at your inn and take you along roadway 6 to Mai Chau: a residential area settled amidst a lavish valley and encompassed by emerald-green rice fields. Appreciate pleasant perspectives of the picturesque scene, sown with pagodas and provincial towns. Stop along the best approach to visit the Muong tribe and after that at Thung Khe Pass for a fabulous perspective of Mai Chau Valley. Have a valid lunch with a nearby group of the White Thai Tribe and delight in some spare time to familiarize yourself with the villagers. Toward the evening, trek through terraced rice paddies and little towns, finding the common magnificence of the valley and experiencing the society of the ethnic minority Thai individuals on our visits to the Pom Coong and Na Phon towns. Come back to our homestay for to help set up the nighttime feast. This is a chance to research the nearby food and society as you join the family to set up a customary supper. At night revel in a live move and music execution. Stay overnight in the Longhouse.

Begin the day with a straightforward breakfast with your host family then take a short drive through the encompassing wide open, before setting off on a trek through rice paddies and down slowing down to visit the "Cum" and "Xam Khoe" towns. Submerge yourself in the lively neighborhood society and revel in a legitimate lunch at one of the towns. Toward the evening, drive over to the urban clamor, touching base at your lodging in Hanoi in the late evening.

A glimpse of Vietnam - tour from HaNoi to SaiGon

You will be met upon landing in Hanoi's Noi Bai International airplane terminal and exchanged to your lodging in the city. In the wake of weighing in at your lodging, you will have spare time to appreciate Ha Noi, Vietnam's 1000 year old capital city, a slick and charitable city that has held its extraordinary old world appeal and some of Asia s most striking frontier construction modeling. Its numerous lakes and parks give a touch of nature and an unwinding air that is appreciated by local people and guests apparently equivalent. Extra time to investigate the city

After breakfast at your lodging, start your city visit at the Ho Chi Minh Complex including the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and Museum, the famous One Pillar pagoda and noteworthy Ba Dinh Square. Eat in one of Hanoi's popular restaurants and unwind before proceeding with your visit toward the evening at the Museum of Ethnology then a customary cyclo ride through the acclaimed Old Quarter to visit Dong Xuan market. Revel in the extraordinarily Vietnamese aestheticness of a water manikin execution later toward the evening. Available time to eat at one of the city's numerous restaurants and maybe walk around sentimental Hoan Kiem Lake at night alongside local people.

08:00 am get up at your inn and drive to Halong city for vessel a private pontoon voyage on the Bay, halting along the best approach to appreciate the scene and take pictures of regular Vietnamese farmland scenes. When you touch base at Halong Bay you will board your private garbage where the watercraft group will welcome you with an exceptional fish lunch. Appreciate an unwinding four hour voyage around the straight going by Dinh Huong, Ga Choi, Dog, and Sail Islands and additionally Sung Sot hole. Come back to the harbor toward the evening and drive over to Hanoi in your private vehicle, landing in the city around 6:30 pm.

Take an early morning flight to Danang where you will be welcomed at the air terminal and driven a short separation to old Hoi A town, initially a seaport in the kingdom of Champa that has been impacted throughout the hundreds of years by a heap of dealers from different societies. There is bounty to see in this quiet UNESCO World Heritage site, for example, the acclaimed Japanese Covered Bridge, the Pottery Museum, the 200 year old memorable Tamky House, the Chua Ong Pagoda and the clamoring business sector. We will visit all these sights on a mobile visit passing a lot of people low tiled-top houses and gathering lobbies scattered along the little roads which reflect the town's multi-social past.

The following stop on your visit will be Hue, the royal capital of Vietnam somewhere around 1802 and 1945. Amid the drive from Hoi A to Hue we will investigate the breathtaking Marble Mountains and Non Nuoc Beach before proceeding to the Cham Museum in Danang. We go along the slowing down through the stupendous Hai Van Pass, halting at the top to respect the incredible perspectives north to Lang Co and Danang in the south. Upon entry in Hue, you will register with your lodging then appreciate a pontoon outing on the Perfume River with stopovers at the clamoring Dong Ba Market and notable Thien Mu Pagoda. After the vessel excursion, visit the Imperial City and the Forbidden Purple City, which was everything except demolished amid the 1968 Tet Offensive, however it is even now intriguing to stroll among the vestiges.

Ho Chi Minh City, still called Saigon by numerous local people today, is an element cosmopolitan city gathered with motorbikes and autos and energizing shopping ranges and walkway bistros. An evening city visit takes you to the Reunification Palace, the previous habitation of the President of South Vietnam until end of April 1975, and the close-by French frontier construction modeling including Notre Dame Cathedral and the Old Sai Gon Post Office. We will likewise visit the Jade Emperor Pagoda and the War Remnants Museum before proceeding to the celebrated Ben Thanh Market where everything without exception is on special. Spare time to further investigate the city and feast at one of its phenomenal restaurants at night.

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After breakfast at your inn we take off of town, heading out via auto to My Tho in the Mekong Delta, the "rice dish of Vietnam," where we board a watercraft to explore the complex waterway framework. You can watch the neighborhood way of life close-up and get perspectives of the numerous islands, passing through the lavish green timberlands before landing at the acclaimed Unicorn Island. Walk around a plantation tasting the numerous regular tropical leafy foods magnificent customary music. The following stop is Ben Tre area to visit a portion of the intriguing neighborhood businesses. In the wake of devouring a luscious lunch of crisp neighborhood sustenances, we come back to Ho Chi Minh City to visit Ving Trang Pagoda and Cholon, Saigon's Chinatown, which is packed with sacrosanct sanctuaries, numerous shops and complex, slowing down paths.

Broad Peak Winter Post Mortem

Don Bowie has posted a good update to his blog today giving us all the details on his struggles to get off Broad Peak, and back to civilization following an attempt on Broad Peak in the winter.

Regular readers will remember that Don, and a team of excellent climbers, set out to the Karakorum back in December with the intent of claiming the first winter summit of an 8000m peak in that range. They struggled mightily for 70 days before bad weather, and dwindling supplies took their toll. The team decided to pack-up show, and head home. That was on the 24th of February. Don just got home last week.

In this blog post, he begins to tell the tale of the trek out from base camp. When you're on these big mountains, the climb is only part of the adventure, and when it's all done, you still have to hike your way back to civilization. That's not easy in best of conditions, as climbers tend to be exhausted and nursing a few injuries. Try doing it in the winter, with a couple of meters of snow on the ground too. On top of that, Don managed to sprain a ligament just five minutes after departing BC, and was left with days of walking, through deep snow, with a bum wheel.

He promises more of an update tomorrow to continue telling the story. Very interesting and compelling so far. Oh, and check out his video below to get an idea of what conditions were like on BP in the last few days there.


Boiler-Plate Ice Slopes from Calpinist.com on Vimeo.

Weather at VietNam

Vietnam is influenced by the storm, that is the reason the normal temperature is lower than alternate nations which are found in the same longitude in Asian. In contrasting and these nations, the temperature in winter is colder and in summer is less hot in Vietnam. The yearly normal temperatures range from 22oc to 27oc. Notwithstanding, the normal temperature is diverse in every spot. In Hanoi the normal temperature is 23oc, in Ho Chi Minh City 26oc and 25oc in Hue. A few spots like Dalat and Sapa have a greatest temperature of 20oc in the mid year.

Consistently there are 100 stormy days and the normal precipitation is 1,500 to 2,000mm. The stickiness runs around 80%. The sunny hours are 1,500 to 2,000 and the normal sun based radiation of 100 kcal/cm2 in a year.

The rainstorm atmosphere additionally impacts to the progressions of the tropical stickiness. All in all, in Vietnam there are two seasons, a hot and blustery season (from May to October), and a frosty season (from November to April the following). However the four different seasons are most obvious in the Northern territories (from Hai Van Pass to the north): spring, summer, fall, and winter.

HA NOI 

In Hanoi there are four unique seasons: spring, summer, pre-winter, and winter. Be that as it may it is conceivable to compass the atmosphere here into two fundamental seasons: the blustery season from May to September (its hot, substantial downpour), and the dry season from October to April (its frosty, little precipitation). The yearly normal temperature is 23.2oc, yet in winter the normal temperature is 17.2oc. The least temperature ever recorded was 2.7oc in 1955. The normal summer temperature is 29.2oc, with the most elevated ever recorded being 42.8oc in 1926. By and large, there are 114 stormy days a year with around 1,800 mm of precipitation.

HAI PHONG 

It's one area in the North then Hai Phong is affected by a tropical rainstorm atmosphere as well. There are 4 seasons and the yearly normal temperature is between 23 oc and 24oc. Precipitation add up to somewhere around 1,600 and 1,800 mm. The climate is warm all through thee year.

QUANG NINH 

The atmosphere is typical of the atmosphere of North Vietnam; offering every one of the four seasons. In summer (from May to September), its hot, damp and stormy, while storms prosper. In winter (from October to April), its frosty, dry, and sees little precipitation. The normal temperature is in excess of 25oc. Yearly precipitation adds up to somewhere around 1,700 and 2,400 mm.

HUE

It offers a tropical rainstorm atmosphere, emphasizing each of the four unique seasons: spring, summer, pre-winter and winter. The spring is cool and warm, the mid year is hot, the harvest time is cool and the winter is chilly. Normal temperature of 25oc. The best time for sightseers is from November to April one year from now.

DA NANG 

Its atmosphere is tropical, with two unique blustery and dry seasons. The normal yearly temperature is somewhere around 28oc and 29oc, and storms hit the region consistently in September and October.

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DA LAT 

The atmosphere here is chilly, with a normal yearly temperature of 18oc. Dalat is a city town, the atmosphere is temperature and there are the excellent characteristic scenes with the waterfalls, lakes and pine forests, and is well known as Vietnam's blossom city.

The atmosphere is traversed into two seasons, with the blustery season enduring from May to November. The normal yearly temperature is 27.5oc without winter, and yearly precipitation adds up to 1,979 mm. Tourism is advantageous for each of the 12 months of the year.

VUNG TAU

The atmosphere here is tropical storm. The normal yearly temperature is 27.0oc, once in a while stormy, rich in daylight. Vung Tau is without winter so resorts can dynamic as the year progressed.

2 day in Mai Chau - Tour Vietnam Travel

Find the magnificence and outlandish societies of Vietnam's good countries with an overnight visit to Mai Chau. Just a 3-hour drive from Hanoi, this lovely locale is portrayed by karst teeth, towering mountains and fruitful rice paddies. Go through a night with a slope tribe family and trek through the moving field, drenching yourself in the miracles of Mai Chau valley. Venture out of the way and experience Mai Chau's loose slope tribe life and stunning view. This Vietnam bundle visit is made to demonstrate the best of the north's magnificence. Obliging little travel time, it is the ideal departure from Hanoi or augmentation to a Vietnam visit.

Your driver and aide will reach you at your lodging and take you along parkway 6 to Mai Chau: a residential community settled amidst a rich valley and encompassed by emerald-green rice fields. Delight in pleasant perspectives of the grand scene, sown with pagodas and rustic towns. Stop along the best approach to visit the Muong tribe and afterward at Thung Khe Pass for an awesome perspective of Mai Chau Valley. Have a genuine lunch with a nearby group of the White Thai Tribe and revel in some extra time to familiarize yourself with the villagers. Toward the evening, trek through terraced rice paddies and little towns, finding the characteristic excellence of the valley and experiencing the society of the ethnic minority Thai individuals on our visits to the Pom Coong and Na Phon towns. Come back to our homestay for to help set up the nighttime dinner. This is a chance to research the nearby cooking and society as you join the family to set up a conventional supper. At night delight in a live move and music execution.

Related post: Vietnam travel

Begin the day with a straightforward breakfast with your host family then take a short drive through the encompassing field, before setting off on a trek through rice paddies and down slowing down to visit the "Cum" and "Xam Khoe" towns. Inundate yourself in the energetic nearby society and delight in a true lunch at one of the towns. Toward the evening, drive once again to the urban clamor, touching base at your lodging in Hanoi in the late evening.

Tour Sai Gon - Cai Rang in travel to VietNam

Join your affection for sustenance with your energy for go on this exceptional culinary visit. Take in the insider facts of Vietnam's reality renowned cooking, as you investigate the scene, meet the individuals and dig into the historical backdrop of the nation – discovering motivation for your most loved nearby dishes.

Welcome to Vietnam's present day city: Saigon (Ho Chi Minh City). Meet your aide and driver at the air terminal then appreciate an introduction visit through Saigon's clamoring roads on the way to the lodging. Appreciate the kinds of Southern Vietnamese cooking today at supper.

Appreciate a full day to visit Saigon's differing attractions. Begin with a visit to Saigon's China Town, then research customary Vietnamese solution at the FITO Museum and skim through the stunning show of products at Ben Thanh Market. Stop for lunch then proceed the city visit with a visit to the War Remnants Museum, look into 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 fancy Opera Theater and the City Hall. End your day with an extravagant supper as you journey out into Saigon River, joined by live diversion, while drifting past Ho Chi Minh City's charming evening time cityscape.

Here you have opportunity to study mixture of numerous sorts of greenery and herbs and mushroom before beginning your cooking lesson. The class runs for 60 minutes and 15min and incorporates shows which will help you pick up knowledge into the assorted qualities of the Vietnamese food, and also time to help get ready customary dishes. In the wake of enjoying your manifestations, visit Cu Chi Tunnels, an underground maze of paths, utilized by the Viet Cong amid the Vietnam War (or "American War" as its alluded to here) as insurance against American air attacks. Those slanted are welcome to slither through choices of the passages to better comprehend what life was similar to for the Vietnamese officers amid wartime.

Today you leave the clamor of the enormous city and drive to the lavish Mekong River Delta. After breakfast, your aide & driver will reach you at your inn and take you to Cai Be. Board on your private sampan to visit Cai Be skimming business sector, passing by some nearby home processing plants to find customary rice glue making, rice popcorn, coco confections, and longans drying methodology. Revel in lunch at an Indochinese Villa, Le Longanier, found in a lush arrangement by the stream. Your sampan will keep on proceedding the voyage to Vinh Long. On the way, you will be capable watch the average Mekong delta country life and visit bonsai enclosures. These evergreen islands among the Mekong River still stay obscure to numerous individuals. Your driver will be holding up for you on the opposite side of the waterway to undertake a 45 moment excursion to the biggest city in the Mekong: Can Tho, a buzzing town with an energetic waterfront and a vivid blend of tight back roads and wide avenues that make for some remunerating investigation.

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Wake early and leave the lodging to visit the celebrated Cai Rang drifting market by speedboat. Experience the every day life of the Mekong River Delta as merchants from around the area assemble to offer new soil grown foods, neighborhood delights and carefully assembled products. Proceed with the vessel ride to visit the Mekong Delta's renowned plantations and example a portion of the crisp, outlandish soil grown foods. At that point wander deeper into the farmland, passing customary houses made of wood and palm leaves as you watch the exercises of the nearby individuals. Come back to Can Tho for lunch then drive again to Saigon, touching base in the late evening.

Hanoi’s new food, fashion and creative quarter

Simply a couple of years back, Tay Ho was a lethargic group of angling towns on the northern edge of Hanoi. Sightseers infrequently wandered around here – and not one or the other did local people.

"Individuals inquired as to why I was opening a restaurant such a distance out there. In 2003, there were just fish homesteads and noodle shops here. Fraser Suites [a extravagance loft complex] was a bomb cavity," reviewed Canadian gourmet expert Donald Berger, whose lakeside area bistro, Don's, was Vietnam's just passage on the 2013 Asia's 50 Best Restaurants list.

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Anyway since 2010, when a cleared street was manufactured around Ho Tay – the lake after which the area is named – a deluge of inventive expats and local people have changed the zone, opening chic boutiques and bistros imbued with a Vietnamese sensibility. At 68 Xuan Dieu, Lacquer and More displays brilliantly lacquered dishes and pantries made utilizing conventional strategies. Close-by, Module 7 showcases dress from Kilomet 109, a style mark that joins material weaving and coloring systems utilized by ethnic minority tribes into contemporary plans.

Enjoy a reprieve from shopping at Oriberry, a lakeside bistro serving single-beginning, Fairtrade Vietnamese espresso. At that point look at the other socially-cognizant shops that have sprung up close by, for example, Betterday, which offers tea, espresso, cashews and flavors sourced from neighborhood ranchers – and is not to be mistaken for Better World Hanoi, a blessing shop that gives 5% of benefits to Mines Advisory Group (MAG), a not-revenue driven association committed to evacuating unexploded weapons. It offers a cluster of Vietnamese merchandise, from natural cleansers to hand-sewed ipad covers.

On Saturday mornings, local people skim the Tay Ho weekend market (Ngo 67 To Ngoc Van) for little clump items, for example, nectar hand-pressed by tribes in the northern area of Ha Giang and crucial oils from common perfumer Dame Clemence; there's even an area blend of jasmine and coriander called Les Nuits de Tay Ho.

In spite of the fact that regardless you'll discover roadside merchants making pho and banh mi, a developing number of Tay Ho gourmet experts attract on Vietnamese fixings to make inventive toll. A couple of pieces away at Daluva, the occasional tasting menu incorporates feta made with goats' milk from a homestead just outside the city and shellfishes steamed in cucumber squeeze and ginger. During the evening, the area bar scene offers a few alternatives: from the peaceful resto-parlor of Dieu's Cuisine to rowdier Hanoi Rock City.

A comfortable walk around the lake brings you to Chula, where manager Diego Cortizas and his wife Laura Fontán print Vietnamese weaved silks with distinctive Spanish designs. In an early-twentieth century estate, the shop hosts nighttime shows and workmanship displays. With its artisanal items and rustic setting, Chula epitomizes the Tay Ho attitude of looking to the future while grasping

La Antigua | La Fotografia De La Calle

Photo © Tewfic El-Sawy-All Rights Reserved

Although this morning was totally consumed by exchanging US dollars to Quetzals, getting a Claro SIM card (getting two for the price of one...un regalo, as I was told), and changing hotels, I did manage to wander about La Antigua, especially around the Parque Central.

I concluded that this little town is made for street photography. I have yet to unpack my gear...relying on my iPhone to grab some casual shots of whatever interests me...especially those with human interest in them.

Under the cloisters of San Jose Cathedral, I watched a photographer setting up a shoot for a Quinceañera celebrating her fifteenth birthday in a satin dress, while the assistant with the reflector is fiddling with his phone.

Street photography here is probably going to be like shooting fish in a barrel...I hope. I regret not having unpacked my cameras, but first things had to come first.

Oh, and by the way...I had a fantastic avocado gazpacho (courtesy of the house), and great penne with salmon at a nearby restaurant. Losing weight won't be an option here in La Antigua.

Can I find the restaurant again? Probably not.

Iditarod 2009: Can Anyone Catch Lance?

It was a busy weekend in Alaska, as the top mushers now have their sites set on Nome, and the finish line to the 1100 mile Iditarod. Late last week, two-time defending champ Lance Mackey made a big move and took the lead, and he hasn't given it up since, despite some tough competition nipping at his heels.

As of now, Mackey has blasted through the Shaktoolik checkpoint, which puts him less than 170 miles from his goal of a third straight victory in "The Last Great Race". But he isn't home yet, and Yukon Quest champ Sabastian Schnuelle is still in second place and hoping to get his first win in the Iditarod as well. Not far behind Schnuelle is is four time winner Jeff King, who steadily made his way up the leaderboard this weekend to put himself in a position to make a run at Mackey as well. Schnuelle, King, and the rest of the top ten are all through Unalakleet and heading towards Shaktoolik.

At this point, I personally think Mackey is a lock for his third straight win, but it isn't over yet, and there are plenty of miles to on the trail. But Lance is one of the best racers in the world and knows his team very well, and I think he has them in a position that it is nearly impossible to catch them. I'm also going to go out on a limb and predict that King will pass Schnuelle and claim second place. He seems to be running faster at the moment, and running the Yukon Quest and Iditarod back to back may have taken it's toll. We'll find out soon however, as the winner will probably be in Nome by tomorrow.

Trip to Naples. Discover a Treasure.

Our friends shared a lot of apprehensions when we told them that Naples was on our itinerary. Mafia, uncleanliness were some of the cons that people shared. Naples turned out to be exactly different. It indeed is a treasure.

Our journey from Rome to Naples incidentally happened to be our first train journey in Europe. We hopped on TrenItalia. The landscape that passed us ranged from eclectic open grasslands, to clinically linear farms to snow crowned mountains. The exquisite scenery simply vignetted at 300 Kph. The trains are a tourist attraction in themselves, we were quick to realize. Coach was absolutely neat, people astonishingly quiet, and space that was utilized functionally perfectly. There was an adequate occupancy, and was  far from being overcrowded. People were busy within themselves and their work. The suspensions were so perfect, that the coffee in our cups, bought from the pantry in the car, didn't even for a moment suggest of spilling. We had boarded a morning train and thankfully there was brilliant sunshine in both the cities.

Day 1

The first thing you would notice about Naples is that it's far less touristy than the other northern Italian cities like Rome, Florence, Venice or Milan, and relatively less affluent and prosperous also. Our hotel was few steps away from the train station, Napoli Centrali and the moment we stepped out from the station complex, we could find Hotel Ideal spot on. The Hotel rooms were on the smaller side but yes were functionally adequate. There was a dearth of (badly missed) lift, but the facility of bell boy more than made up for the deficit, atleast for the luggage. The reception was very helpful and tried to make up for the lack of infrastructure to the extent possible. We settled in our rooms and tied our shoestrings for a quick lunch (Pizza foe sure !!). Southern Italian state of Campania is the birth place of Pizza and Naples being its capital, you would find divine pizzas here. For many, trust me, tasting divine Pizzas (without exaggeration) can be reason enough to visit Naples.

Experience Divine Pizzas at Naples

Lots of migrants from African origin can be seen selling the odd things on the streets. There is also a significant group of Sri Lankan origined people, displaced due to the civil war in their country.

Naples can be easily termed as the most affordable Italian city for shopping. Almost everything is significantly cheaper than the northern Italian cities. With the annual sale season around, there are some excellent deals for the grabs. After spending some time in the market, we headed to the old Town of Naples. This part is also known as the historical town of Naples. We witnessed major infrastructure projects taking place around the station. The old city, thus, was a welcome discovery. In all senses, it was a world different from its world. It was a bustling place and the architecture, as across almost all of Italy, breathtaking. We chose to walk our way through to visit Naples and that also turned out to be the best way. Witnessing high energy levels, we realized that we were quite close to the University area. We then spent our afternoon and evening across bustling markets, Castle Nuovo, Piazza del Plebiscito, to finally reach Castle Dell'ovo at Porto Santa Lucia.

Castle Nuovo

The city view from Castle Dell'ovo was fabulous. Steps of light (the city being across hill) garland the littoral water across Bay of Naples and truly, the resilient fort stood guard to the city. Several boats drifted quietly in their dictated domains. The castle currently houses Museum of Prehistory, and at time of our visit, was playing host to a painting exhibition. Across the other side of sea, there is a battery of high budget restaurants. However, there is no point spending money here, as neither the food, nor the price you end up paying for the food is worth it. After spending some really good time, we headed to taste the BEST food ever in our sojourn. It was Pizzeria Sorbillo. The food was a culinary feast and nothing short of divine. The prices are appropriate with a lot of vegetarian choices also available. You can expect a waiting period of around 45-60 minutes in evening though. Without a second thought, Go for it !

We walked our way through to our Hotel and perhaps for the first time in our Italian tour, it was a little unsafe for the time of night. We reached safely and were gleefully smiling like school kids to discover our treasure, Naples!

European Souk

The next day, we went to visit Sorrento. Can't wait writing my post !

Shop What
Naples is one of the cheapest of Italian cities. Some Shopping ideas may include:

• Jackets
• Designer Hats
• Kids wear

The suburban towns around Naples are even cheaper.
Visit Italy during annual season sale that generally takes place in January.

Bottom Line

• Best Time to travel is during the sale season.
• It isn't that cold as  northern Italian cities like Rome, Florence etc.
• The public transport passes are quite cheap. There are seperate prices for weekends.
• Food is absolutely deligthful.
• Be careful. One of the most unsafe cities in Italy.
• Historical town can surprise you with its beauty.
• Castles are unique and a must visit.

Travel Facts

• Stayed : 1and 1/2 days.
• Stayed at : Hotel Ideal - No, not recommended.
• Travelled with my better half and the journey could be easily divided in three phases. 
• Travelled in TrenItalia from Rome in January 2013.

North Pole 2009: Teams Closing In, More Open Water

While the general attention of the adventure community has shifted over to Everest and the events going on in the Himalaya, the lonely polar explorers continue their long march to the top of the world, with their eyes clearly focused on the price, namely 90ºN!

Two teams are closing in on that mark, with both the Victorinox North Pole Team and the Peary Centennial Expedition both past 89º. The last update from Victorinox is three days old and has them at 88.48ºN, with 72 nautical miles to go until the reach the Pole. The team was knocking off chunks of mileage in the mid teens, so we can guesstimate that they'll reach their destination as early as this weekend, as long as the weather holds and they don't have to deal with too much open water.

Likewise, the Peary Expedition last reported in on the 19th, and they were past 89.11ºN. Their next update may very well be from the Pole itself, as they have also been making good time and should be very close now as well. It seems the next few days will be very exciting for everyone that has been following the North Pole Season this year.

The Catlin Arctic Survey Team has now been out on the ice for 52 days, and have already traveled more than 340 miles. The bad news is that they are estimated to still be more than 550 miles from the Pole. Remember, this team is not heading due North like some, but is instead taking ice samples to measure the healthy of the ice cap. While the teams mentioned above are nearing 90º, Pen, Martin, and Ann are still at 84º and taking their sweet time to enjoy the view. They are also reporting much more open water as spring begins to arrive at the North Pole, which makes things more treacherous and slows them down further.

Meanwhile, the Baffin Babes are continuing their expedition across Baffin Island. It has been a few days since we heard from them as well, and it sounds like it has been a challenging experience in a number of weighs. Their heavy sled is weighing in at about 120kg (roughly 265 pounds), and it sometimes takes all of their efforts, plus their two dogs, to keep it moving through the deep snow. To make matters worse, two of the girls have gotten ill while out on the trail, which has to make them feel absolutely miserable under these conditions. They have, however, reached Clyde River, and resupplied, and enjoyed some down time in town. They report great weather and absolutely stunning scenery on Baffin as well.

Finally, there have been no new dispatches from Christina Franco, who had set out from Barneo a few weeks back on a last degree journey to the North Pole. She was hoping to go solo from the Canadian side, but once her stove suffered a double failure, she was forced to give up that dream for this year, and instead elected to use this journey as a training session. She'll attempt to go solo again next year. Without dispatches, it is difficult to know where she is at, at the Google Map on her website isn't plotting the course either. Perhaps she's still suffering equipment failures.

Kilimanjaro Climbing Video

Trail Magazine, a U.K. publication, sent a team up Kilimanjaro and have posted part 1 of their video on the climb on their website at LiveForTheOutdoors.com. The video is very well done and does a great job of showing the first day or two on the mountain, along the Machame Route, the same one I took while on Kili.

As indicated in the video, the first day is actually tougher than you would think, and you spend much of it in a dense, humid cloud forest that doesn't break until you reach the first camp near the end of the day after about six hours of climbing very steep paths. Check out the video below and stay tuned for Part 2. Looks like it should be a fun series to follow.

North Pole 2009: Teams Halfway Home

Yesterday I worked on getting caught up with what was happening in the Himalaya, today it'll be the North Pole, where the teams are making steady progress towards their goal, and several have now passed the halfway point.

One of those teams is the Victoronix North Pole team who achieved that milestone at the end of last week. In their weekly recap, John Huston and Tyler Fish report that the full moon, which typically brings high tide and more open water/broken ice, seemed to have little impact on their conditions or progress. They also note that they have some concerns about the amount of fuel they are carrying and if it is enough to get them to the Pole, since they are going in an unassisted fashion. Because of those concerns, they've taken some measures to conserve that fuel, using less to warm up their water, wearing their fleece layers inside their tent so they don't need to warm it as much, and so on. As a result, they now feel like they have things under control, and are feeling good about the expedition so far.

The Peary Centennial Expedition has also passed the halfway point, and are now in fact passed the 88thº and expect to pass 89º today. Lonnie Dupre reports that the terrain has begun to level out, and obviously they will be at the North Pole within a matter of days now. He also goes into detail about the 8000+ calories they are eating on a given day to fuel their progress. Some of the things they eat include hot chocolate, oatmeal, energy bars and energy drinks, sticks of butter, nuts, and various dehydrated foods. Despite all of that, Lonnie says the team is looking thinner all time, even in their polar gear.

The Catlin Arctic Survey team has not reached the halfway point just yet, mostly because they are carrying heavy scientific gear on their sleds, and are stopping regularly to measure the ice. The team has another resupply last week which brought them fresh, and dry, sleeping bags, which has made the trip north a bit more comfortable for everyone. Over the weekend they ran across a set of polar bear tracks, which reminded them that they are not alone out on the ice. The big white beasts are the largest land carnivore on the Earth and the only one known to stalk humans, so of course they are keen to avoid this one. The team is also reporting that they've been finding strange yellow deposits in the ice that resemble a yellow gem of some kind. At first they thought it bight be the result of animal urine, but soon dismissed the idea as they came across more. They've taken some photos, which we haven't seen yet, but at this point, they're stumped as to what they could be. Interesting.

Meanwhile, Christina Franco is back out on the ice after flying to Barneo last week. She's now making a last degree journey to the Pole that she sees as training following her aborted attempt at a solo journey from the Canadian side last month. She reports that she woke up today to find that she had gained 4 nautical miles while sleeping thanks to positive drift. Even more amazing, in that time she also traveled 14 nautical miles east! All in a days work for the North Pole teams!

More updates soon!

POV: No, I Can't....

"If you take a picture of a human that does not make him noble, there is no reason to take this picture. That is my way of seeing things." - Sebastiao Salgado.

And that is my way too.

I've waited until the murderers of Charlie Hebdo's cartoonists were done with to express my personal view on this blog.

Readers of this blog, people who know me either personally or through social media, know of my interest in documenting world religions, unusual religious ceremonies and cults....the more esoteric the better.

 I am completely irreligious, and yet I'm profoundly interested -from a visual, intellectual and cultural standpoint- in these manifestations of faith. And it's for these exact reasons that I am not going to join the "I Am Charlie" flood.

I respect all manifestations of faith...whether I agree with them or not. How can I not, if I photograph them every chance I get?

During the horrible events in Paris, the concept of freedom of expression and of the press have been bandied about in the media, and many individuals have understandably been quick to express their support by commenting and displaying various avatars in support.

I'm one of the many who believe that freedom of expression ought to apply to all faiths, religions, beliefs...spiritual or secular. To select one and not the others is -to me- a form of discrimination and racism. 

But I also believe that scatologically smearing a group’s race, identity and beliefs (whether Muslim, Catholic, Jew or Hindu, etc) is an unreasonable thing to do, and is not the mark of a civil society.  I don't care if Charlie Hebdo's satire is a French "tradition" that even precedes Voltaire, the satirical polemicist who, by the way, was a strident anti Semite. If wielded with a heavy hand, it leads to hate.

And while I'm on Voltaire, he is incorrectly credited in having said "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." These were the words of his biographer. Check this to make sure.

Criticism of any religion can (and ought to) be done using intellectual and thoughtful discourse...rather than using pornographic/crass lampooning as was done by Charlie Hebdo. 

That is -in simple terms- why I am not, and will never be Charlie.

HoiAn cooking tour - VietNam travel

Arranged on the banks of the Hoian River, the Red Bridge Restaurant & Cooking School is intended to take care of the developing demand for a quality Vietnamese feasting background, complete with individual administration and individual style...

Spotted on 2 sections of land of tropical farmland and just 2km from Hoian's downtown area, the Red Bridge is effectively arrived at via auto, bicycle, cyclo or vessel. The cooking school offers an every day, half-day cooking visit that acquaints voyagers with Vietnamese food. Suitable for all explorers, the project is a fun and intriguing approach to research the neighborhood nourishment and runs with

at least 2 travelers...

Detailed Cooking Tours

We begin the day (8:45am) with a beverage at Hai Scout Cafe - our gathering point. From here we head to Hoian's bright market. Investigate the business and collaborate with neighborhood sellers to buy some new elements throughout today's cooking class. Next, board the Red Bridge vessel for a comfortable 25min journey along the Hoian River to the Red Bridge Cooking School. Find the school's herb and vegetable enclosure before beginning your cooking lesson. The class runs for 60 minutes and 15min and incorporates showings from the school's gourmet specialists and time to help get ready conventional dishes. At the end of class, appreciate a starting lesson in the craft of Vietnamese nourishment cutting (plate improvement).

Related post: Vietnam travel packages

Formulas (our sustenance contains no MSG): 

1. Crisp Rice Paper Rolls of Shrimp - including the making of rice paper

2. Clam Ginger Sauce

3. Warm Squid Salad served into equal parts a Pineapple

4. Barbecued Eggplant loaded down with Market Vegetables

6. Hoi A hotcakes (Banh Xeo)

Lunch incorporates the above suppers and in addition: Steamed Ocean Fish on a couch of crisply cleaved vegetables (excluded in the exhibition). A veggie lover lunch can be given on appeal. Complete at pretty nearly 1:00pm - exchange over to focal Hoian.

Cycling: Disgusting Conduct in the Tour of Turkey

We all know that cycling is sport that has battled many black eyes over the past few years. Top racers have been banned from the sport, and stripped of major wins, due to the use of performance enhancing drugs. But I think that what occurred in yesterday's Presidential Tour of Turkey may be the most disgusting thing I've seen in cycling ever, and possibly all of sports. Check out the YouTube clip below to see what I'm talking about.

The clip is rather long, but sets up the intensity of the race. If you want to see the specific incident to which I'm referring, then jump to the 3:40 point to see a rider for Team Rabobank reach out and grab race leader Daryl Impey of South Africa, and literally hurl him off his bike and into the barricades that line the course.

International sports site SuperSport.com is reporting that Impey suffered "a fracture of the third disk of his lumbar vertebra, a micro-fracture of his neck, a facial trauma, a few broken teeth and a deep cut in his lips." He is reportedly being held for observation. Because the crash occurred so close to the finish line, by rule, Impey was awarded the same time as the stage winner, Sebastian Siedler, so he ended up still winning the race. A bittersweet victory if I've ever seen one.

I haven't heard yet who the rider was that grabbed Impey, but a lifetime ban should be in order, in my opinion. Big thanks to Lisa over at AR.co.za for the video and follow-up report on this story. Crazy!

Leila Alaoui | Les Marocains

Photo © Leila Alaoui-All Rights Reserved

I recall featuring the portraits of Moroccans by Leila Alaoui in a 2011 post, and was very glad to see them again featured in Slate's Behold (its photo blog) with the title of Capturing The Stunning Faces of Morocco.

Morocco is, in my estimation, one of the most difficult countries in which to photograph people. Ms. Allaoui agrees with that, saying that Moroccans are especially apprehensive about being photographed due to their belief in witchcraft, the evil eye and as an Islamic country, espouse a belief that image-making is a direct contravention of Islamic tradition.

However, she persevered and went on about 20 road trips across the country in the last few years, traveling through the Atlas Mountains, the Rif Mountains, the Sahara, and a variety of coastal and inland regions of Morocco including Essaouira, Tangier, and Marrakech. She would set up a portable studio in public places, markets, and other private gatherings after spending a few days getting to know the locals. Eventually, some people would agree to pose and be photographed by her.

Leila Alaoui is a French-Moroccan multimedia artist working on cultural diversity, identity and migration using video installations, studio and documentary photography. After studying film and photography in New York, she moved back to Morocco in 2008. Her work has been exhibited internationally since 2009 and has been published in newspapers and magazines, including in The New York Times. She now lives and works between Marrakech and Beirut.

Lalla Essaydi | Les Femmes Du Maroc

Image © Lalla Essaydi-All Rights Reserved

"There is some evidence that the Orientalist perspective has had an impact on the actual lives of Arab men and women, and especially that the rules for Arab women became much stricter as a result of Western influence." Lalla Essaydi

It's rare that I feature work that is more art and mixed-media than pure documentary photography, but the interesting fusion of women portraiture, Arabic calligraphy, and henna in Lalla Essaydi's images encouraged me to show her work on my blog.

Moroccan born, Ms. Essaydi sets up her models inspired by 19th century Orientalist paintings, and adds layers of hand-written Arabic calligraphy with henna to the walls and fabrics that her models wear, as well as to their exposed skin. Her decision to merge the calligraphy (traditionally a male-dominated art form) and henna (a feminine occupation, particularly to celebrate weddings and other joyous occasions) is to try to dissolve the restrictions and fluidity of Islamic traditions.

Lalla A. Essaydi currently lives in the United States, where she received her MFA from the School of the Museum of Fine Arts/TUFTS University. Her work has been exhibited in many major international locales, including Boston, Chicago, Minneapolis, Texas, Buffalo, Colorado, New York, Syria, Ireland, England, France, the Netherlands, Sharjah, U.A.E., and Japan and is represented in a number of collections, including the Williams College Museum of Art, The Art Institute of Chicago, the Fries Museum, the Netherlands, and The Kodak Museum of Art. 

According to her biography,  her paintings often appropriate Orientalist imagery from the Western painting tradition, thereby inviting viewers to reconsider the Orientalist mythology. She has worked in numerous media, including painting, video, film, installation, and analog photography.