Go where you want, from where you want

There are ferry crossings from right along the south coast of England, from Dover and Folkestone, to Portsmouth, Poole and Plymouth. You can travel to ports all across the north coast of France, from Calais and Boulogne in the east to Le Havre, Cherbourg, St Malo and Roscoff further west. If you’re taking a holiday in Brittany, for example, what could be easier than driving your car onto the ferry at Poole and driving off at St Malo?

When you need the car

If you’re on a family holiday with the children or you’re on a daytrip to stock up on good French wine and beer, you need the car. Unless you want to pay out for a hire car when you arrive in France, the plane’s no good for the family holiday and it’s absolutely hopeless when it comes to bringing back bottles of your favourite French tipple. You could take the car on the train through Channel Tunnel, of course, but that’s pricey.

There’s no doubt about it, when you need to take the car to France, your best bet is a ferry crossing.

Easier on your pocket

Cross-channel ferry services are often the most affordable option on the market. Dover to Calais fares with the car, for £80 return, makes a ferry crossing a real recession buster.

The comfort of the ferry

If you take the train, you spend much of the journey in a tunnel, with little space to move around. On the plane, you’re buckled into your seat. Compare that to the modern comfort of the latest ferry fleets. You can take a walk up on the deck, take in the stunning views from coast to coast, and enjoy the invigorating sea breeze. You can also wander around the ship, have a delicious snack or relax with a drink in one of the on-board restaurants. And don’t forget shopping; no other mode of cross-channel transport offers the kind of duty free shopping that has always been the forte of the ferry.

Learning about art at MOMA in New York City

Last summer we had the opportunity to travel for the first time to New York City. Using our city pass to the fullest, we went to every major tourist attraction that we could possibly manage to see.

One of these attractions on that fabulous pass was the Museum of Modern Art. We basically ran through the museum trying to fit everything in during our far to short of time in the city, but we pause long enough for a moment to capture this special moment; A mother teaching her daughter an appreciation for art.

It was a beautiful moment in time that made us pause and stop to take in the magic and beauty of the art surrounding us. We can’t wait to go back to New York and give it the entire week that it deserves.

New Zealand has very strict standards when swimming with dolphins and we felt very comfortable jumping in the water with Fuller’s Great Sights in the Bay of Islands.

Why is New Zealand more environmentally friendly that other countries that swim with dolphins?

1. They cannot feed the dolphins to entice them to come back day after day.
2. Only 3 vessels are allowed within 300 metres of the dolphins at one time.
3. Nobody can swim with the dolphins if there are infants in the pod
4. The number of times that a group can swim with the dolphins in limited

As our Captain Billy said, the dolphins come up to the boat for a visit because they want to, if we fed them, we would never know if they are here just for food or if they want to be here to interact.

Floppy was the name of our guide today and she has been studying and swimming with dolphins for 18 years. She knows what she is doing and when radioing to the other vessels to discuss whether they would stay with a pod or move on, she and Billy chose to move on.

They know the dolphins well from their various markings and scars and knew that the group the other two boats were following weren’t filled with the most interactive of dolphins.  Floppy and Billy are the most experienced guides on the bay and we felt incredibly lucky that they were our guides. They are patient and knowledgeable and they gave us the best experience that we could possibly get.

We heard the other boats struggling through the radio chatter and knew that we were on the right boat with Fuller’s Great Sights which the Flying Kiwi Booked through Awesome New Zealand.

Our boat moved to the other side of the bay away from the bigger vessels and found the most playful dolphins that they know of.

They call these guys The Midgets.  They are a couple of smaller male dolphins with another fun dolphin (that unfortunately I can’t remember the name of) along with a fourth dolphin that didn’t have a name.  He was as equally curious as the rest of them. We got lucky and had the friendly pod to ourselves before any of the other boats made there way to our side of the bay.

Floppy studied the group before allowing us in the water.

She made sure that there were no babies in the group and that these dolphins would indeed stick around for a bit to let us play. Once she decided that we could go in, there wasn’t room for hesitation.  She and Billy yelled at us to get in now and stop thinking about the cold.  We didn’t have any wet suits and that water looked pretty cold and dark.

Dave was the first in of the group as he is a fish at heart and went straight to the pod where he played with them for a good 20 minutes never leaving their side.

Note: We never touch the dolphins.  Dolphins gain your trust when you keep your hands at your side. We were instructed to never reach out and try to pet them. They will swim away if they feel threatened. But if you keep your hands to yourself, they will swim around and around you coming closer and closer. You may have the urge to reach out, but don’t.

I was slower getting in the water than Dave, the cold took my breath away and I panicked a little bit.  I swam back to the swim platform and Billy and Floppy seemed so disgusted with me that I gave myself a good scolding and jumped back in. It wasn’t long before a dolphin came right up to me to check me out. It swam around a bit and I could see it’s eye looking right at me. Amazing.

We were told to sing and do some twirls to attract them.  I didn’t do much, I simply swam and floated getting my fill of dolphin fun.

Dave however was a different story.

He was determined to get the best photographs and video and sang his heart out while diving, spinning and turning upside down.  It worked because the dolphins loved him.

Billy and Floppy were yelling at the rest of us to follow Dave.  “That guy knows what he’s doing, he has never left the dolphins side, He’s a great strong swimmer.  Follow that guy!” I heard their yells from the boat trying to get the rest of us to go to the right direction of the trio of dolphins. Lucky for us, a fourth dolphin was swimming around and coming by to visit the rest of us that weren’t quite as on the ball as Dave.

A guy that was on the Flying Kiwi tour earlier told us that he sang the A-Team when he went to swim with the dolphins and it was quite funny that the song stuck with us. Dave kept humming the A-Team theme as he swam and I oddly enough thought to myself “I bet Dave is humming the A-Team.” Sure enough he told me he did!
Click on the video above to hear Dave’s rendition of the A-Team. The dolphin seemed to like it because it squealed right back at him!

He had some incredible views and witnessed the most amazing moments. I am going to hand the computer over to him now so he can share his dolphin encounter.

Dave:

I could feel the dolphins looking at me. They were as curious about me as I was of them.  At one point it circled around me so much that I ended up spinning to the point where I got dizzy.  Floppy and Billy said that the dolphins love doing that to people.“They’re taking the piss out of you” they said. I could almost here the dolphin laughing, “Look at this stupid human spinning in circles in the middle of the bay.” “I can make him do anything!”

Two dolphins circled below me at one point and looked like they were kissing each other as they spiraled down.  I thought I had my camera on record, but didn’t and cursed myself.  On the other hand, I witnessed an awesome moment. Another time the dolphins swam by belly to belly. One was upside down and the other swam above it in perfect unison.

It was like they were putting on a show for me I felt like they were saying “look what I can do!” “Can you do that?”

There is nothing like that felling when a dolphin looks directly in your eyes and starts clicking. You feel like they are communicating with you on some higher level that you don’t quite understand.  As Floppy said, Dolphins can read you from the inside out.  They can feel your heartbeat and whole being, and I felt that way too.

It was the most incredible experience of my life and I just sky dived a day earlier!

To find out more about how you can swim with the dolphins check out Dolphin Cruises in the Bay of Islands on the North Island of New Zealand. Costs start at 89 NZ dollars for the dolphin view and add $30 NZD to swim with the dolphins.

Holy $*%#

Okay, if you say so.  Dave took off to jump out of a plane while I climbed into my flight suit to fly with U-Fly Extreme.

I won’t tell a lie, my nerves were running high as the pilot Vincent gave me my instructions on how to fly this classic Pitts Special aircraft. This was not only my first flying lesson; it was my first aerial acrobat-flying lesson. We always say “If you are going to try something, don’t try it half assed, go for it 100%.

Run by Vincent and Allison, Pilot A Stunt Plane with U-Fly Extreme is a one of a kind operation for a once in a lifetime opportunity.  They are a married couple that have years of experience of flight instruction and aerial acrobats and have yet to find anywhere offering the same service.  As you can imagine, it is quite difficult to franchise out a company that takes amateurs into the air to twirl around in the sky.

Vincent says it is the simplest thing for him to teach people how to fly and flip through the air, but it is a very unique niche that is difficult to duplicate.

As soon as the engine starts and we taxi down the runway, I begin to relax. I feel confident in Vincent’s capable hands and once we jut into the sky, he instantly puts me on the controls.

We are climbing straight up into the air and he tells me to gently push the throttle left and right to get a feel of being in control of the plane.

The power feels incredible.

I know that he is there to take over if things go wrong, but he is confident enough to give me as much control as he can throughout the flight. During the video you can regularly see him lifting both hands in the air to prove that it is indeed me rolling the plane.  He gives me instructions to keep on pulling right or up to keep the roll or spin going.

It is impossible to explain the feeling, but this video provided and edited by You Fly gives you a great idea of what you can expect.

It is the coolest thing on earth and I am amazed that I don’t feel nauseous. I feel quite comfortable actually and have the time of my life.

After my lesson is complete, Vincent takes over and spins and banks and turns upside down and all around to finish off the thrills. I can’t take the smile off my face and enjoy the feeling of weightlessness.  When we fly upside down, I can’t believe it.  We’re flying upside down!

I’ve only seen this type of thing in the movies or at the Toronto International Air Show and here I am participating and loving every minute of it.

After the flight I felt ready to take on the art of flying and Vincent set me up for a great photo op. He even made sure that I held on to my head gear like a true professional.

It was an absolutely amazing experience and I think it is New Zealand’s best adventure. While people were jumping out of planes next door, I had my first certified flying lesson and had the opportunity partake in Aerial Acrobats in a Stunt Airplane. How many people do you know that have done that?

U-Fly Extreme is located in the South Island of New Zealand in the Motueka in the Abel Tasman Area. You can find out more at their website http://www.uflyextreme.co.nz/  this Trip was made possible by Flying Kiwi and courtesy of UFlyExtreme.

While the trips were complimentary, we would never endorse anything if we didn’t feel it was a great experience. We would simply leave it out of our blog as we wouldn’t find it blog worthy. So far everything on our Flying Kiwi Experience has indeed been blog worthy.

This post is also a part of the #Blog4NZ effort going on with travel bloggers around the world uniting to show that New Zealand is open for business.

Of Course not.

The Earthquakes devastation in the CBD

So why are so many tourists cancelling their travels to New Zealand because of the earthquake in Christchurch?

We have been in New Zealand now for nearly two weeks and have been having the time of our lives. The South Island is in full operation and their high tourist season goes until Easter. It is business as usual all around the country and we haven’t felt any aftershocks or seen any affects from the earthquake since leaving Christchurch.
You can still fly into Christchurch and stay at one of the many hotels near the airport or outside the CBD. (The Central Business District) There is an entire strip of road close to the city centre that has several hotels ranging from budget hostels to the higher end of the scale.
Yes, Christchurch was devastated by the earthquake but you can still fly into town and book an overland bus with The Flying Kiwi or rent a campervan with All Ways Rentals to explore one of the most spectacular countries on earth!

Flying Kiwi has been a blast so far.

We have had a whirlwind week so far with The Flying Kiwi. The big bus filled with 30 people of all ages drives us from town to town where we have the chance to stop off and enjoy some fantastic activities. Their affiliates have shown us an amazing time as we have taken advantage of every adventure we can at each stop. Our trip has only just started but we have already experienced some incredible thrills.
Check out a taste of the activities we have done so far on our Great New Zealand Adventure. More in depth posts are coming for each, but we wanted to let you all know that everything is going smoothly and we are having the time of our lives.

New Zealand should still be left on your list as a must see destination on earth.

White Water Raft the Rangitata River with Rangitata Rafting.

It’s one of the few places on earth that you will have the chance to raft Class V Rapids. Woo Hoo, the thrill of a lifetime!

More Information and pricing at Rangitata Rafting

Milford Sound Scenic Cruise with Mitre Peak Cruises

Milford Sound, New Zealand

Witness some of the largest Sea Cliffs on Earth as you cruise through spectacular scenery as you spot penguins, seals, glaciers and mountains cut from glaciers 3 million years ago.

For more information visit Mitre Peak Cruises

Te Anau Glowworm Caves by Real Journeys

The Glow Worm Caves of Te Anau, New Zealand

Seeing the wondrous glowworms is a must when traveling to New Zealand. Float through pitch-black caves to see the phenomenon of glowworms lighting up the ceiling. It looks like a nighttime sky filled with thousands of stars right in the middle of a cave chamber.

find out more about pricing and schedule at Te Anau Glowworm Caves

Luxmore Jet Boat in Te Anau
It was a goal of ours to see some locations where Lord of the Rings was filmed and on this jet boat tour we saw three! It is the perfect blend of “a touch of adrenaline with heaps of beauty.”

The Luxmore Jet Boat in Te Anau, New Zealand

Find out more at Luxmore Jet Boat

Our hearts go out to the people of Christchurch and we think of the families that are suffering every day, but let’s show our support to the friendly Kiwis and show them that the world hasn’t written them off as a great travel destination.  We have another month here in New Zealand and we have amazing adventures lined up all the way through.

Some excursions were arranged by Flying Kiwi and others courtesy of Tourism New Zealand.

Never fear, we will be writing about each experience in depth to tell you all about it and showcase Dave’s incredible photographs. (New Zealand is a photographer’s dream!) We just couldn’t wait to share our adventures with you and wanted to give you a little highlight of our time so far in New Zealand.

Watch for more teasers all week! Bungy and Paragliding to follow soon!

I write about the funny, offbeat, and downright weird aspects at my website. But I also like doing the odd Adventure Travel activity here and there, and I’m going to write about five thrill seeking activities that I’ve really enjoyed on my travels around the world.

I’ve also included a ‘Crap Your Pants’ rating to add my description – basically, a crude measurement to describe the thrill rating of each activity.

Here we go!

Mountain Biking down the World’s Most Dangerous Road, Bolivia

This infamous ‘Road of Death’ claimed an average of 20 vehicles each year until a new highway opened in 2007 – in fact, the locals were so annoyed with the old road, that they used the new road during the construction period!

These days, ‘The World’s Most Dangerous Road’ is pretty much a mountain bike track. Only tourists are silly enough to use this road. In fact, about 10 people have lost their lives mountain biking down this magnificent part of Bolivia.

Crazy Tourists Cycling the World's Most Dangerous Road, Bolivia

The trip is about 70 kilometres and starts at 4000 metres above sea level (sometimes in the snow), and finishes at 1500 metres above sea level – in tropical forest. It takes about 6 to 7 hours cycling downhill. The hardest part is a 3 kilometre uphill pedal at 3500 metres – which almost burst my lungs.

The drop over the edge is ‘only’ 600 metres!

Believe me, it’s worth risking your life to ride this fantastic track! I was on a high for days after cycling down The World’s Most Dangerous Road – in fact, I wanted to go again!

Crap Your Pants Rating (out of 10) – 7 (if you complete the ride). 10 if you fall over the edge.

Zip Lining in the Rainforest – Fiji

Zip Lining in the Fijian Rainforest is a good excuse to get away from that nice resort that you’re staying in and work off all of those buffet lunches. Basically, Zip Lining is stringing steel cables between a number of trees, then attaching yourself to them via a pulley, and hurtling yourself down them.

It’s great fun! People of all ages can do Zip Lining, and you can reach speeds of up to 70 kilometres per hour (around 44 miles per hour). Ironically, this speed is only 10 kilometres below the official National Road Speed Limit of 80 km/hour!

There are a total of 8 Zip Lines on the course – the shortest is a quick transfer of 15 metres (around 50 feet), with the longest around 220 metres (720 feet). The total length of Zip Lines is around 1 kilometre, or 0.6 of a mile. It takes about 40 minutes to an hour to traverse the course.

Here is a video of the 180 metre run:

We did our own Fiji Zipline if you feel like checking it out you can click here to see our video. Amazingly, we had the same guide as Anthony.

Crap Your Pants Rating – 5

Microlighting Over Victoria Falls – Zambia/Zimbabwe

Victoria Falls is one of the most spectacular places in the world to visit – and you have to visit 2 countries to experience it! Since the troubles of Zimbabwe has pretty much killed the tourist trade there (for example, see my post about the Zimbabwe Dollar), most of the infrastructure and facilities for visiting Victoria Falls now occur in Zambia.

There’s all sorts of things you can do at Victoria Falls – you could possibly try and drown yourself in the Grade 5 rapids by white water rafting, you can bungee jump off the Victoria Falls Bridge, and go for a twighlight booze cruise on the Zambezi River.

But there is something you should do – fly over Victoria Falls via a Microlight. This gives a fantastic panoramic view of the falls, but also provides a fascinating insight into the surrounding areas. For example, you can see animals such as elephants and hippos from this high up.

Microlighting over Victoria Falls is a great way to blow $USD 100 in 15 minutes, but it’s worth it.

Crap Your Pants Rating – 4.

Coasteering – Wales

Coasteering is a relatively new Adventure Travel sport – it’s been around for barely over 20 years, and I would describe it as a coastal obstacle course that involves rock climbing, swimming, jumping and subjecting yourself to the elements of nature. It was invented by a number of adrenalin junkies who used to rock climb around the rugged Welsh coastline, and then they realised they could combine all of their passions into one, and hence decided to include gear such as wetsuits and helmets. I would think the closest relation to Coasteering would be Canyoning.

This is definitely a team sport – everyone helps each other out in and out of the water, and it’s something that gives you no choice but to do things together. In fact, Coasteering is a popular option for corporate love-ins, hen’s nights, and buck’s parties.

You can also swim (or rather, be swept in by the tide) inside a nearby cave. I’d describe this Coasteering experience as being thrown around in a hard washing machine!

Crap Your Pants Rating – 7

Gorge Swing at Oribi Gorge, South Africa

Gorge Swinging is a good excuse to throw yourself off a perfectly stable rocky platform and into a seemingly endless abyss of about 70 metres. Basically, it’s a rudimentary construction involving a bungee cord attached to a cable running across the Gorge.

Anyway, here is some video footage of me totally crapping myself attempting to complete this Gorge Swing. Try not to laugh at me screaming my guts out. That’s because you will hear others in the background giggling as well.

Crap Your Pants Rating – 9

We had our own gorge swing adventure in Zambia, check out our very different experience here.  Dave is itching to give the South African one a try now, thanks Anthony for the fabulous inspiration.

There you go. If you are anywhere near these places on your travels, I strongly suggest trying out these Adventure Travel activities – you won’t regret it!

Cheers!

Follow Anthony’s Fun and Offbeat Travel Adventures at TheTravelTart.com on Facebook and Twitter

We don’t have a home plan from Canada and we would never use it over seas anyway, even if we did.  With roaming fees and outrageous prices, we would never be able to afford making even one phone call home.

We have found that an unlocked iPhone and a newly purchased SIM card from our destination of choice have worked beautifully during our travels this past year.

Our latest country is Thailand and we are going to give you a step by step guide to how we hooked up our phone the day after we arrived in Bangkok.

There are three options for a package:

• 129 Baht  100 MB EDGE and 100 MB 3G
• 399 Baht 500 MB EDGE and 500 MB 3G
• 699 Baht 1 GB  EDGE and 1 GB 3G

We bought a 150 Baht card and a 300 Baht card and it lasted us the month

You can activate them two ways.

• Call *9000 and follow the prompts – The will be in English
• Send an SMS to 9789 with your package code.
• You will then receive an SMS confirmation and you are good to go.

Your Air Time is Good for 30 days

If this seems like too much for you, go to the MBK Centre in Bangkok and have them do everything for you. Just walk up to the fourth floor where all the cell phone booths are, find a person that speaks excellent English and ask them to do it all for you. It’s that easy.

Sure you could go to the 7/11 and buy a SIM card on your own and fumble through it, but why not have someone do everything for you. And once your done, hop on the elevator, go to the 7th floor and see a movie. It’ll be a great day.

Built by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, the first emperor of a unified China, this underground army lay undiscovered for over 2200 years.  You know this era better as the Qin Dynasty.

How on earth could something disappear when everyone knew it existed?

Well, the tyrant Emperor Qin killed everyone that helped to build the underground army. Millions of people were enslaved over the 38 years it took to build his self indulgent monument and 700,000 people were killed to keep anyone from revealing it’s location.  It was then buried and hidden from view.  Some people were buried alive. His 3,000 concubines were forced to self-sacrifice and others people were just plain murdered.

Nobody was left alive to tell anyone where the 8000 clay warriors and horses leading bronze chariots were buried.  They were all left undiscovered for centuries while they kept guarded the Emperor in his afterlife.

Pit Number 1 of Terracotta Warriors, Largest and Most Impressive

Many people tried over the centuries to find the tomb and many failed.  It was well hidden and even if you did find a way in, booby traps were set up to keep anyone from entering the mausoleum 35 meters underground.  It was like something out of Indiana Jones.

Emperor Qin’s tomb is also toxic.

Even today, scientists cannot open Emperor Qin’s underground palace.  They know it is there, but there is no way to open it because the Emperor is buried in mercury (they assume) an extremely toxic and dangerous gas. Until they find a way to safely open the chamber, China is stuck waiting and biding their time. Even the Terracotta Warriors excavation is put on hold.  All the original warriors were colourfully painted when they were unearthed, but soon after being exposed to the air, the colours disappeared and faded.  Nobody wants to unearth any more warriors until they figure out a way to preserve the paint.  Apparently, they have found a way and are starting to unearth the remaining army.

If you visit in a few years time, you may see thousands more warriors.

Even the water around the Terracotta Warriors is toxic and people are encouraged not to drink it.

I found this point to be very ironic since it was a farmer in 1974 that discovered the terracotta warriors while digging a well.

This was back in the days of Chairman Mao and the farmer, Mr. Yang was given a mere 50 Yuan ($7.50) for making the most significant find of the 20^th century.  Luckily times have changed in China and today Mr. Yang receives a monthly allowance from the government and even spends a couple of days a week at the museum to sign books. He was there during our visit to the Terracotta Warriors, but pictures of Mr. Yang are strictly prohibited. Instead you can pay a fee to have him sign your newly purchased coffee table book.

The site has undergone major restoration.

We were led through 3 different pits, the most impressive being pit number one. This is the largest containing 6000 life size warrior’s standing in formation. No two warriors faces are alike and the detail and craftsmanship that went into each piece is astounding.

No Two Faces are alike

It is incredible to think that someone had the audacity to build such a massive monument.  Each warrior has its artists name etched into its foot.  They were threatened with death if their craftsmanship wasn’t up to par and were forced to leave their signature so that their captors would know who built what.

Unfortunately they weren’t aware that they were going to be killed anyway.

The other two pits aren’t as impressive, so make sure to take all your photos before moving on.  We thought that each pit would become more impressive as we walked through but they become less impressive as you go.  We would suggest doing the door the opposite way around. Start at the museum, enter pit 3 and 2 and then save the best for last.  That way you will know all about the story and what you are looking at.

Pit Number three, the officers headquarters

Pit number two is largely unexcavated and pit three is believed to be the headquarters of the officers. I had to chuckle a little bit because as I searched the Internet to verify that I had my chamber numbers correct, people actually say that pit two is the most spectacular of the Warriors.  We didn’t feel that way at all, in our opinion the most spectacular pit is number one.

It is difficult to imagine what is real and what isn’t.  Every warrior that is excavated is restored to perfection. There isn’t a chip or piece of clay missing from their face.  We couldn’t help but think that there was barely anything authentic about them.

We wondered if any of them were original or if they were all replicas.

During our tour we were told that the underground army had been raided at one point in time and peasants burnt it to the ground.  It contradicts everything we were told by the same guide.

One minute she tells us that everyone who knew about the Terracotta Warriors and the Emperors tomb was killed, the next minute she tells us that peasants raided it and burned it to the ground.

Which is true we do not know. But if peasants burnt it to the ground, that means that people knew about it.

Terracotta Warrior Restored to Perfection

In China, history is interpreted differently depending on your guide.

We are told that the archeologists are the only people allowed to use the clay from a nearby mountain to rebuild the warriors. Okay, so are the warriors we are looking at have anything original to them at all or are they completely rebuilt by the archeologists using the genuine mountain clay that our guide so often spoke about?

We don’t know.

Unfortunately I don’t have any way of researching because we am in China and most of the Internet is blocked due to censorship.  For now I will blissfully accept anything that my guide tells me and believe it hole heartedly.

Note: This trip was sponsored by Intrepid Travels.  While we had a fantastic guide traveling with us, we had different local guides for each attraction and site that we visited.  Our guide at the Terracotta Warriors was not from Intrepid Travel,  and very often we would ask our Intrepid Travel guide Karen for clarification.  She is filled with knowledge and could put to rest most of our confusion. Thank God for Karen.

Meet Plan Go is about inspiring people to travel and live their dreams.

As we lead up to the event and work on our introduction speech we began to  think about why exactly we chose a path of uncertainty.

What makes two people that had successful and glamorous (at least when looking in from the outside) careers throw it all away to travel the world?

Time for a little background on Dave and Deb

It was a time long ago in a suburb far away from the lives we live today.

Dave was a marketing major in College and I had aspirations of singing on Broadway.

We met at a bar…We had the same cowboy boots and it was love at first site.

We had never been overly conventional in our lives.  When we graduated from college, it wasn’t long until we sold all our belongings (for the first time) and moved to the West Coast of Canada. Vancouver had beckoned.  We packed a guitar and two suitcases and flew off to a new life without a job or a plan.

And we couldn’t be more excited!

It was here, in Vancouver that we fell into the film business.  Things were booming in British Columbia at the time, The X Files, Jumanji and Rumble in the Bronx were shooting in town (just to name a few) and productions were desperate for people to work on their movies.

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History was made.

Naturally, we both started working in movies.  We were now a part of Hollywood.  We were hobnobbing with the big boys. We went to wrap parties and we even saw Pulp Fiction with Robin Williams.  He stood in line with us and everything (along with 5 or 6 other people from the movie)  But we could never be friends.

We learned quickly that as exciting and glamorous as the life seemed to people on the outside, for the lowly production assistant and grip (our jobs at the time) it was just long hours, decent pay and very little prestige.

The only thing we had was bragging rights.

Deb working on Urban Legends

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We lasted in BC for 3 years, and then our vagabond hearts led us back to Toronto.  We could never stand still, even in the early days.

The change did us good.  It wasn’t long until Dave worked his way up the ranks to become a Rigging Gaffer, (one of the heads of the lighting department) and I became a make-up artist – the cushiest job on set.

We worked long and hard and made very good money.

We had the dream life.  We were a couple that genuinely loved each other, we had no kids, no mortgage and we were just starting to take off our in careers.

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So we took a trip to Thailand in 2000.

It wasn’t an easy decision. We had just begun working steadily and we had just started to see the money come in.  How can a person leave for over a month when their careers are just starting to take off?  We should have been by the phone waiting for the offers to come in.

I repeat, we have never been conventional.  It didn’t look like the best career move. I turned down a movie and Dave made himself unavailable for calls at a peak period in the Toronto film industry.  We didn’t have a plan, it just seemed like it was the right time. If we didn’t go now, we might never go.

That was the trip that changed our lives.

Dave climbing for the 1st time

Five short weeks was all it took.  Our hearts and minds were opened up to an entirely new way of living.  We had heard that to truly change, a person needs 40 days.  Many a pilgrimage is based on this theory.  In 40 days great things can happen. It is long enough to rid you of your worldly ties and actually make an impact on the way that you think.

Our 40 Days had a huge impact on our lives.

When we came back from Thailand, it was like we had a renewed sense of energy about us.  It was merely one day after we landed in Toronto that Dave received a phone call that changed the course of his career, he was offered a key position on Mariah Carey’s film Glitter. (don’t laugh, it was expected to be huge!) -he want on to work on over 30 films! Dave Bouskill IMDB.com and it was a week later that I was hired at a studio that I would end up working at for almost a decade.

Once we allowed ourselves to be open to new possibilities, life gave them to us.  Every time we took a risk to live our dream of travel, we came home refreshed and ready for new opportunities. And new and better opportunities always presented themselves right after a long travel. We started to feel that if we didn’t go away, we would become stuck in a rut.

Seasoned Backpackers

When people stay in a routine, they don’t allow room in their lives for new and exciting possibilities. The more you are open to change, the more the universe rewards you. Even Swami Jee told us that.

We followed this routine for the next 7 years.  Life was good for awhile, but then it became just that…routine.

I have never heard of anyone regretting going away, but I have always heard of people regretting not taking a chance.

In time, our jobs weren’t fulfilling anymore.  They had become routine. We felt as if our wings had been clipped.  I felt stuck behind my make-up brushes.  I wanted to be like the actor spreading my wings, not the person standing in the background watching them soar. Dave was doing well as a Rigging Gaffer, but it was no longer a challenge. He wanted to call the shots and be more creative.

Writing and Photography filled those voids.

We felt guilty about our frustrations because for anyone living on the outside looking in, we had it made. We worked for a few months of the year and then we travelled for a few months in the winter. How could we not be satisfied? But we felt as if we were straddling two worlds and belonging in neither.

The more we travelled, the more we felt at home on the road.  It was our home in Canada that started to feel foreign to us.

We knew we had to make a change.

It was time to step out from the shadows and live our dreams.  We had always been artists. Dave was a drummer in a band when we met and I was singing in shows.  Over the years, we stifled our creativity and dreams of greatness to make money with respectable jobs.  We buried our ambitions and ignored them as best we could.  After all, we had good jobs right?

Wrong.

We feel completely alive when travelling. We love the rush of witnessing a famous attraction that we have read about, we are pumped when we summit a mountain or finish a trek and we are awed when we witness an incredible act of nature or a stunning landscape.  Our experiences around the world are sensational and we wished that everyone could share in them.

That is why we felt compelled to start the blog.  When we started traveling, we didn’t blog about it. We didn’t even email our friends and families.  We would phone home from and international phone booth every once in a while to let them know that we were O.K.

But back in the early days, we always said to each other “if only our families could witness what we are seeing right now”

And today, they can.

We have never made such little money. And yet, we have never been happier. We are finally living our purpose.  And now, our families and closest friends are getting the chance to experience and witness what we are seeing.  They are given a glimpse into our lives and they are free to choose if they want to go out and try a life of travel first hand.

If they don’t, that is fine. but at least we have been able to show a few people some snapshots and moments from around this fascinating planet we call earth.

We all say oot and oboot – We say out and about and not at the same time. This one always hits a nerve with me. I don’t know why, but I pretty much always fly off the handle when people mention it.  And they always do. Canadians do not say oot and aboot.  I would love to know where this saying came from.  We do say “out” with a different accent than Americans.  They pronounce it more like “owt” while we pronounce it more like “oat”. They open their mouths a little more and pronounce it with more of an ouch sound.  We are more closed it our pronounciation and lean a little more towards the word oat.  While neither one is right or wrong, it is simply our accents. Like all countries of the world, different regions have different accents and some people are more pronounced that others, but for the most part we Canadians simply say out.

We hate Americans – Not True At All. Somebody asked us this the other day.  They said “Don’t all Canadians Hate Americans?” That is too bad that some Americans think this because most of the Canadians I know like Americans quite a bit.   We love vacationing in their country, we love watching their television programs and we all have good friends that are American. Many of us love to go on a shopping trip over the border and we love vacationing in Florida or California or really anywhere in the States. There is a misconception that Canadians hate Americans, but trust me, we don’t.  Whenever we travel, we always feel a kindred spirit to Americans.  We all can relate to one another and we all really like each other.

Free health care is bad- Sorry, but free health care is good.  When we are not feeling well we go to the doctors.  When we have an accident we go to emergency.  If we need open heart surgery, we get it.  If we need radiation treatment for cancer, we get that too.  No bills, no worries.  Sure, if I go to emergency for a cut or a minor injury, the staff will treat the heart attack or car accident victim first. But they aren’t going to let anyone die.  People are treated in the order of the severity of their injury, not the amount in their bank account.

For other Great Canadian Articles Check out

• Strange and Funny names of Canadian Cities
• Canada’s Lack of Cultural Food Identity
• Drinks Around the World, the Canada Cocktail
• Canadian Stereotypes and Misconceptions

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It is always cold - Believe it or not, Canada has a summer.  We were above 30º Celcius almost every day this summer.  We have heat alerts and we crank our air conditioners just like the warmer tropical countries.  When we went to St. Kitts in the Caribbean last month, we were surprised to find that it was more comfratable and less humid than Toronto at the time.

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We are on the imperial system – Canadians are on the metric system.(sort of) I don’t know how long a mile is, I couldn’t tell you.  We think and drive in kilometres. We measure our drinks in litres and our food in grams and our temperature in Celcius. However, the majority of us weigh ourselves in pounds and measure ourselves in inches.  We are weird, but we like it that way. It makes us unique.

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We sew our flag on our backpack because we don’t want people to think we are American – Canadian’s sew our flags on our backpack because we are very patriotic. When Dave and I travel, we love to represent Canada. We love our country and let’s face it, not a lot of people even give Canada a second thought on the world stage. But when travelling, we certainly make the world stand up and take notice. Our flag is everywhere and whenever we see one, we stop to say hello.

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We all speak French – I wish we did.  We learn French all through school, but frankly my school French curriculum was terrible. I wanted to speak French desperately growing up. I worked hard in school and memorized my verbs every day. The problem was we just kept learning the same French verbs right up until my final year of high school. I never became even close to fluent. And now I am an embarrassment to my last name – Corbeil (Very French and pronounced Corbay)  The province of Quebec is our French speaking province.  Sure there are many Canadians that are bilingual, but most of us are not I am afraid.

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We all love hockey and we all know how to skate…Okay that one is true.

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For more help understanding Canadians check out these posts

• The Great Canadian Word – Unique Words and Phrases of Canada
• Canadian Food Our Lack of Identity
• Strange and Funny Names of Places in Canada

And now to end with a monologue that was huge in Canada in the 90′s.  It is from a Beer ad, Molson Canadian.  Their slogan for years has been…” I am Canadian”

From a Moslon Canadian Ad – More on  I am Canadian

Average Joe, I am Canadian

Hey, I’m not a lumberjack, or a fur trader….
I don’t live in an igloo or eat blubber, or own a dogsled….
and I don’t know Jimmy, Sally or Suzy from Canada,
although I’m certain they’re really really nice.

I have a Prime Minister, not a president.
I speak English and French, not American.
And I pronounce it ‘about’, not ‘a boot’.

I can proudly sew my country’s flag on my backpack.
I believe in peace keeping, not policing,
diversity, not assimilation,

and that the beaver is a truly proud and noble animal.
A toque is a hat, a chesterfield is a couch,
and it is pronounced ‘zed’ not ‘zee’, ‘zed’ !!!!

Canada is the second largest landmass!
The first nation of hockey!
and the best part of North America

My name is Joe!!
And I am Canadian!!!

Elephants and humans are not getting along and in Sri Lanka, it is more apparent than anywhere else.

The Human Elephant Conflict is a term that defines a growing problem in Asia. Habitat is shrinking daily and humans are encroaching on the territory of elephants. At the same time, many poor farmers haven’t changed their daily lives for hundreds of years but their crops and villages are being threatened. As urbanization takes hold, the elephants have nowhere else to go and end up in fields searching for food.

The Asian elephant is considered a pest.

In villages, elephants are considered pests. Very big and dangerous pests.  They raid crops and devastate and entire year’s harvest.
Like any wild animal that is losing its habitat, elephants are becoming more aggressive and people are losing their lives.
Each year in Sri Lanka 50 people are killed by elephants and in India that has a billion + more people than Sri Lanka,  150 – 200 people are killed by elephants each year.

Because of these statistics Sri Lankans are mobilizing and fighting back.  Elephants are being shot, poisoned and electrocuted.  As many as 100 – 150 elephants are being killed each year and it doesn’t seem as if anyone can come to a solution.  Some statistics have stated that over 200 elephants were killed in Sri Lanka in 2009.

These numbers of Elephant deaths are heartbreaking.

The elephant is endangered and it is illegal to kill them, but villagers are desperate.  Sadly elephants are dying in other ways as well, they are being hit by trains, falling into wells, blown up with explosives and have become casualties of years of conflict.

Baby elephants are orphaned and many adult elephants are left maimed and suffering.

Places like the Elephant Transit Home in Uda Walawe National Park are working to rehabilitate elephants that are orphaned or injured, but even they can’t seem to solve the problem that the elephants face.

Elephants in Sri Lanka

Once they are rehabilitated and released back into the wild they wander back into villages only to be shot or poisoned.  The ETH keeps human contact to a minimum to make sure that the elephants do not become accustomed to man, but with loss of habitat and very little room to roam, the elephants are running out of safe space.

It is beginning to look as if humans and elephants cannot co-exist and sadly places like the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage may be the way of the future.

Where the Elephant Transfer Home works to rehabilitate elephants and release elephants back into the wild, the Pinnawala Orphanage but does not release them back into the wild. They are more like a comfortable zoo.

At Pinnawala, elephants have regular human contact and tourists frequent the orphanage to watch the baby elephants being bottle fed.  While the wild elephant population is dwindling, the Pinnawala elephant Orphanage is actually breeding elephants to be transferred to other zoos and sanctuaries.

It is difficult to say which way is right.

What is in store for the Asian Elephant

I have no idea what the future holds for the Asian elephant. As the human population rises steadily, there is becomming less and less room for all wildlife in general.

As we are only a travel blog, we do not have the answers, but we can raise the question and get the word out that something needs to be done if we are going to save the wild elephant herds of Asia.

It is places like the Elephant Transit Home and Born Free Foundations that are leading a way in conservation. With more funding and awareness about these organizations maybe we can help to make a difference.

Before leaving for France one of the best ways to warm up to the French culture is to spend a couple of days in the beautiful city of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.  It is also a great tourist destination in its own right.

Beautiful Montreal in the Summertime

Montreal is one of Canada’s most beautiful and romantic cities.

Located on the St. Lawrence River, it has a certain European vibe. Cafés line the sidewalks of Old Montreal, bicycles are readily available for rent, grand historical buildings have stood the test of time and old Cathedrals are the cornerstone of French culture and site seeing.

A long weekend in Montreal is the perfect getaway and here are a few things that will help you to occupy your time while visiting our relaxed French speaking city this summer.

Take in Old Montreal for Something fun

1. Old Montreal - Not to be missed. Old Montreal feels as though you are in Europe. Cobblestone streets, Victorian architecture and classic street lamps line the walkways. Watch street performers and musicians as you enjoy a coffee on the terrace of a fine café or shop in the market or one of the many boutiques in Old Montreal. Exploring Old Montreal is about taking your time and enjoying the moment. Pretend you are in Europe and all you have to worry about is enjoying your café au lait with a soft croissant.
2. Visit the underground city – Montreal can get mighty cold in the winter but that doesn’t keep people at home. Visit the worlds largest underground city. Many Canadian cities have underground malls and walkways due to the cold weather, but Montreal takes it to the next level with over 32 km of tunnels containing restaurants, bars, shopping malls and even concert halls!

Summers can be very hot in Montreal. Just because it is located in Canada, doesn’t mean that temperatures don’t rise in the warm months.  Take a break from the heat in the cool underground and find some excellent deals in the shops.  Loose yourself and see where you end up in this massive complex.

Rent a bicycle, A Great way to see the Montreal

3. Rent a bicycle - Montreal is a very bike friendly city. Like many European cities you can rent a bike with the swipe of a credit card and start exploring. You can then drop your bike off at any other rental location with are many and easy to find.  Make sure to ride along the Lachine Canal a 14 km cycling, inline skating and walking route starting just west of the Old Port.  There are bike lanes and bike paths everywhere and cyclists are a plenty in the active city of Montreal.

Notre Dame a site not to be missed in Montreal

4. Marvel at Notre Dame Cathedral – It may not be as famous as the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, but it is a proud monument in Montreal. Unfortunately the square in front of Notre Dame is under construction until next summer, but it is still an extraordinary example of Gothic architecture.  Make sure to go inside to witness its ornate displays of religious events.

5. Hike up Mont Royal - Go for a hike for a gorgeous view of the city. Not only is Mont Royal a wonderful park for hiking or to go on a picnic, it is also a trendy neighbourhood of Montreal offering great dining and shopping.

Don't miss out on a Prix Fixe meal!

6. Eat a Fix Prix Meal - While you are up at Mont Royal head over to Rue Rachel and have a fantastic 5 course dinner at Apres Le Jour. Make sure to bring your own bottle of wine! You can find restaurants all over Montreal where diners can bring their own bottle of fine wine to enjoy while eating their set meal. Experience French Cuisine at its finest without having to think very hard about what you are going to eat. Just pick a selection off of each course and enjoy as the staff pours your wine and keeps the food coming.

Head out for some Montreal nightlife on Crescent St.

7. Crescent Street - Go out on the town for some dining and dancing on Montreal’s most vibrant street.  This is where the kids and party goers hang out. Montreal is famous for its nightlife in Canada and here is where you will find it.  The drinking age in Montreal is 18 years old, so you will find a lot of Americans and youth from neighbouring Ontario coming over to enjoy an early drink.

A Handsome Cab is a fun way to see Montreal!

8. Hire a Handsome Cab – Montreal is the city of love.  Known as a calèche in Quebec, this horse and carriage ride is a must for couples in love. Like Paris, Montreal is Canada’s city of romance.  There is nothing more romantic than hiring a horse and carriage to take you through the cobblestone streets to enjoy the cities historical buildings.  What I love about the horses in Montreal is how healthy and happy they are.  We have seen a driver stop in the middle of a tour to give his horse some water and a break to cool off on a hot day.

Take a Cruise on the St Lawrence River

9. Take a Cruise on the St. Lawrence -  From the Old Port in Old Montreal, hop a riverboat to view Montreal from the St. Lawrence River.  It is a romantic and relaxing way to enjoy the city.  Different companies offer brunch, dinner and site seeing cruises daily. There is even a tour that offers an exciting ride through a Jet boat tour through the lachine rapids.

The St. Lawrence river is Canada’s main waterway shared with the United States, you will be sailing on one of the most important trade routes in the world.

Montreal is the birth place of Cirque de Soliel!

10. Spend an afternoon at the waterfront – Pathways and parks line the waterfront.  Rent yourself a quadracycle to explore the area or bring your inline skates. You can bring a picnic lunch or enjoy a famous Montreal bagel.  Catch an afternoon performance of Cirque de Soleil (Montreal is where it was founded) or enjoy the most recent Imax movie before heading for dinner at one of the many restaurants.

Montreal is filled with exciting and interesting things to do.  Head out of the city for excellent hiking, mountain biking and paddling.  The Laurentian Mountains are a hop skip and a jump from Montreal and are an adventure seekers dream destination.

But that list my friends is for another post.

One thing we love about travel is the people that we meet.  Locals and fellow travelers alike are what makes travel so interesting and exciting.  It was while sitting in a campsite near Nice, France that we met Kelleigh and Andy who told us about a great campsite in Haute Provence that just so happened to be the entrance to a Via Ferrata.

Directions to the Via Ferrata

What is a Via Ferrata you ask?

A Via Ferrata is one of those walks that you have seen so many times on photos on the internet.  The photos where people call this hike the most dangerous hike in the world or the craziest trail in the world.

Climbing in Haute Provence

We always wondered what these people were thinking walking along cliffs until we realized that they were simply doing a Via Ferrata.  A Via Ferrata is a lot like rock climbing but you don’t have to have any technical skill or training.  If you know how to attach a carabiner to a steel cable and climb a ladder you can do a Via Ferrata.

Originally used to military squads in WWI across mountains, Via Ferratas are now used by hikers and climbers to connect routes and go up scrambles with relative safety and security.  But I think that it is used today more by people to go out and have a thrill dangling off the side of a cliff for a day while getting the instant satisfactions of tackling a route.

Popular in France, Spain and Italy

If you have never tried rock climbing before we strongly suggest hiring a guide.  Via Ferratas are safe, but they are extremely high and if you are not used to dangling off of a cliff you may want to have a professional around.

If you have climbed before…

Dave and I used to rock climb a lot so all we had to do was go to the front desk at our campsite and rent the equipment. Our Campsite had everything that we needed to tackle a via ferrata and it had signs leading us directly from our campsite to the entrance of the trail.

Camping near the Via Ferrata.

Located in Digne Les Bains in Haute Provence France, Camp du Bourg is a friendly and quiet place to stay.  It may not have the swimming pools and hot tubs of other places that we stayed at it in France but it was exactly what we were looking for.  The sites were grassy and comfortable for picnics, it had a bar-b-que area and it even had tennis courts. From the looks of it, Camp Du Bourg is the main place in town for people to practice and play. For 3€ you can get yourself a wifi hookup for 24 hours as well.

Follow the yellow Blazes to the Via Ferrata!

We rented our harnesses and helmets for 12 € and listened to the friendly owner and his wife explain how to find the Via Ferrata trail.  The trail is free so we had an adrenaline filled adventure for a meer 24 €! There is a sign pointing in the direction at the campsite but it is an hour trek up and over a mountain to get to the start.

We found our way easily by following the yellow markers and eventually made it to the start of our first Via Ferrata.

It was intimidating.

We didn’t realize that we would be starting so high up already.  We were already half way up a mountain in the Alps and now we faced a sheer rock face going higher up to a cave and a Nepali bridge.

Deb tackling the Via Ferrata

Dave tackling the Via Ferrata

What else could we do? We had walked all this way and had rented all this gear we had to just hold our breath and climb.   Once we started it was incredibly easy and we felt perfectly safe.  A steel cable lines the entire way as you walk along ladders, ledges and wires.

You are clipped in at all times.

Stay clipped in at all times!!

The harness is supplied with 3 clips.  Two are clipped in at all times, when you come to an obstacle in the route, you unclip each carabiner one at at time.  You make sure to unhook one and hook it onto the next cable before unhooking the other and hooking it onto the next cable.  It is a very simple system. You are never at a point where you aren’t secured to the rockface.

The third hook is for relaxing and sitting back.  But you always make sure to have the other 2 connected to the cables at all times.  This cannot be stressed enough.

Nice Bridge!

The bridges were terrifying but luckily we had just finished trekking in Nepal and were used to walking over gorges.  We weren’t prepared to take photos of each other from that high up however and never managed to take that crazy photo that you see of people walking along planks and wires high in the air. We were too worried about taking the camera out and dropping it at that height.  We are determined to find another Via Ferrata in our travels and get that shot, but for now we are happy to be able to try one.

Give it a try! You will love it!

A Via Ferrata is excellent fun.  and if you have ever had the urge to climb like Dean Potter but want to be sure to be able to live to tell about it a Via Ferrata is definitely for you.

I know that we will be in search of another it is a thrill ride for the weekend warrior.

For some more climbing fun, check out our video of us lead climbing in Thailand

One of the most scenic hikes a person can do in Italy is the Five Villages Hike along the Mediterranean region of Cinque Terre.

We had heard about this hike in France and when we found ourselves on the French Riviera a mere 3-hours from Cinque Terre we had to hop in our rented Nissan Micra and make our way to this spectacular region.

Cities above the clouds..a bit of a phenomenon!

The views of the Mediterranean are outstanding during this drive and we seemed to have witnessed an awesome phenomenon from the highway.  As we drove along the same road that Grace Kelly was killed on so many years ago, we soared above the clouds and could not see even a glimpse of the sea below.

We knew that it had to be unique because cars with Italian license plates were pulled over to take photos.  It was outstanding.

The gorgeous views from the road!

Once we reached Cinque Terre we enjoyed another breathtaking drive through a high and winding road from Levanto to Vernazza. This time the clouds and fog had lifted and we witnessed unobstructed views of one of the most beautiful stretches of coast along the Mediterranean.  We didn’t end up staying in Vernazza though, the road was closed to traffic so we turned our car around on the narrow curving road.  I hopped out to make sure the coast was clear as the Italians whip around these roads at great speeds.

It was a blessing that the road was closed because we ended up staying in Levanto.

The Beautiful Levanto, Italy.

Levanto is not one of the 5-Villages but it is a gorgeous little town on the Mediterranean Ocean that is conveniently located on the train line that takes you right to the beginning of the hike.  We thought Levanto was the perfect home base for the Cinque Terre region. It is far less touristy and busy than the other villages, but it is extremely accessible to any place that you want to go.

The ferry and train also stop frequently at Levanto.

We awoke early to start our 5 hour hike through the Five Villages.

We walked to the train station from our $23 Euro a night campsite and bought our tickets for the day.

8 €  50 will get you unlimited train travel and give you your national park entrance fee to Cinque Terre.

Note: Make sure to stamp your ticket at one of the machine. Anyone caught on the train without a stamped ticket will be given and automatic 50€ fine.

The trains travel frequently from town to town and we hopped on the 8:38 am train to Riomaggiore.  Riomaggiore is the farthest village out on the train line of the Five Villages and it is an excellent starting point to the 5-hour walk.

The trail starts here in Riomaggiore!

We hopped off the train, had our tickets checked at the information booth and when we asked, “where does the trail start?” She replied, “right here!”

The trail winds its way along the Italian Riviera’s Mediterraneans coast between the Five Villages. All we had to do was follow the crowd.

It was a very short and easy hike to Manarola.  We were surprised when we were already at the first town and we felt that we hadn’t even started.  It had only been about 10 to 15 minutes of walking and we wondered how on earth this hike was going to last for 5-hours.  At this rate we will be done before the morning is even over.

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We decided that we should check out this town and see more than just the waterfront.  We walked up to the main square by the church and it was everything that you would expect from Italy.  Old men were sitting on a bench waiting for the local bus, old women were walking in dark skirts to the neighbours house and we overlooked a view of vineyards and orchards.

Traditional Italy is alive and well in Cinque Terre.

Before starting on the trail we enjoyed a cappuccino and chocolate pastry.  The bus driver came into the shop as we ordered with the old men from the bus stop bench that we saw.   The usual friendly, Ciaos, Grazies and Pregos were exchanged as they helped themselves to a pastry and enjoyed the mornings conversation.

We then realized that hiking the Five Villages takes five hours because of the experience. You don’t want to rush through the towns or through the trail.  The views are too perfect to not enjoy slowly and the towns are too beautiful and inviting to not take the time to enjoy every moment.

Oh Yeah, we love Italy.

The Path goes right along the Mediterrainian

The first stage is a short and easy walk from Riomaggiore to Manarola.  It does get harder and steeper, so even adventure seekers will be satisfied with this hike along the Italian Riviera.

We made it...382 steps!

From Manarola to Corniglia the hike is higher on the coast and ends with a 382 step climb up to the highest town in the region.  The climb will make you huff and puff a bit but the payoff is worth it.  By this time it is lunch time and restaurants and cafés are a plenty.  It was here that we enjoyed our first taste of deep fried anchovies, one of the regions many specialties.

Vineyards dominate the landscape!

Other specialties of the area include Olive Oil, Pesto, Lemons and Wine. You will see vineyards and orchards during your entire walk and witness a culture that is surviving the way it has for generations.  Only now with a few more tourists looking on as they do.

After lunch it is off to Village number four.

The trail gets harder and we get happier!

The hike to Vernazza is more wild then the rest.  The wide paths give way to narrow dirt walkways with roots and trees covering the path.  It is steep and we felt for the people hiking in the opposite direction.  While we enjoyed our downward climb many were struggling uphill.

Vernazza, a breathtaking city!

Vernazza is the busiest of the towns and many tourist make this their home base.  If you want to buy pasta or olive oil, pesto or wine to take home here is the place to do it.  After tasting their pesto drenched over pasta you will find it hard to resist taking a jar home for yourself.

While you are there stop and enjoy a mouth wateringly delicious triple scoop of gelato.

Our day ended here and we took the train to the 5th Village of Monterosso.  The path was closed due to landslides caused by previous rains and we were a little disappointed not to be able to hike the most rugged terrain of the Cinque Terra Region.

Monterosso, the last village!

Then again by hopping on the train and arriving at Monterosso a couple of hours earlier, we were able to lay on the beach and work on our tans with the other sun worshippers.

Time to catch some rays!

The trains were packed at the end of the day, but we still had our stamped ticket and unlimited travel through the region.  It was back to Levanto for sunset dinner at yet another reasonable and delicious restaurant.

Apparently Cinque Terre is an undiscovered gem but we will beg to differ that it is definitely discovered.  The crowds were large and tourists seem to flock to the region.  By European standards on the Mediterranean coast however it may be quieter than other ocean front resorts.

Whatever you do don't miss the villages of Cinque Terre!

What we love about the Cinque Terre is how the Italian government is trying to control tourism and keep it green.  The Cinque Terre is a designated national park and traffic is limited to the towns.  No modern buildings are allowed to be built here and you won’t find any giant resorts ruining the coastline.  Most people travel to the Cinque Terre by train and cars are not allowed in many of the towns.  Some are not even accessible by car.

If you happen to find yourself on the French Riviera or on the Italian Mediterranean coast a trip to Cinque Terre is a must stop on your itinerary.

We found ourselves in a campsite in Nice, France hanging out with a great family from Canada.

Our Campsite in Nice, France

Kelleigh and Andrew have been living in Geneva, Switzerland for a couple of years and they were traveling with Kelleigh’s parents for a few weeks through France.  It was a fantastic encounter and they gave us so much information about hikes, climbs and treks in France and Switzerland.

Our next trip will be filled with some great treks in the Alps!

We feel that we have only just started our travels in Europe. We have settled into the rhythm of European travel and we have now found inspiration and direction on where to begin looking for some adventure travel.

Unfortunately we only have a little over a week left in our trip!

Italian Riviera at Cinque Terre, Italy

We couldn’t waste any more time relaxing on the beach and we had to get ourselves to the Cinque Terra in Italy.  It is a beautiful piece of the Mediterranean where one can walk and hike along a gorgeous path on the coast.

The minute we entered Italy we fell in love with it.

The language is music to my ears, the food is heaven to the taste buds and the people are friendly and passionate.

Levanto, a town on the Italian Riviera

Whenever we ate at any restaurant in Cinque Terre our server was as passionate about our choices as we were.  You like? How is it? He would ask with a big smile as he walked by or came back with another load of bread.

We attempt to speak our few words from the phrasebook and everyone talks back to us in English with a beautiful melodic Italian accent.

Everyone has huge smiles and talks loudly yelling Ciao and Grazie and Prego!

I can understand why Elizabeth Gilbert of Eat, Pray, Love had to come to Italy to learn the language.

Cinque terre town overlooking the mediterranean

All we could think about was how we should have came directly to Italy instead of spreading our trip through France and Spain.  We love the other two countries, but the weather was not the greatest in France and Spain requires much more time than we have on this trip.

There is something about being in Italy that makes everything no matter how extraordinary it has been pale in comparison.

And don’t get me started on the Gelato.

O.K. I guess I started it, so I am going to have to tell you about the delicious gelato of Italy’s Cinque Terre.

When we were cycling through Africa everyone was always looking for ice cream. People were mad about finding ice cream.  While I have a large sweet tooth, ice cream has never been something that I crave and must have.  Dave has never had a sweet tooth, so ice cream wasn’t high on his list either. But the velvety whipped delicious sensation of Gelato in Italy is undeniable.

We must have gelato in Italy at least twice a day.

We could feel the excitement build as we walked up to the counter.  What combination of flavours would we try today? Will it be limone with fondente and crema? My personal favorite and best combination in both of our opinions.  Or do I try chocolate mint with fragola and pure chocolate?

We always had three scoops each.

I have never seen such mouth watering richness in any food. Sure we have gelato at home.  Toronto has a “nice” little Gelato shop in Little Italy on College Street.  But there is nothing that compares to anything we ate in the quiet area of Cinque Terra.

During our time in France and Spain we ate a lot of picnic meals.  We had to stick to our budget and shop in markets and boulangeries.  In Italy we threw our budget out the window and ate our hearts out. Italian Food is just too delicious to not eat to its fullest.

Cinque Terra is home of fresh basil, lemons, olive oil, wine and anchovies.  Yes, I said anchovies.

Whoever thought that anchovies could taste so good! Dave ordered and incredible pizza with fresh anchovies and giant capers.  It was rich and decadent.  I have never had anchovies on my pizza before and I don’t think that I would attempt it again in Canada.  But in Italy it is delicious and I am salivating just thinking about it.

I was never as adventurous as Dave with my food choices in Italy, although I did order the deep fried anchovies as an appetizer in one of my fixe price meals and I ate every one of them.  And man there were a lot of them.  They brought us a large basket filled with these skinny yet surprisingly meaty salted fish that were heavenly.

However, I stuck mostly to the regions culinary specialty.

Almost every meal I had to have something with Pesto on the menu.  Pesto Lasagna, pesto linguine or pesto pizza.  It was the most robust pesto I have ever had and I love pesto.

The bread was fresh with each meal and we would lap up our olive oil and pesto drenching our plates from our leftover pasta. We would drink their wine from the region followed rich coffee and decadent deserts.  But we always went for gelato even after our desert.

Even our campsite offered fresh bread in the morning.  Who does that?  Every night we would go down to the office and let them know that we would like fresh bread delivered in the morning which we would drink with our espresso and chocolate eclairs.

We only had a few days in Italy.

Our time in Europe is quickly coming to and end and we feel that we have only just started, but we cannot wait to come back and enjoy and explore this country and its food to the fullest in the near future.

For now it is dreams and memories of Bella Italia.

Many people don’t spend a lot of time in Paris.

Accommodation in Paris can be expensive, eating out is expensive and people only have a set amount of time before they would like to move on to see the rest of France.

While it would take years to really experience everything that Paris has to offer, you can see many of its sites in three days.  It will be a busy three days and you will need a vacation after running around the streets of Paris, but it can be done.

Here are our suggestions of things to see in Paris.

In 3 short days we managed to pack a lot of sites in to our itinerary.

Day 1 – ½ Day Arrive late morning.

The first site of the day: Sacre Coeur

Arrive at Charles De Gaulle Airport and hop on the Air France Shuttle to Mont Parnasse Paris.  Enjoy a coffee in a café before heading off to your hotel in the Montmartre area.  Take the bus it’s cheaper.

Grab your metro and bus maps from the metro ticket office and purchase your 10 ticket metro pass.

Once you settle in, walk around Montmartre and explore the Molin Rouge area.  Have lunch at the Place du Tertre before heading to The Basilique du Sacre Coeur for sunset.  It has an amazing view of the city and it is alive with street vendors and people.

Grab a city map from your hotel and plan your days marking your route, bus or metro numbers and stops of sites you will be seeing.

The Montmartre area is an excellent budget area to stay in Paris. Not only is it affordable, it is a very cool part of Paris filled with artists, cafés and history. Don’t overdo your first day in Paris, you will need your energy to see as many sites as possible, but it is wise to stay up as long as you can to try to work through your jet lag if you are coming from North America.

Day 2 – Full Day Paris Sightseeing

To make the most of your Paris sight seeing start far away and work your way home.

The Catacombs – They are the farthest south of the major sites in Paris. Spend 1-2 hours checking out the bones of Parisians past. It is a must see attraction in Paris for spooky fun.

Walk to the Mont Parnasse Cemetery- once you are finished at the Catacombs, you can walk through the cemetery and explore a few of its famous graves en route to…

Jardin du Luxombourg for a picnic lunch. Jardin du Luxombourg is Paris’ most popular park. It is green, large and filled with gardens and sculptures. It is an attraction in itself and worth a visit just to walk around and enjoy its beauty.

After Lunch

Hop on the Metro to the Eiffel Tower – Enjoy the view from every angle and make sure to go down to the Seine for a good photo opportunity from a vantage point without people in the shot. Line ups are long at the Eiffel Tower and if you don’t have many days in Paris, you may not want to go up. Then again, a trip up the Eiffel Tower is on the top of mosts peoples lists of must do activities in Paris. So you may want to ignore this piece of advice.

Walk to Rue Cler for a coffee and a snack. This is a beautiful Parissean street.  Outdoor cafés line the sidewalk and restaurants offer reasonable fixe prix meals.

Make your way to Musee D’Orsay for the final 2 hours of the day to enjoy French Impressionism at its best. Every day after 4:30, you can get a discount to enter the Musee D’Orsday and witness the great Impressionist Art of the world. It is a museum that commands more time, but if you only have a short time in Paris (like say 3 days) 2 hours will do just fine.

Don't forget Notre Dame!

Grab a quick shot of Notre Dame at sunset before heading to…

Dinner at the Latin Quarter!

Dinner at the Latin Quarter – Enjoy a cheap fixed priced dinner in this lively area.

At night, go for a walk along the Seine and enjoy the lights of Paris.

Day 3 – Full Day Sightseeing in Paris

Buy yourself a day pass for 13 Euro on the hop on hop off boat. – you will be able to enjoy the sites of Paris in a shorter amount of time than walking and you will have the romance and relaxation of cruising on the River Seine.

Time to hop on the tourist boat! Only 13 Euros!

Morning is a beautiful time to make your way to Notre Dame. Go around back for the perfect photo.  The sun is in the right spot and there are few tourists walking around.   Then make your way inside to be awe inspired by its size and beauty.

The Back of Notre Dame in the Morning!

Hop on the tourist boat and hop off at the Louvre.  Explore the outside of the Louvre and its gardens.  (Note; we are not including going into the Louvre in our three-day itinerary because it takes much more time to fully appreciate the inside. It is massive) The outer grounds of the Louvre are incredibly beautiful and it is a tourist destination in its own right. The garden is filled with sculptures, the glass pyramids are fun to explore and the architecture is splendid.

Through this gate to the Arc de Triomphe!

Walk along the Louvres impressive gardens towards the Champs Elysees. You will pass through two gorgeous gardens filled with sculptures and the Place de la Concorde.

You can either choose to picnic in these gardens or make your way to the Champse Elysees for lunch.

The Champs Elysees is filled with excitement and decadence. Boutiques and bistros line the wide lanes. Street performers shine on the sidewalks and you will marvel at one of the worlds most famous streets.  Take your time to explore the shops and splurge on a café au lait at a sidewalk restaurant.

Pay your respects to the Unknown Soldier!

After enjoying the Champs Elysees walk towards the Arc Du Triomphe – Witness the worlds largest roundabout from the inside.  Pay your respects to the unknown soldier and marvel and the grandness of this impressive monument. Go up to the top of the Arc Du Triomphe for a spectacular view of Paris.

Hop on the metro and make your way to Hotel Les Invalides and see Napoleon’s Tomb. You don’t need to spend too much time at the war museum, but Napoleon’s Tomb itself is impressive.

End your day at Montmartre for a fixed price dinner.

Day 4 – ½ day Morning before Leaving

I know, you are seeing Day 4 and wondering what we are talking about. Wasn’t this post supposed to be about 3 days in Paris? Well you see, Day 1 is only a half day and Day 4 is only a half day. Add them both together and you have 3 full days in Paris to see it’s top sites.

Go to the Cemetiere du Pere Lachaise and explore the graves of Jim Morrison, Chopin and Moliere to name a few.  Housing 800,000 souls, it is the most famous cemetery in France.

Hop in Your Rental Car!

The end. Hop in your rental car or take your train to your next destination.

Believe it or not, the main attractions and sites of Paris can be seen in three short days.  It you plan your route well and take the metro or bus where needed, you can see a lot of Paris’ best sites in a short amount of time.  Paris is a large city, but its main tourist sites are very close to one another.

To visit museums and really take in the culture and vibe of the city, you will need far more that 3 days, but to see its highlights and its most famous sites, you can do it.  You will just need plenty of caffeine and luckily Paris has a lot of that.

For more tips on Visiting Paris check out our other blog posts

• Free Things in Paris
• Visit Paris on a Budget

I think one of the favorite things people enjoy looking at is a beautiful sunset. Somehow as that sun sets on the horizon it seems to make you forget the days stress and gives you that sense of Ahhhh!

Photographing sunsets is one of my favorite subjects. It always poses a challenge of how to make every sunset photo different. Subject matter is always the key. Some sunsets stand all on their own and others benefit from a subject in the frame.

Here is a compilation of both. As Friday comes to an end let these photo’s take away the stress and up your Ahhh factor!

Sunset at Patnem beach, Goa, India

Gili Air sunset, Indonesia.

Sunset at Chobe National Park, Botswana

Sunset in the thar desert of India

Surfing at Sunset at Hikkaduwa, Sri Lanka

Sunset at Hampi, India

Kuta Beach, Bali

Sunset over lake pichola in udaipur India

Yesterday we wrote about The Top 10 things we Hate about Travel. You didn’t think that we would just leave you with that negative post did you?  We love to travel and believe me, we love more things about travel than we hate.  Otherwise we wouldn’t be doing it.
The problem with writing this post was narrowing it down to only 10 things. We love so much about travel that we could have written 100 things that we love about it.  (Hey, now that would make a great post) But we don’t want to bore you to death.

-Here are the Top 10 Things that We Love About Travel

-1. Adventure - Dave and I love adventure in our lives.  Even when we are at home we love to go climbing, snowboarding, cycling…anything.  We can’t sit still and when we travel, we love finding new adventures to try.  There are many different adventures in different countries that we can’t necessarily do in Canada.  From bungee jumping in Victoria Falls to camping in the White Desert of Egypt or going on a camel Safari in India to going on a big game safari in Africa.  We can’t do these in Canada and travel gives us the chance to try different adventures that we wouldn’t otherwise get to do. What do we love most about travel? Finding our next great adventure.

2. Eating out – We love food. Who doesn’t? What we love about travel is discovering new kinds of food.  We love the act of going out to eat and trying something new. We love eating with chopsticks, with our hands, we love eating out of hot pots, off of banana leaves or eating street food. We love the atmosphere of eating in restaurants around the world and we love the social atmosphere of going out to eat.

3. Meeting New People - We are a very social couple and we love to chat with people. We have made some great friends traveling and some of our fondest memories of travel have been moments with the people that we met. Most people that we meet traveling are very interesting and fun.  We just love meeting and making new friends in our travels and always look forward to seeing them again.

4. Being Together – Dave and I are one of those strange couples that just love being together all the time.  My parents are the same.  They ran a business together, they shared their hobbies and they have had a fantastic retirement sharing in activities together.  Well, Dave and I are the same.  We love how travel allows us to be together.  We just love climbing together, suffering together, relaxing on the beach together or just sitting beside each other while we read a book. I know it sounds corny, but that is us. We love being together.

5. Writing/Photographing our Travels – We have always loved to travel but now that we blog about it, it has added a purpose to our travels. When we are hiking or biking, surfing or sailing we are always thinking about how to write about it, what photos to include and how to describe it.  We love to share our travel tips with whoever is willing to listen. We love to write and photograph our travels, just as much as we love to travel.

6. Pushing ourselves to the Limit - When we are at home we tend to become a little bit lazy. But when we travel we just love to see how far we can push ourselves.  When we accomplish something extraordinary it is the most fulfilling thing on the planet.  From cycling 12,000 km to Africa, trekking up to Everest Base Camp or summiting Mount Kilimanjaro we just love the feeling of suffering for a great payoff. When we travel, we seem to push ourselves farther than we ever do while we are at home.

7. Witnessing Awe Inspiring Sites - Sometimes the beauty of travel moves me to tears.  Some of the things that we have witnessed have been overwhelming.  When standing at the top of a mountain, overlooking a world heritage site or witnessing an incredible sunset we cannot believe that we are there. Travel has allowed us to witness some of the greatest sites on earth. It has allowed us to be touched to the core and feel completely connected to the planet. What more is there to love.

8. Flying - Most people don’t like flying very much. But Dave and I love to fly.  We love getting to the airport early to check in and have a drink before the flight and we love browsing the duty free and other shops.  We not only love the preflight activities, we love to fly. We don’t sleep much on the plane, we play the video games and watch movies.  We just love the entertainment centres that flights have now.  We look forward to the meals to guess what mystery food we will get and we love the ice cream that we have been offered on our past few flights. We especially love when we are upgraded to business class or offered a flight from Air France on their Premium Voyageur class. Yes, we are that rare few that love to fly.

9. Hotel Rooms - Ok some guest houses can be a little rough, but we just love hotel rooms.  We love the fresh duvets, the movie channels and the room service.  When we get to a hotel, we check out all the drawers, the mini fridge, the bathroom. We  just love to see what goodies they provide and what services they offer. We then head out to explore the building and take advantage of whatever they have to offer. Is there a spa, a swimming pool, a sauna or lounge? We love hotels and when we find a nice one, we hate to leave.

10. Exploring History – We are always amazed when we are standing on a site that we have learned about in school or read about in books.  When we are exploring thousand year old ruins or walking through buildings that a great historical event took place in, we cannot believe that we are there.  We have learned more about the history of the world through our travels than we ever did in school.  There is something special and meaningful about a place and its history when you are actually there. It makes us want to learn more about its story. We love finding the story of a place.

So there  you have it, we have managed to narrow what we love about travel down to a mere 10 points. What do you love most about traveling? What we love is how travel is different for everyone.

We loved Sri Lanka.  It was one of those countries that we actually felt sad leaving.  We met inspiring people, saw magnificent sites and enjoyed awesome adventures.

Many people have sent us messages and emails on how they too want to visit Sri Lanka one day soon and we thought that we should do a round up of the top things that we enjoyed doing while visiting this fascinating and beautiful country.

If you are planning on going to Sri Lanka in the future here is a list of things that you should make sure not to miss.

1. Try Surfing. Sri Lanka is a beginner surfers paradise.  Hikkaduwa on Sri Lanka’s south west coast is the popular spot for surfing.  The sandy break cushions your fall and the waves are not the gigantic intimidating pipes seen in Hawaii or Australia.  Even expert surfers can enjoy themselves in Sri Lanka though.  On the west coast there is a popular beach that offers bigger and better waves.  The season is different than Hikkaduwa’s however, so make sure to check when surfing on the west coast is popular. If you have never surfed before Sri Lanka is the place to do it.  It is very easy to learn here and the conditions are perfect for the first timer.

2. Sip Tea and explore the hill country. Sri Lanka is one of the most important tea producers in the world and its hill country is stunning.  Colonial towns dot the landscape surrounded by tea plantations.  The vegetation is lush and green and the rolling hills make for an awesome site. Pretend you are in jolly old England for a few days.  Stay in old plantation homes, drink tea and eat baked goods.  It doesn’t get any more civilized than this. Don’t miss going to Ella and Nuwara Eliya to see the tea plantations of Sri Lanka.

3. Go on a Pilgrimage. Adams Peak is Sri Lanka’s most sacred site and you can join thousands of pilgrims for 2 months of the year as they pay homage to the first place that Adam stepped foot on earth when he was cast down from Heaven.  It is a climb that doesn’t require any technical skill, but it is a work out.  You will feel a great sense of accomplishment taking part in this spiritual journey. This is by far our top recommendation of things that you should make sure to do when visiting the country.

4. Ride the Train. Sri Lanka’s trains are like stepping back in time. They chug slowly along through hills and valleys.  It is the slow journey that makes it special.  Looking out over the mountains and tea plantations rival any view in the world and the people that you meet on the train will be remembered forever. So if you are planning a trip to Sri Lanka, make sure to take the time to travel by train. It will be an experience you will remember and cherish forever.

5. Yala National Park.  Do you want to see leopards? Sri Lanka’s Yala National Park is the best chance in the world that you are going to get to see them.  It is an incredible park filled with wildlife.  Elephants, peacocks, monkeys, jackles, crocodiles and monitor lizards to name a few. You won’t be disappointed on a jeep safari here even if you don’t see a leopard, you will see a beautiful landscape and an abundance of wild animals. However, chances are pretty good that you will see a leopard and prices are so reasonable, that even if you don’t, you can try to see one again on another safari.

6. Go to Udawalawe National Park. Sri Lanka is filled with national parks and trekking through Uda Walawe is a great escape from the hustle and bustle of the towns.  What is special about this park however is the Elephant Transfer Home an orphanage and rehabilitation centre for orphaned and injured elephants supported by the Born Free Foundation. You can watch elephants being fed, but unlike the Pinawale Orphanage, the ETH cares only for the elephants well being.  They have as little interaction with humans as possible.  So far 65 elephants have been rehabilitated and let back into the wild. If you have your heart set on seeing and helping elephants, we suggest going to Udawalwe over the other Elephant Rehabilitation Centres. They are doing a great job.

7. Visit a Turtle Hatchery. Turtles are under great threat due to fishing, pollution, habitat loss and hunting.  Turtle Hatcheries are doing their best to keep the turtle numbers alive and wel.  One of the best is The Kosgoda Turtle Hatchery. He loves turtles and lets them into the ocean nightly.  You can even take part in their release if you go at sunset. A person can’t go to Sri Lanka without visiting a turtle hatchery. It is a right of passage of visiting the country.

8. Laze on the Beach.  Sri Lanka has some great beach life.  Hikkaduwa, Unawatuna and Kosgoda are some popular beaches, but you can still find secluded beaches all along Sri Lanka’s coast.  Some are eroding away, but others are pristine.  Rent a bicycle or motorbike and get out there to explore the island. The beaches are the number one reason why people come to Sri Lanka and once you see them, you can understand why.

9. Visit Sigiriya. The important archeological site  Sigiriya is impressive.  Gracing the covers of many Sri Lankan Guide books, hanging in the office of tour companies and standing proud on the cover of several coffee table books, it just may be Sri Lanka’s most recognizable site.  It is also set in a beautiful location. Surrounded by jungle, villages and farmland  Sigiriya is a location set back in time. Monkeys play on the trails and crocodiles dwell in its moat.   The entry price is steep, but it is a beautiful view with an impressive museum as well. If you love history and archeology, Sigiriya is for you.

10. Have dinner with a local family. Nothing feels better than being invited to someones house for dinner.  The Sri Lankan people are a giving bunch. They are the friendliest people we have met in all our travels and we made great friends with our Tuk Tuk driver Ajith and his family. What a wonderful experience getting a glimpse of local life in the country. If you are privileged enough to be invited to dinner, take it. It is a heartwarming evening filled with genuine hospitality.

Sri Lanka has everything that a traveler could possibly want. Adventure, spirituality, fine beaches and nightlife. A vacation to this destination will never disappoint.

Having a high concentration of leopards, Yala National Park in Sri Lanka is one of the best places in the world to spot them.  But the leopard isn’t the only animal you will see in Yala.

It is teeming with life and exotic animals can be found around every turn.  The Landscape reminds you of something more out of Africa than Southern Asia and it’s location makes it easy for anyone visiting the country to take a trip to try to spot the elusive leopard of Yala National Park.

Enjoy Yala National Park, through Dave’s Camera Lens.