First Time at Burning Man – Will I survive?
For more amazing photos, visit www.burnmonkey.com
So Burning Man is only a little over a week away…and I’m getting excited! I’m in scramble mode, trying to pack all the gear necessary for what will be my very first Burn. I’ve got the desert goggles, I’ve got the boots, I’ve got the costumes, the camel back, the hat, the sunscreen, the tent, the sleeping bag, the coolers, the chairs, all my food, the body and bike lights (so I don’t get run over by hippies high on hallucinogens), wet wipes, the toilet paper, the Cliff pars, the hand sanitizer and of course….an open mind. But is it enough? Will I make it through a week of camping in the harsh, inhabitable desert? Help! Holler with anymore advice if you have any….this ain’t no trip to Europe.
Trekking with Mountain Gorillas
If you dream of trekking with mountain gorillas, Bwindi Impenetrable National Park is the place to be for gorilla gazing. Located in the South Western part of Uganda, Bwindi is home to some 320 mountain gorillas. Visitors keen on eco-tourism should flock to this World Heritage site for a close-up view of the largest and rarest of all ape species.
High in Turkey – Hot Air Balloon Ride in Cappadocia
Wrapped in a rainbow poncho, I peered over the side of the giant airborne picnic basket. Gliding in a hot-air balloon over the moon-like landscape of Cappadocia was surreal. With its predictable wind currents and static landscape, Cappadocia, located southeast of Istanbul in Turkey’s central Anatolia, is one of the best places in the world for hot-air ballooning.
Best Places to Stay and Play in Turks and Caicos
It’s not everyday I find myself free diving for conch in the Caribbean ocean but there I was – flippers, mask and snorkel – hunting for my lunch. This style of boating trip around cays and private islands (many of which have been used for sexy Victoria Secret photo shoots), is just one of the many activities Turks and Caicos has to offer.
Gorge Swing in Zambia
Legs bound, stomach queasy, it was too late to chicken out. Standing on the ledge of a deep gorge, tied to ropes and harnesses, I was at the gorge swing, summoning the nerve to jump.
Technological Treasure Hunt – Geocaching in New Zealand
It’s a technological scavenger hunt; an activity that has Nancy Drew wannabes out in the field with their GPS, hunting for hidden treasures. Geocaching, as it is called, is a hobby similar to orienteering. It’s done by entering a set of co-ordinates into a Global Positioning System (GPS), then following directions to the carefully hidden ‘cache’ (pronounced cash). A cache is usually a canteen (left by fellow geocachers) filled with plastic trinkets and a log book.
Real or Fake? Emeralds in Colombia
Real or fake, that is the question. In Bogotá, Colombia’s capital city, phony green gems are as plentiful as coffee beans. Though Colombia produces some 65 per cent of the world’s emeralds, not all of them are legit.
Hash House Harriers in Beijing
They call it a drinking club with a running problem….the Hash House Harriers in Beijing meet every week to jog the streets of this bustling Chinese capital city, mingle with some folks and pound a lot of beer. This social movement can be found all around the world with more than 1,700 chapters spanning all seven continents! Curious, I laced up my running shoes and joined up for a wacky afternoon of Hashing fun. Watch the video, recently posted on MSNBC, as I join the Hashers for my very first Hash run across Beijing.
