We flew into Lima without a plan

Ollantaytambo , peru

Machu Picchu Bound

A Rainy Day

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Being the second time visiting this Middle Eastern jewel gave us the chance to look at it with a different set of eyes. Yes, the pyramids are mesmerizing, but having seen them before, we could look beyond their majesty and take in the atmosphere around us. Instead of gazing out over Cairo, we could take in the polished marble of an abandoned mosque. The library of Alexandria is filled with one of the greatest collections of literature on earth but it is the modern architecture that is so striking. Students hang out in the complex and ponder the challenges of Egypt’s future while we snap shots of its striking design.

Egypt is filled with ancient monuments, but it is walking along the streets and meeting the people that is magical. Egyptians are right up there as some of the friendliest people on earth. As we walked through the streets we were invited into establishments for tea and people greeted us with welcoming smiles. Children approached us to ask where we were from and everyone asked us to take their photograph.

It is a country close to our hearts as the starting point of this great travel journey that we’ve been on for the past few years and it brought back fond memories walking through its ancient passageways. We didn’t have enough time to truly immerse ourselves in this culture, but we will definitely be back.

For now, enjoy these photos of a different side of Egypt.

The Alabaster Mosque's outer courtyard is impressive to say the least

The interior of the Alabaster Mosque is even more impressive.

Sunrise a an abandoned mosque in Cairo, Egypt

A different look at the Library of Alexandria

The sun sets at the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo, Egypt

The Pyramids at night during the light show.

Life goes on in the streets of Alexandria, Egypt

Our trip through Egypt was courtesy of Memphis Tours.

The treasury of Petra

Petra in Jordan is one of those places that really does live up to the hype. We were first introduced to it the evening before during Petra by Night. While the actual performance of traditional music was less than stellar, the walk through the candle lit Siq to view the legendary Treasury building was awe inspiring.  The Siq is a narrow gorge winding its way towards the ruins for over 1 km. With cliffs reaching up to 80 metres high it is absolutely one of the most phenomenal gorges on earth.

Horses gallop by at the entrance to Petra

We awoke bright and early to beat the crowds for our tour of Petra where we met the officer from Petra Development Authority. He was hired to stay with us while we took photos of Petra. We retraced our route from the night before towards Petra’s most famous monument.

Later that day, we were told that a horse ride was included in our entrance fee. It would have taken us from the visitors centre to the entrance of the siq. I wish we had known, that would have been cool. But something tells me we wouldn’t be riding as fast as that guy above!

As it turned out, we needed the extra time to walk anyway because we arrived a little too early to the Treasury and had to wait for the sun to make its way over the high cliffs.

The sun lights part of the Treasury at Petra

It wasn’t long until the sun peaked over the walls to light the treasury with its golden rays. The crowd was sparse at this time of the day and by having added bonus of the officer from Petra assigned to us from the Jordan Tourism Board and our guide Ali work together to keep the areas clear for photographs, Dave managed to snap photos of Petra that people only dream of getting.

A private vantage point of the Treasury in Petra

We spent quite a while at the Treasury and while Dave explored with the Petra Officer, I sat with Ali (our personal guide from the Jordan Tourism Board for our trip through Jordan- who rocked by the way) as he told me some of the history of Petra.

Only Bedouins are allowed to reside in Petra

Built by the Nabataeans over 2000 years ago, not a lot is known about Petra and its history. An important stop on the Silk Route to China and India, Petra was a flurry of activity with camel caravans stopping frequently en route to the Far East. It remained under Nabataean rule until 100 AD when the Romans invaded. It was some time during the 12 century that it was abandoned once and for all and left to the local people.

Hard to believe Petra was lost for centuries

Surprisingly, Petra was forgotten for centuries. It wasn’t until 1812 that it was rediscovered by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt that the world took notice again.

It was in 1989 that Hollywood discovered Petra as a film location for Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Most recently we have seen Petra featured in Transformers II. But we’re trying to forget that that movie ever happened.

Ali told me that much of what we know about Petra is speculation. The Treasury was named so because it was believed to contain treasures hidden within its walls. They say that the Bedouins used to fire upon Urn at the top of tholos and the facade because they thought that Pharaoh put his treasures and the gold there. The official from Petra even told Dave that his father used to shoot at it. You can still see the bullet holes on it’s facade today.

A permanent fixture in his Keffiyeh at the treasury in Petra

One of the most popular people in the entire complex is a dashing man who sits in front of the Treasury. A local Bedouin that lives in the nearby caves, he sells rides on his trusty steed for a memorable photo opportunity in front of the monument.

He is pestered all day long by tourists wanting a photo with him or his camels and I can see why. He is the epitome of what a person thinks of when traveling to an exotic place like Jordan. His striking eyes peer playfully from behind his keffiyeh (traditional headscarf) as he sits in his long robes beside his decorated camel.

The scene is set to perfection.

Hangin' out with their Camels at the Treasury

As we chat with him we find out that he has already been featured in several magazines. He jokes that he will allow us to take a photograph without signing a release because we are nice. But he’ll look us up online because he has Wifi in his cave!

We never did get his name, but we won’t forget the fusion of ancient and modern life colliding within this historic site. Looking at him, you envision a man from centuries past but talking with him you see a man in tune with the rhythm of today. His earbuds connected to his iPod are hidden under his headscarf, he speaks with quick wit and references pop culture. He’s a living contradiction.

The Royal Tombs are a sight to behold in Petra

We can’t decide if he is teasing us and actually lives in a cave, or if he goes home each night to an apartment with big screen TV and Internet. The cave wouldn’t surprise us though because we learn that many people still live in the surrounding ruins and that the families who work in Petra are granted permission to live there.

Correction: After it was brought to our attention by Darren of RTW travels that people don’t live in the caves anymore, we did some further investigation and found out that people are not allowed to live in the caves anymore and have been moved to a nearby village by the Jordanian government.

Caves are scattered everywhere throughout Petra

As we walk to see the Royal Tombs, we scramble up a large rock, duck through caves and passageways and find ourselves standing high atop a stone a mountain overlooking the complex.  It is here that we can see the walkway to both the high sacrifice and the Monastery and look down on the Petra Theatre. A 3000 seat amphitheatre that looks to be Roman architecture but was actually build by the Nabateans in the 1st century.

People are still living in the caves of Petra today

There are countless monuments and it is hard to believe that much of Petra was destroyed during a massive earthquake hundreds of years ago. Imagine what this great city looked like in its prime.

Since we only had one day at Petra, we had to choose between the high sacrifice and the Monastery. We chose the Monastery which some say is more impressive than the Treasury.

We begin the walk up to the Monastery

This 45 minute climb get’s the blood pumping and our guide Ali was not enjoying our fast pace. While we explored the area on our own, Ali took a well deserved rest to enjoy an icy lemon mint. If we were wise we would have hired a donkey for all of us to scramble our way up the stone path.

Welcome to the end of the world Petra style

We paused to view the Monastery before walking higher to gain a better vantage point. Following the trail we came upon a sign stating The View of the End of the World. I’ve always wondered what the end of the world looked like, so we marched on.

A view of the end of the World...scary!

It may not have been the end of the world, but I can see how the Nabataeans believed it to be. There seemed to be nothing beyond the borders of Petra and one would think that people would see no reason to leave the safety of this secluded city that was once the crown jewel of the Middle East.

Gazing towards the horizon I could almost imagine a camel caravan descending upon the city. Petra would be a welcoming sight after a long journey through the arid landscape and as I stood atop the mountain, I had visions of the generations who came before me, standing in this exact location gazing over the desert while admiring the beauty of the monastery below.

The Monastery of Petra, Jordan

We would like to give a hearty thank you to our guide Ali from the Jordan Tourism Board for checking our facts and keeping us well informed about everything in Jordan, including Petra!

He was absolutely right.

The Beautiful lobby of the Four Seasons Amman

It was an incredible 10 days in Jordan courtesy of the Jordan Tourism Board and it started off on a high note with our stay at the luxurious Four Seasons Amman. We know the Four Seasons well here in Toronto. The Flagship store is located in the heart of Yorkville and we have visited many a room during our days working in the film business. It is a very busy place during the Toronto Film Festival.  Every movie star that comes to the city stays here. We never thought that we’d stay in a Four Seasons ourselves let alone one of the top hotels in the entire Middle East.

We were greeted by Halla upon our arrival and dinner was set for 7:30 pm. It was a delicious 4 course meal of seafood, pastas and decadent desserts. Oh yes, we could get used to living like this. Even though the Four Seasons Amman is a luxury hotel, we never felt the stuffiness or uncomfortable feeling you get when you sit somewhere you don’t belong. Everyone is relaxed and welcoming; the guests and staff included.

The rooms in the Four Seasons Amman were luxurious!

The Four Seasons Amman has a reputation of being the best hotel in Jordan and it lives up to it. What we loved about it was how, yes, it is well known around the world, but it had a definite Jordanian feel and atmosphere. We had the best of both worlds, a little bit of home with a Middle Eastern Flare. We made sure to wake up early to use the pool and spa before setting out on our Jordan adventure, but it was difficult because we didn’t want to leave our cozy yet spacious room.

It was time to venture out and see the country.

We had amazing adventures in Jordan from Canyoning in Wadi Mujib, Swimming in the Dead Sea, Visiting Petra, A Safari in Wadi Rum and Hiking through the Dana River Biosphere Reserve, we felt that we got a taste of the best of what the country has to offer and we can’t wait to go back one day to explore some more!

We were off into the streets of Amman.

Upon our return to Amman, we were eager to see how people lived in Jordan’s largest city.  Our driver Mahmoud and our guide Ali had gotten to know us quite well over the course of 10 days and knew that it was time to take us out of our luxurious bubble and into the streets of Amman.

Fact: Amman is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world.

The King Abdullah Mosque in Amman, Jordan with Church Peeking out behind

We started by visiting the King Abdullah Mosque, it is one of the most famous mosques in Jordan. Ali and Mahmoud were quick to point out the large church right next door. They stated that the Jordanian people get along with each other and different religions live in peace. I thought is was a wonderful sentiment. While people are protesting a mosque in New York, others around the world are opening doors and practicing tolerance.

The Mosque is simply stunning!

We drove around the different districts and checked out the higher end shopping areas and cafés where the young and hip meet on Thursday nights, but it was our arrival to the market that made us feel like we were a part of the city.

Enjoying a Kunafa Habibah Sweets

It started with a stop for dessert. Ali always eats dessert first. If he had it his way, he’d skip the main course completely and only eat dessert. That is unless his mother is cooking. She is the best cook in Jordan. We stood in the rain outside a crowded and small stand named Habibah Sweets where we ate the delicious and filling Kunafa dessert. This place is one of the most popular sweet shops in Amman and we could understand why.

People were very friendly especially in the bustling market.

Now that our stomachs were filled, we were able to walk along the streets to enjoy the hustle and bustle of the city. People were warm and friendly and we couldn’t believe how open they were towards us. When we strolled through the market, men asked Dave to take their picture. They were yelling and singing and Mahmoud translated what they said. It sounded much more exotic when I didn’t know their words. “1 kilo for 1 dinar, buy now!” To me it sounded like they were singing, “The Day is beautiful, The Birds are singing, I’m in Utopia”

The storefronts were decorated with Shishas and colourful headscarves. There were handcrafts and jewellery on display and people walked down the street smiling and chatting, it seemed like Mahmoud knew everyone in the city as we passed. We met his boss and other shop owners who invited us in for tea.

Shisha's were in almost every store front.

We decided to pass on the tea and move on with the tour.  We had a constant guilt of keeping Mahmoud and Ali away from their families for such a long time.  They put in 14 hour days with us during our time in Jordan and we always had the thought in the back of our heads to move things along so that they could get home.

Not that they ever made us feel that way, it was us worrying for them. In the West People wouldn’t think of working so late into the night unless they were getting paid their overtime above and beyond their salaries. In other cultures we always have a difficult time grasping how hard people work and how long they are away from their families. It is something we will never get used to and something we will always do our best to help send people home a bit early if we can.

The amazing Hashem Restaurant with Ali and Mahmoud, This is only the First Course!

We ended off the night at the Hashem Restaurant an outdoor café located in an alleyway packed with patrons.  When we arrived, they busted out a table for us and quickly brought a feast of food. I was still full from the Kunafa and had a difficult time putting back all that food, but it was so delicious, I couldn’t say no. It is the oldest restaurant in Amman and is The King himself has eaten here and I can see why, we were eating a feast made for a king!

Our night with Ali and Mahmoud turned out to be one of the most memorable moments for us in Jordan and it was a perfect way to end our time there. We had ups and downs in the country, but one thing that was never down was the people we met, the friends we made and the scenery we saw.

For a different perspective of Jordan, Visit Solo Travelers, Shopping in Jordan, Souvenirs and my Wish List.

For more posts on Jordan

• Petra By Night
• A Jewel of Petra, The Monastery
• Wadi Rum, A Bedouin Experience
• Camels at Sunset in Wadi Rum
• Canyoning Jordan, An Eco Adventure Thrill Ride
• A Bedouin Girl
• Feynan Eco Lodge, A Quiet Retreat in Jordan
• Dead Sea Fun in Jordan

A Bedouin girl from the village of Feynan in Jordan

The people of a country have always been something that stirs emotion in me no matter where I travel. Whether it be the Sherpas of Nepal or the  Elders of  Myanmar they always leave you with that lingering connection to that place. This little girl was no exception.

As we walked with our guide Mohammad through the lower part of the Dana Valley near the Feynan Eco Lodge this little girl approached us carefully. She was hanging out playing with her sister by their bedouin tent and seemed just as curious about us as we were of her. Drawing closer she smiled and waved, giggling at the sight of these two foreigners in her valley. When I asked if I could take her photo she put on that serious face I sometimes get from people not used to having their picture taken. After a few frames as I smiled at her from behind my lens I was able to provoke this pseudo smile.

I love taking portraits of people because you can really get a sense of their life through their eyes. What they have been through and maybe what their future holds. It is for that very reason I love photography.

For more information on hikes and accommodation in Wadi Feynan, visit the Feynan Eco Lodge website.

The Entrance to the Siq (a 1.2 km long narrow gorge) Leading to Petra at night in Jordan

We walked through the Siq not knowing what to expect. We hadn’t really done a lot of research on Petra before visiting the ruins, so it was all a complete surprise to us as we followed the crowd to the Treasury.

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The Siq Leading to Petra is hand lit by candles all the way to our Final Destination over 1km later

We imagined that we had stepped back in time. The stones that we were walking upon were the original stones of Petra and we were completely in awe of our surroundings. As the twilight sun gave off a golden hugh, we could still make out the tops of the towering cliffs above.

People have walked this ancient path since 1000 BC

Candles placed in paper bags lit our path all the way through the siq of Petra. This 2 km walk is an experience you will never forget. It feels as if you will never reach the Treasury, the most famous site of Petra, but when you do, the walk is worth the wait. Each candle is hand lit to give an authentic experience transporting the visitor back centuries.

Petra, The ancient Nabatean City of Jordan was Rediscovered in 1812

The ancient Nabatean City was the secret of Jordan and it wasn’t discovered by the west until 1812. Bedouins had used this place for centuries, but it lay hidden to outsiders until 200 years ago.

Petra lay hidden and lost for centuries in the Mountains of Wadi Mousa. The Siq did it's job of hiding this New 7th Wonder of the World

Petra will be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2012 and it is a spectacular ancient city that is not to be missed. Jordan tourism will be pulling out all the stops to make the event a special one. If you happen to go to Petra, make sure to witness it at night.

Imagine how Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burchard felt walking Petra's narrow walls approaching the Treasury

Once you reach the treasury, you are treated to people playing traditional Bedouin music. Men serve tea as you sit on matts. Get there early to get to the front for the best photo opportunities and make sure to stick around after the crowds leave to capture the Treasury free of heads and shadows.

We lingered after the crowd left to capture an empty Petra, Treasury and Siq making for a stunning photo opportunity.

Our final destination for Petra by night..The Treasury

Petra by Night in Jordan is a truly magical experience. We captured these photos above by staying one step behind the crowd and one step ahead of the men taking down the candles. To be alone in Petra in complete silence and darkness was magical. But dress warm, once the sun goes down in the desert of Jordan, things turn cold quickly!

Stay tuned for more information on Petra from our visit to Petra by Day. There are many myths and legends surrounding the number 1 tourist destination in Jordan.

Petra is the perfect destination for Romance, Check out Velvet Escape for your romantic Experience in Petra. 

The sunrises on a beautiful New Zealand morning

We are up early regularly on our Flying Kiwi tour through New Zealand.  Many nights we set up our tents at secluded bush or beach camps where we were treated to some of the best sunrises and sunsets we have ever seen. This was a sunrise moment. Nobody else was on this beach as I ventured away from camp to snap this shot.  Looking into the sky I knew that we were going to have a beautiful day ahead of us.

One problem though, we been afraid to ride one since an accident here in Thailand in 2000 and we are too cheap (or poor) to buy one and take a proper course at home.   We may not be driving a full size motorbike here in Chiang Rai, but spending four days on a 125 cc scooter driving through winding mountain roads and traffic has definitely reignited that yearning to drive a motorcycle through a continent.

After our motor scooter lessons we were ready to hit the road

After our motorcycle school with Smiling Albino, we set off for the northern Thai town of Mae Salok.  The first 30 km were quite a thrill as we drove on the main highway that runs through Thailand from Malaysia to the Myanmar border.  Speeding along while following Scott our fearless leader we wove through traffic of fellow motorcycles, transport trucks and buses.  We managed just fine, but were relieved when we turned onto the quieter and less traveled road to Mae Salok.

http://smilingalbino.smugmug.com/Thailand-Photos/Smiling-Albino-Adventures/Planet-D-Chiang-Rai-Adventure/15947903_trxsG#1196214180_kZR9T

The countryside was a beautiful blend of rolling hills and green jungle. There wasn’t another tourist in sight and we had the entire road to ourselves.  I felt a big grin on my face for the entire ride.  I could have driven all day and was happy to hear that we had at least another hour of riding when we stopped for a coke at a local shop.

It was mid day when we reached the Mae Kok River where we caught a longtail boat to the Huai Khum Village Resort. This is about as remote as it gets when staying in a lodge in Thailand.  We drove three hours outside of Chiang Rai to Mae Selok village and then took a 2 km boat ride to this secluded resort on the river. Here you will see hill tribes and villagers going on with their lives without the influence of tourists.  Children play in the water as they have for centuries, men fish with hand made nets and longtail boat captains navigate the river with great skill and ease.

The entrance of Huai Khum Village Resort

We had a quick meal before setting out for a relaxing kayak down river.  The water was low, very low.  Our captain said that he thinks this river will be un- runnable this year for the first time ever. That is a sad and scary thought. The river is the life blood of the people and a major waterway will cut of travels between Chiang Rai and Thaton which passes through Mae Selok.

A lazy paddle down the river

We followed our captain down the river. Without him we would have been stuck on rocks and grounded on shallow water.  At one point a group of kids jumped into the water and grabbed onto our boat looking for a ride. It was at this time that I wished we had a waterproof camera. I was too worried about tipping over and wrecking our camera to really enjoy the moment with the kids.

However, everyone was very welcoming waving at us from the shores and saying hello as we passed. It was a pleasant and relaxing afternoon.  And what was the best perk?

We caught the longtail boat back up river

It really was the ultimate couch potato paddling adventure.  Making our way with the current, we barely had to work to propel ourselves forward. Once we were 10 km or so down river, we pulled over behind our longtail boat and loaded our kayaks on board.  Heaven forbid we paddle up river, there is beer to be had and food to be eaten.

Scott brought along a couple of Singha Beers for us to enjoy while our captain drove us back up river to the resort.

Our bungalow at Huai Khum Village Resort

With a couple of hours to spare before dinner we settled into our rustic cabin complete with two bedrooms, two sitting areas, screened in front porch and a deck to watch the sunset.   We didn’t use the oversized pool, but we couldn’t understand why this place didn’t have anyone staying in it.  Huai Khum Village is the perfect setting for a person looking to unplug and escape the pressures of life.  It is a place to find the true Thailand.

The rooms are luxury at Huai Khum Village Resort

People say they want to go off the beaten path, but here is a resort completely off the tourist trail and nobody is here. And we mean nobody.  It is a giant and beautifully landscaped property that invites a person to completely relax.  There is no cell phone or internet signal, no horns honking or people trying to sell you something.

You can hike, bike and paddle or go and explore the nearby villages.  It is directly on the Mae Kok River on the Chiang Rai, Thaton Route.  People should stop and spend a night or two in complete seclusion and give it a try.

Even the pool was gorgeous.

We enjoyed it and would love to come back to spend a few days losing ourselves in a good book by the pool or lounging on a day bed in our luxury cabin.  But that will have to wait.

We have more riding to do and in the morning we are moving on to the Myanmar Border. We’re in opium country and Thailand’s old wild west of the drug trade day.

Now we are back where it all began and we are excited to be back on the wall experiencing the thrill of climbing again. What a blast we have had with Hot Rocks Climbing School.

It has been a great 3 days of Climbing

We have had 3 glorious days in Southern Thailand and it is sad to see the end coming.  We are ready to come back and spend a month exploring routes ourselves one day soon. Now that we have had our refresher course on lead climbing we feel confident to do so.

The Final Day

The day started out on a relaxing note.  We decided that we didn’t want to do the multipitch route that normally happens on day three of the lead climbing course. Since we had already done it is 2004, we thought that we would just spend the day tackling different lead climbing routes.  So there was no hurry to get down to business.

Enjoying a Latte at Diamond Cave before climbing

Instead, we made our way to Diamond Cave and while we waited for the crowded routes to clear out we enjoyed a latte.

There is a fabulous cafe right beside the crag where coffee is ground by hand and milk is frothed the old fashioned way.  We pulled up a cushion and sat on the deck watching people climb while we enjoyed the creamiest coffee we have had in all of Thailand.

Deb starts out the day with our first Lead climb at 1-2-3 Wall

Once we were thoroughly pumped with caffeine, it was time to get down to business.  I couldn’t believe how comfortable we were climbing. I used to be a little high strung as a climber and scrambled up as fast as I could. These days I felt more relaxed and at home on the rock. I took the climbing slow, figuring out each move before pushing on.

Deb making it look easy.

Daves first solo lead on the Rocks.

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Back in Canada, when I was climbing a lot, I started to devolop nerves whenever I was leading. Here in Thailand I was soaking it all in and enjoying the view.

I really think it was Toto’s instruction.  He showed us little tricks and tips that made everything easier.  His relaxed attitude made us both feel calm and after spending 3 days with him we felt confident again.  Maybe it also had to do a little bit with age.  The past couple of years while travelling I have found that we have both mellowed out about the little things and have started to enjoy the moment. All the extra worries and “stuff” that used to go through our brains doesn’t happen anymore.  Now if I didn’t feel confident with a move, I would down climb a bit, take a break and look for an alternate solution, or rest up enough to be able to do it.  In the past I would barrel through without thinking.

At the crux of this climb!

It can be busy on the Wall.

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When you are lead climbing, you can easily fall up to 10 meters. If you fall above your last clip, your protection is below you so you are not only going to fall down to the last place that you clipped in, you are also going to fall further down the length of the rope that isn’t attached to anything. This used to freak me out.   Today however both Dave and I were calm and cool.

Cool, calm and collected climbing above the last clip

Rock climbing used to be my sport more than Dave’s. It is the one thing that I can do better than him. He wasn’t really thrilled about having to do a climbing course, , he was ready to get back into it and enjoyed every minute.

He seemed to be better at climbing now then when we used to climb 3 times a week at the gym and once a week outdoors.

We were both surprised with how relaxed we were whenever we had to set up our top anchor.  It was methodical and smooth and controlled and most of all fun.

Dave was having a ton of fun climbing this time

We only had enough time for a couple more climbs when I noticed my ankle had swollen up to the size of a golf ball.  We had no idea what happened. It didn’t hurt and I didnt’ remember banging it on anything so we came the conclusion that a spider or something bit me.  Just to be on the safe side, we went to the clinic which is just around the corner on the beach.

What king of injury was it?

They didn’t seem to concerned and Toto had already run to get me some ice to bring down the swelling.  It looked far worse than it felt and besides worrying that something poisonous bit me, I felt fine.   Dave was more worried than anyone because he saw my small cut turn into a serious infection of severe cellulitus in Africa, so he didn’t want to take any chances.   I didn’t want him to miss out on any more climbing so after being reassured by the pharmacy and the locals that there aren’t any deadly bug bites in Thailand, we decided that we would stick around and let Dave do a few more climbs.

Deb crushes Little Monkey Wall even with an injury!

While I iced my foot, I felt a little left out.  I noticed two little marks that looked like a bite so, being me, I had to give it a squeeze.  Sure enough stuff came out and the swelling went down a little bit.  Just enough for me to get back on the wall.  I had to try the Little Monkey Wall. It’s a cool climb with a bit of an overhang.  That used to be my specialty when I climbed a lot and just had to try it on lead.

Toto from Hot Rocks wa an amazing guide!

So we both tackled it and conquered it just in time for the day to end.

We had an incredible time climbing with Hot Rocks in Railay. Dave had never climbed better in his life and I remembered just how much I love the sport.

We decided that when we return home, we are going to get our gear out of storage and start up again, it is a fantastic hobby that can be pursued at any age or time of life.

Boy, were we Wrong.

Smiling Albino put together an itinerary for us that introduced us to new adventures in Thailand and to experience a different side of the country that we have never seen. They tailored a trip to suit our interests taking us from the Southern Islands of the Andaman Sea to the most northern point of the country on the Burmese border.

The first leg of our trip with John Gray Sea Canoe

The First leg of our Thailand Adventure began with John Gray Sea Canoe.

Read More About John Gray and his company at Meet Thailand’s Big Monkey

Today we are exploring the  famous sea caves and Hongs of Thailand just off the coast of Phuket.  It is a pleasant hour long boat ride to our first cave.  Sea Eagles follow our boat as our leader Nick throws out some fresh fish for them to scoop up.  A Bollywood movie is filming a high speed chase on the water complete with yachts and helicopters following in a convoy and the incredible karst formations of the islands surround us in every direction.

The Sea Eagles followed us for a while!

As we eat our delicious lunch en route to our first island, we listen to what will be happening in the day ahead. John Gray goes out to the islands later than other companies giving his passengers a special treat on more than one occasion.  When we arrive there are no other boats around and we have the Hongs (hollow lagoons in the centre of islands) to ourselves.  Keeping his tour list to a minimum, he allows only 30 or so people on the trip to keep the experience intimate.

Paddling out of one of the Hongs

We all hop into soft canoes armed with our safety briefing and rules freshly in our minds.  We all have a guide because paddling through sea caves is not something to be taken lightly. There is great skill involved in reading the tides and navigating through narrow openings.  At some points we have to lay down to get through the cave and our guide “Natt” paddles through with smooth skill careful to not touch a hanging stalactite or to disturb the precious natural environment.  One of the caves is 200 meters in length and we paddle through in pitch darkness with only the shine of Natt’s headlamp to guide the way.

Breathtaking Lagoons, known as Hongs, await you on the other side.

When we emerge from the dark, we arrive to a serene setting of sea cliffs and mangrove trees.  A quiet lagoon in the centre of an island awaits, known as Hongs these hollow circular openings are magnificent.

John Gray is the founder of the Sea Kayaking industry in Thailand and he discovered and explored these caves and hongs in the early 80′s. Having extensive knowledge of sea caving from already developing his business in Hawaii, he wanted to come to Thailand to promote eco tourism and share his love of the water with the world.  He now worries that the very natural setting that he loves is being destroyed because of his findings.

Sea Kayaking is a must do experience in Thailand

The Sea kayaking experience is over eploited in Thailand, but John Gray is doing his best to curb the over development and for now, at least keeps his tours authentic and to a minimum. He avoids over crowding his boats to make a lot of money and he encourages responsible paddling. From not taking anything from the environment, leaving anything behind or disrupting the wildlife and natural setting his staff briefs that passengers before each trip about the importance of responsible tourism.  His company has zero tolerance for any guest that doesn’t follow the rules.

Cultural Experience

We visited 3 other hongs today leading up to the climactic moment of the tour; Hong By Starlight.   Before dinner we all sat down with our guides to build our own Krathong. The Krathong ceremony has participants make their own offering out of banana tree bark to give to the Sea Goddess. We decorate them with lotus leaves, incense, candles and flowers.

Our finished Krathong

With our offerings ready to go, we eat our incredible dinner feast and wait for the sun to go down. At dark, we hop into our boat and paddle in darkness. No headlamps or flashlights are allowed, this is meant to be enjoyed by starlight. When we enter the hong we are treated to stars twinkling in the black night while bioluminescent sea plankton sparkles through our fingers as we drag our hands through the water.  Sparking lights are all around us and we can’t get enough of the bioluminescences.  Natt splashes his paddle into the water and it really lights up.

It was Magical.

The night ended with our boat dropping Dave and I off on our own private island for a night of camping on one of Thailand’s famous karst islands.  Allan, was waiting for us all day as he set up camp and we were greeted with a roaring fire and cold beer where we settled in for the night and watched the boat sail off with the rest of the passengers heading back to Phuket.

Pinch me now, I am in a dream.

The John Gray Sea Canoe day trip is spectacular. Not only do you see and visit many hongs and caves, you are well fed and hydrated with an abundance of food and drink, you are given a spiritual experience, a thrill and excitement as you go through the caves and treated to incredible beauty.  Don’t be fooled by the other companies claiming to use John Gray’s name.  John Gray Sea Canoe is the only and original.

Note: This tour was sponsored by the Tourism Authority of Thailand.

Have you ever wanted to take your own epic trip through several countries and have the photographs to tell about it?  Not everyone can get away from their jobs for an extended period of time so we are offering you the chance to come along with us to Mongolia.

Do you or someone you love have a dream of travel but have too many commitments leave at the moment? Why not add some excitement and fun into life for a few weeks as you become our own travel gnome.

This Could Be You!

We are making our way to Mongolia this July, driving through 15 countries starting in England.  This epic 16,000 km journey known as The Mongol Rally takes us 1/3 of the way around the world!

One very fun aspect of the Mongol Rally is that each team is encouraged to bring along a mascot of sorts and strap something fun to the roof of their car. We have a goal to drive an ambulance all the way to Mongolia and what’s more appropriate to go with a medical vehicle than our very own CPR Dummy.

Go to eBay now! and you can join our Adventure.

Here is where you come in.

We are selling off “the face” of the CPR Teddy (as it is officially called) on auction. Your headshot can come along with us through 15 countries and have your photo taken in all of these locations, at major tourist attractions and along side us as a part of our team.  Your photograph will be attached to the face of our dummy and brought along to look exactly like you are there with us.  All photographs will be of the utmost in tastefulness and we would show you having the time of your life sipping tea with the locals, catching some rays in the desert or at the steering wheel of our vehicle in the far outreaches of Russia.

Your face, as the official Social Media Syndicate Mascot will shown on our blogs and to all our fans as you travel the world.  You will become a bit of a celebrity I must say. As our 80,000 combined readers and over 50,000 twitter followers will get to know you as you join in on our adventure.

You will receive regular updates on how you’re doing and at the end there will be an entire slide show dedicated to your journey to Mongolia. Of course you will receive your very own copy of all the shots to display on your living room wall.

Note: All Money will go towards buying and shipping the ambulance that we will be driving across continents to be donated to Aventures For Development who will best decide where to use the vehicle in the country of Mongolia.

Where Will You Be Going?

[column width="47%" padding="6%"]England
France
Belgium
Germany
Czech Republic
Slovakia
Hungary
Romania[/column]
[column width="47%" padding="0"]Moldova
Ukraine
Russia
Kazakhstan
Uzbekistan
Kyrgyzstan
Mongolia[/column]

It’s a memory to last a lifetime and put a little fun into your summer holidays.  Get your friends and colleagues to follow along on your journey and send us messages through Twitter and Facebook.

Bid Now! and make your travel dreams come true.

We are working on big things with our newsletter.

We want to bring you the best information on travel and adventure we can find each month and we are offering an incentive to sign you up!

Everyone that is already a subscriber plus any new subscriber to thePlanetD newsletter will receive a free 2011 desk top calendar of Dave’s incredible photos.

We have already given away the January desktop as our Christmas gift to you and now you can change your photos each month and dream of an exotic destination while working at your computer.

Just go to our sign up form at the top right hand side of this page to receive your instant gift.

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Space is limited so email now!

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Do you have an upcoming tour or travel business or product you want promoted? Contact us today and provide information about your business and product.  We will have a look and if it goes with the format of ThePlanetD, your free advertisement will be placed in the February edition of our newsletter and run until April.

Contact us in the Form below or see our Contact us Page to send us an email with the product that you want to promote.

What are you waiting for, there is nothing to lose and no obligation. Send us a message and we will get right back to you with our email address where you can send us all your information.

We will post your button, banner, logo or text into our monthly newsletter that has a higher than average open rate for our niche market of travel and adventure.

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To Subscribe to our newsletter simply fill out the form Subscribe to our Newsletter by email at the top right hand corner or  you can click on this link for the sign up form and instantly receive your free 2011 desktop calendar.

]]> http://theplanetd.com/free-advertising-and-subscriber-giveaway/feed/ 1 http://theplanetd.com/photography-china-night/ http://theplanetd.com/photography-china-night/#comments Sun, 09 Jan 2011 14:41:59 +0000 debndave http://theplanetd.com/?p=14660 When the sun goes down China’s cities come alive.

Each city bursts into a neon work of art to welcome the dark.  Historical sites, town squares, skyscrapers and street vendors. No one can escape the electric glow in a Chinese city and really who would want to.

Late evening was our favourite time of day in China. Walking through the while streets admiring the patterns of light gave us hours of entertainment and we weren’t the only ones.  Hundreds of people made their way down to the waterfront or the walking streets and squares with their tripods in hand to take that magic shot of a famous China city at night.

Here are our favourite moments after the sun goes down.

Hong Kong Harbour Light show.

Shanghai's Skyscrapers Light up the Night

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Chairman Mao's Portrait hangs at the Gate of the Forbidden City

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Downtown Yangshuo. This Motorcycle parked right in front of me while taking this shot. It ended up adding foreground interest to the photo.

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Bell Tower with Traffic going around the Square in Xi'an

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Xi'an City Square with Drum Tower in Back

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Shanghai's Shopping and Pedestrian Street

Muslim Quarter

Hawkers Cooking at Beijing's Night Market

The Bund, Shanghai, China

It doesn’t matter how many places you have been before, or how many spectacular sights you have seen, until you step foot on Machu Picchu, you always feel that you are missing something in your repertoire of travels.

Machu Picchu didn’t disappoint. It lived up to the hype as one of the great ruins of the world.  Perched high in the mountains, this ancient Incan city is a still a mystery today. At 2340 metres (7970 feet) it terraced walls plunge into the deep valleys below.  How was this marvel of engineering made? How was a civilizations built high in the mountains and how were these heavy stones moved?

Only the resident Machu Picchu Llamas may have the answer. As the clouds and mist rose and the complex was revealed, I snapped this shot capturing the master of the house overlooking its domain.  This vantage point captures that famous photo that we all have seen so many times of Machu Picchu and its famous resident the llama.

So grab a Pisco Sour and enjoy the view of one of the most magnificent  feats of engineering in the world!

If you would have asked us 4 months ago if we would ever lead a tour. The answer would have certainly been no.

It is amazing how things change.

Now We are Leading a Tour in India!! – more details at Events with ThePlanetD

During our time on Princess Cruises the idea first came into play.  Carrie from Cruise Buzz suggested that we start running our own tours.  Other travel bloggers on the tour that we have great respect for agreed stating that a photography tour would be ideal. We have travelled extensively for a decade and we have very social personalities.  Carrie mentioned it more than once and each time we said we weren’t ready yet, or we aren’t interested in that yet.

When we flew directly to New York for TBEX, Trisha from Travel Writers Exchange told us that she wanted us to meet Chris from the Amateur Traveler. She said that he leads his own tours and that she thinks it would be a great idea for us to run one of our own.  We met him and he was a super nice guy. He told us about his tour and we thought, that is cool, but not for us right now.

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The Summer Went On.

And then, the Toronto Travel Tribe began.  We have met some great people this summer and if you are a believer in that sort of thing…We feel that our plans changed drastically this March because we were meant to get to know the Toronto travel community better.  If we stayed in Asia and moved on to China after Nepal, we never would have met these people and had the amazing opportunities that we had this summer.  Many doors opened to us these past 3 months.

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We had luncheons With PR agencies, we networked and shared knowledge with other Bloggers, we got to know our blogging idol Journeywoman on a personal level and can now call her a friend, we spoke at events on 3 different occasions, we took part in press trips and we got to know the great people at Intrepid Travel Toronto.  We are hoping to build a long and successful partnership with them.

Yes, we feel that our summer in Toronto was meant to be.

The travel tribe people put the idea into Dave’s head that he should lead a photography tour of Toronto.  They also told him regularly how much they love his photography and that we should lead a travel tour of our own somewhere in the world.

That boosted his confidence and after so many people telling us that we would be perfect to lead a tour, we began to soften on the subject.

Dave Leading the Photography tour in Toronto

We lead a photography tour through Kensington Market with Intrepid Travels and really enjoyed it.  Dave loves sharing his love of knowledge for photography and I love socializing and asking him the questions that maybe others are…

a. too afraid to admit they don’t know
or
b. didn’t think of asking that question.

We now know what we need to focus on for India and we are looking forward to leading a tour ourselves in January.

How did this start out?

Mariellen of Breathe Dream Go is an expert on India.  She asked to use one of Dave’s photos to feature on her blog, and Wire India saw it.  I saw their tweet that ThePlanetD’s photography would be a great addition one of their tours.  Mariellen encouraged it and agreed whole heartedly. Thanks Mariellen for suggesting us and for your support!

When we saw their conversation, we said that yes, we would be interested.

A simple tweet has turned into two back to back tours in Rajasthan with Wire India and we couldn’t be more excited.

They had been following our blog for a while and felt that we would be a perfect fit. We went through our favourite places that we visited in Rajasthan and put together an itinerary.  With some suggestions from Wire India and their must see destination and our favourite spots for photography, we feel that this tour will give people the best experience they can have in this diverse, exciting and visually stunning part of India.

We will focus on not only getting that perfect shot that you can finally hang on your wall, but encourage people to integrate with society.  We want to teach photographers that by interacting with the people of India, they will not only capture an unforgettable moment, but create memories to last a lifetime.

A photographer shouldn’t be paying their subjects some rupees or sneaking a shot from afar, they should converse and get to know the people. We came away from India with new friends and fond memories of the people we met.  A simple conversation, a chat during a chai sale or a joke and smile can make for an incredible moment in time.

Discover how to step out from behind the tour glass window and experience India from within instead of as a stranger looking on.

FOCUS offers amateur and aspiring photographers a brilliant opportunity to combine the fantastic sights of Rajasthan with expert tuition in travel photography.

Click provides amateur and aspiring photographers with a slightly different way of exploring Rajasthan.

For more details, dates and pricing visit MyWireIndia.co.uk today!!! We will be hosting two back to back tours.

Just spending the time browsing through the amazing photo’s at National Geographic and seeing different perspectives and compositions really inspires. So I hope these photo’s inspire everyone to go out there and take in the beauty that this world has to offer.

After all National Geographic’s tag line is “Inspiring people to care about the Planet”.

TOLEDO, SPAIN

National Geographic's Toledo, Spain

Dave Bouskill's Toledo, Spain

BANFF NATIONAL PARK, ALBERTA, CANADA

National Geographic's Banff National Park, Alberta, Canada

Bow Lake in the Canadian Rockies, Alberta

DENALI NATIONAL PARK, ALASKA, USA

National Geographic's Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

Dave Bouskill's Denali National Park, Alaska, USA

TAJ MAHAL IN AGRA, INDIA

National Geographic's Taj Mahal in Agra, India

Dave Bouskill’s Taj Mahal in Agra, India

THE WHITE DESERT, EGYPT

National Geographic's White Desert, Egypt

Dave Bouskill's White Desert, Egypt

We didn’t know what to expect day to day during the land portion of our Alaskan Cruise.  All we knew was that our tour leader Guy was going to take excellent care of us and show us the best of what Alaska has to offer.

Taking part in the Follow Me At Sea Press Trip presented by Princess Cruises, we had access to every tour and excursion that anyone could imagine taking part in.  We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to take part in dream adventures such as flights over Mount McKinley, helicopter rides over the Juneau Ice Field and racing through the inside passage of the Tongass National Forest.  But we also had the chance to learn about the history of America’s most exciting state.

To Find out more about our other adventures, Check out Isabelles Travel Guide for our round up.

The Landscape of Denali National Park, Alaska

Denali National Park Tour

One of the most informative and interesting trips that we took was a bus ride through Denali National Park.

It could have been one big yawn fest driving for four hours on a lonesome road somewhere in the middle of Alaska, but our bus driver Doug, was captivating and entertaining.

Founded in 1917 by a group of pioneers and visionaries concerned with over hunting of the native Dall Sheep, Denali National Park grew considerably over the years and now has an area of over six million acres. Denali is larger than the state of New Hampshire.

Cabins, like these, still exist scattered around Denali National Park

Little has changed in almost a century.  Park Rangers still patrol by dogsled, log cabins are still used as shelter and traffic is limited into the park with only one road leading in and one road leading out.

We watched an excellent 18 minute film telling the story of Denali’s roots and how it came to be. I found it entertaining and very interesting.  I wasn’t expecting to enjoy it so much, but this film is an excellent documentary.

The best way to see Denali National Park is on the bus

Private vehicles can venture into Denali National Park, but they are only allowed in as far as the 14 mile marker. The rest of the trip must be taken by bus, bicycle or on foot.  It is an excellent way to keep human impact low on the park.

We enjoyed learning about the plants of the area. I never thought I would be so enthralled with plants, but Doug’s passion made me passionate.  We held on to his every word as he explained what moss, tress and flowers could be used for medicinal purposes.

You can make an entire salad out of weeds here in Denali – Blue Bell and Fireweed are completely edible.

The Blue bell's are edible. Salad anyone?

Try some Colts Foot in a tea to clear the lungs.

Have some Valarien to relax.

Relax with some Valarien flower

Did you cut yourself during a hike? Horse Lychan will clear that up. It is natures Neosporin.

Just be sure to know what you are doing before you eat anything. Some plants can be very poisonous.

As we drove, we saw some wildlife in the distance. We spotted some Caribou and a few birds.  I can understand why the wildlife doesn’t frequent the area. It is the only road going through the park so they probably stay away.  Liz from Travelogged ventured farther into the park the following day and saw more wildlife including bears.  She suggests taking the 8 hour tour of Denali.

Mount McKinley

Mount McKinley appears on the horizon.

The highlight of the day was definitely spotting the summit of Mount McKinley. Known by its Athabaskan name in Alaska, Denali means the High One. At  6,194 metres (20,320 feet) it is North America’s highest peak.  It is shrouded in cloud most of the year, but we managed to capture a beautiful shot as it peaked out from the clouds.

We didn’t care for the staged performers that waited for us at checkpoints in the park, but we did thoroughly enjoy Doug’s passion for the land and for the environment.

Our Native Athabaskan Guide

Our least favorite moment of the day came when an Athabaskan Native guide talked about hunting bears in their dens during hibernation. I can completely understand why his ancestors took this right of passage; to feed their families during the long cold winters.  But to hunt a sleeping, helpless bear in cold blood in today’s day and age when food is readily available is something that I can never understand.

It was during our drive home that I started to listen to our driver Doug speak as I was dozing off.  His words gently took me out of my daze as he talked calmly about preservation and conservation.

It was an interesting contrast to hear Doug’s point of view compared to the other guide.  Something I respect about the National Park and Princess Cruises for, they give both sides of the story for the passenger to decide who they agree with.

Denali National Park is still wilderness. We should never forget that.

When trekking into nature, we have to remember that we are the visitors.  We must learn how to be careful when hiking out into the wild Alaskan Wilderness.  Make a lot of noise, hang your food away from your tent, don’t keep food in your tent and know what to do when you spot wildlife such as a bear.

Up until last year there hadn’t been an attack by a Grizzley for 93 years. Humans and nature have co-extisted beautifully here.  But that all changed with new gun legislation.  For some crazy reason the government has allowed tourists to carry guns into the National Park to protect themselves.

Now instead of taking the proper precautions, people are feeling over confident and just last year a Grizzly Bear was shot and killed.

For our part, we will continue to enjoy our national parks here and Canada around the world gun free.

There is nothing more fulfilling than enjoying nature up close and personal and we look forward to coming back to Alaska and spending several days in this untouched and magnificent park.

While the tour was interesting and informative, there is nothing better than stepping out of the tour bus and getting out from behind the glass and actually exploring a great park like Denali on foot.

We can’t wait to come back to Alaska.

One of the most pleasant excursions we had on our Alaskan Cruise was during our day in Skagway, Alaska.  Princess Cruises really spoiled us by allowing us to choose any adventure that we liked during our time on the Follow Me At Sea Press Trip.

Alaska is an adventure paradise.

Between the wildlife, the glaciers and the terrain, a person could spend weeks filling up their itinerary with activities.

The Helicopter adventure starts in Skagway, Alaska

The Heli, Hike and Rail day trip was the perfect blend of adventure, exercise and sight seeing.

The day was beautiful and conditions were perfect for a flight over the Juneau ice field.  Flying in a helicopter is a thrill like no other. I was expecting to feel a little nauseous during the flight as the last helicopter trip we took was through the gorge of Victoria Falls in Zambia. That was described as whitewater rafting in the air and it was definitely a crazy ride.

Heli

Our flight over the Juneau ice fields near Skagway was a far smoother ride. I drew the lucky straw on this flight and had a front row view of the mountains and valleys below. 6 passengers were sent to their designated seats according to weight. Dave was the unlucky guy for a change and landed in the middle seat at the back. No great photos from him, but my video footage is incredible.

Unfortunately you are going to have to wait for that. We have 6 months of editing to catch up on!

Great Heli flight over the Juneau Icefields

Our flight path took us over lakes, deep valleys of the Sawtooth mountains, the town of Skagway and of course the Juneau ice fields. We circled over head taking a few passes down for a closer look at the mountain’s glaciers. To see a glacier from above is striking.  These massive ice fields have been here for millenniums carving deep gorges into the landscape. Their power is awe-inspiring and yet, they peacefully slumber below.

We were in the air for 30 minutes enjoying the thrilling ride and spectacular landscape.

Landing in the middle of the Alaskan Wilderness is outstanding.

Hiking Adventure starts at the Whitepass Railway Tracks

The helicopter set us down on the side of the White Pass Railway tracks in the heart of the Tongass National Forest. Built in 1898 during the heart of the Gold Rush, this route seemed and impossible task traveling from Dawson City Yukon to Skagway Alaska.

The entrance, for us at least, to Tongass National Forest

As our pilots took off, we crossed the tracks to receive our supplies for the hike ahead.  We each received a bum bag filled with bottled water, a Snickers or Twix bar and a bag of almonds, the perfect snack for a hike in the woods.

Hike

Bear claw marks on the trees!

Some Alaskan bear poop on our hike.

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The leisurely hike took us through old growth temperate rain forest.  Our knowledgeable guide pointed our bear scratches in on trees and bear poop, which made it all that much more exciting to know that we are in wild Alaskan bear country.

I normally lose interest in a lot of what guides have to say, but today Dave and I were completely enthralled.  We learned how moss can help to clot a major wound and stave off infection, we learned that spruce tree buds are quite tasty and nutritious.  In fact, they are so filled with Vitamin C that Captain Cook fed his crew spruce buds and spruce ale to fend off Scurvy. There are even beers today made from spruce buds, have you ever heard of Spruce Ale? The Alaskan Brewing Company uses spruce to flavor its Winter Ale.

Alaskan Fact:
Question: How do you tell a Spruce Tree from a Fir Tree?
Answer: Give it a Hand Shake.

Spruce trees and fir trees look very similar, but you can tell them apart by clasping their needles in your hand. Fur is soft and Spruce is spiky. You can remember this by using the Friendly Fir, Sharp Spruce. It the needles are sharp, you can eat the spruce buds. Delicious.

We hiked along the Skagway River

We hiked out for 3 hours along a trail following the Skagway River. People can actually stay out here for days hiking in the woods. There are shacks to rent that sleep up to eight people. The truly adventurous can even come out during the winter and snowshoe their way in while staying in the huts spread out along the trail.

The hike was very scenic!

After some beautiful scenic stops on the glacier river, we reached our destination. A low valley looking up to a a panoramic view of the Alaskan Sawtooth Mountain range where we enjoyed a glimpse of Laughton Glacier.  Our guides found a group of Dall Sheep with their telescopic lens high on a cliff. These mighty horned, snow white sheep were perched precariously on a jagged edge.

Rail

the Whitepass Railway on it's way back to Skagway

It was then time to make our way back to catch the historic White Pass Train back to Skagway.  We had a little over an hour until the train came, otherwise, we were walking back to Skagway. The trek was timed perfectly. We made it back just in time to see the train circling the bend.  As it passed, I could see the looks on the passengers faces. What was this small group of people doing standing in the middle of the Alaskan Wilderness. To their surprise, we hopped on the back car.

A great outside view of the Alaska Rail lines!

On a train, the back is always the best and we were able to step outside to enjoy the view. As we munched on salmon pate and crackers and enjoyed an early beer, we enjoyed the scenery as we learned a little about the history of the railway.

We passed the Gold Rush Cemetery, resting place of the famous Soapy Smith and Frank Reid died in a shootout. Soapy was a legendary con man taking advantage of new comers looking for their Gold Rush Dream. We saw Black Cross Rock, a 100 ton rock that buried two railroad workers,  bridal veil falls and the spectacular Alaskan Scenery.

The Alaskan Princess Cruise is filled with the opportunity for a lot of adventure.  We had the chance to sample many adventures during our time there, but be prepared to spend money.  This day excursion will set you back $399.  When planning your Alaskan Cruise, choose your excursions wisely. You will want to take advantage of everything that you can. After all a trip to Alaska is a once in a lifetime opportunity.

People are always surprised to hear that Dave and I have never been to New York.  It is only a 9-hour drive from Toronto and really, who hasn’t been to New York City?

…Yours Truly.

Ok, I was here once when I was about 16, but that doesn’t really count.  There is nothing like experiencing the city that never sleeps as an adult.

We had always wondered what all the fuss was about when it came to New York.  I mean, it is just a city right. That is why we never bothered to take the trip here.  There are far more interesting places that we could go on earth.

Boy, were we wrong.

New York City is awesome!

New York has to be the coolest city on the planet!

The energy is intoxicating and the sites are exciting and there is so much to do!  We walked around like a couple of kids checking out all the places that we heard about and dreamed about going to as children.

Theatre is alive and well in NYC!

For me, Broadway was a highlight. I majored in Music Theatre and always dreamed of having my name in lights on a marquee.   Theatre is alive and well in New York.  Chicago, La Cage Au Folles, A Little Night Music, Promises Promises and American Idiot and Billy Elliot are running right now with big name stars such as Kelsey Grammar, Katherine Zeta Zones and Kristin Chenoweth to name a few.

I couldn’t believe the amount of theatres. A person could go to a show every day of the month and still have plenty to choose from.

Radio City Music Hall!

We were surprised with how close together all the main attractions are to each other. Radio City Music Hall is just down the road from The Ed Sullivan Theater where David Letterman shoots the Late Show daily.

The cast from Twilight was just arriving to the studio as we turned the corner. We missed their entrance, but the buzz on the street was quite exciting.

We took advantage of our CityPass which we highly recommend.  You get to jump to the front of the line and you save $65 on New Yorks most popular attractions.

With everything being so close to each other, we managed to walk around a lot of Manhattan and still visit MOMA.

The Museum of Modern Art!

Lots to learn at MOMA!

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The Museum of Mondern Art is the most visited site in all of New York City.  I can see why.  It is filled with Impressionist art, modern art, and sculptures. And it is laid out in a slick, modern building.  The crowds were a little overwhelming, but not so much that is was impossible to take in the art work.

Rockefeller Center!

Heading up to the Top of The Rock!

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Top of the Rock Rockefeller Center has been ingrained in our psyches since we were knee high to a grasshopper.  We have watched the Christmas trees being raised there each year, we have seen people figure skate on the ice rink, we have watched movies take place at the Rock, but more importantly… We are huge fans of 30 Rock with Tina Fey.  How lucky are the people that get to go to work in this building each day?  Home to Saturday Night Live, and many other iconic TV Shows put out by NBC in New York, it is the place of dreams.

Our New York CityPass allowed us to go up to the viewing platform on the roof of the 88 floor.  After watching a short video on the history of Rockefeller Center we loaded into the elevator and were treated to a little light show and media display.

The roof offered amazing views of the city and if you go up to the top viewing platform, you can look out free of protective glass.

You gotta love Times Square!

Times Square What city has a more famous square than New York City. Located at Broadway and 42^nd street this is the square to end all squares.  It is surreal to step foot into the crowd of people as you are surrounded by giant LED screens playing ads and promoting New York.  It is alive with energy and side streets are filled with theatres galore.

Broadway songs played through my mind all day. 42^nd Street, Broadway from Gypsy, New York New York from On the Town, I could relate every street, square or building to a song that I had sang years ago.

Watching movies in Bryant Park!

Bryant Park – I have seen this park on many a movie.  People meet here at sunset to watch old movies as they sit on blankets. Carousel was playing tonight and Dave laughed as he looked over at me.  “You look like a little girl in wide eyed wonder,” He said.  I am a sucker for old movies and musicals are especially my weakness. It was very romantic.

5^th Avenue This is the street that I have always thought of wealth and prosperity in New York.  5^th Avenue is where the Easter Parade takes place. It is where the rich live and it is also on the way to the Empire State Building from Times Square.

A View of NYC from the Empire State Building!

Empire State Building We haven’t been there during the day, but after visiting it at night, I don’t think that there is a better time to see it.  The crowds are small and it is open until 2:00 am!  We skipped the small queue with our CityPass Tickets that included a free audio tour.  I cannot stress enough how great this tour was.  Narrated by Tony the Cabbie it gives a detailed and entertaining description of everything that you are looking at.

Once again old movies came to mind, Love Affair, An Affair to Remember and of course Sleepless in Seattle ran through my head.  I felt lucky to have the man I love up there with me.

Looking back to 5th Ave from Washington Square Park!

It was a whirlwind day, but as you may have realized that is the way Dave and I like to travel.  When we hit a city, we just can’t get enough of seeing the sites.  Don’t worry, we settled down enough to enjoy lunch and dinner and we even managed to slip in some time for a coffee.

I am sure that most people would need more time in MOMA, but we only needed a couple of hours so that helped us to jam a lot into the day.

It was long and it ended well into the wee hours of the morning, but we definitely made the most of our first day of sight seeing in New York, New York.

Alaska is full of Flora and Fauna that if you spend enough time here you can literally see it all. From Bald eagles and Humpback whales to beautiful wild flowers and amazing National Parks. Alaska really has something for everyone. We were luck enough to capture some great moments while here and hopefully these photo’s will encourage you to pay a visit to the rich rugged land of Alaska!

The Bald Eagle of Alaska

The Valarian Flower

A Humpback Whale Waves

Alaska's Northern Geranium

Sea Lions frolic in the cold waters of Alaska

Alaskan Blue Belles

A mother moose and her calf

Tongass National Forest, Alaska

The Alaskan Brown Bear

Lupinus Arcticus wildflowers

A Bald Eagle in Flight

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