REAL ADVENTURE HIKE - MOUNT HUASHAN
If you are tired of hiking tourist trails that are supposed to be an adventure and are definitely not, you might like to try a real adventure hike. This is said to be the most dangerous tourist route in the world.
Mount Huashan in China can have you dangling over a 2090 cliff face and there is no safety barrier!
Mount Huashan located near Huayin City is a sacred mountain and is 2200m above sea level.
To reach the summit on foot you have to navigate along a trail of narrow footpaths and very steep staircases that have been cut into the mountain.
With cliffs on all sides the North Peak section of the trail is extremely exciting. Hikers manoeuvre across the cliff face by using a rusty chain and a 30cm wide wooden plank. This is followed by a 20m descent using another chain to help you get back on the trail.
Apparently there are approximately 100 deaths per year from those falling off the trail. Despite the obvious dangers hundreds of climbers a day make the hike.
The climb takes about 24 hours if you want to visit all five peaks on foot. There is a fairly new cable car but that is supposed to be even more frightening and dangerous than walking the trail.
When and if you ever get to the top the view is worth it. A breathtaking view of waterfalls, temples and ancient ruins.
For those of you looking for a real adventure, danger and excitement you might want to consider this real adventure hike up Mount Huashan.
BAJA, MEXICO
If you are looking for an adventure holiday why not try Baja, Mexico.
It is a beautiful place with fantastic scenery. It is a great place for hiking, kayaking, snorkeling, diving and whale watching.
You can get a train into the Copper Canyon which is supposed to be one of the world’s great train rides, then hike through this scenic canyon.
Baja has beautiful clear blue waters and kayaking is such a pleasure as you see dolphins, sea lions, grey and blue whales. There is also an abundance of bird life in the area.
If you would like to enjoy some whale watching go to the Bay of Magdalena where the grey Whales make their annual migration to nurse in the shallow lagoons. The tours here are eco friendly and take place in small groups to minimise the impact of tourism on the Whales.
It is a great place for diving and snorkeling with plenty to see and the company of playful dolphins and sea lions.
As a change form the great outdoors you can visit Chihuahua and enjoy all the delights of a big city, perhaps do some sightseeing and shopping to get those all important souvenirs of your holiday.
Baja is truly a beautiful spot for an adventure holiday with plenty to see and do for the whole family. It is a great place to get some spectacular photographs too so don’t forget your camera.
MORE HOLIDAY SCAMS
An update on a previous article on holiday scams.
1. Someone spills food on you and then of course tries to clean you up with a napkin. While you are distracted someone else steals your wallet or handbag.
2. This is a variation on the previous scam and one that has been tried on me in Rome and Nice. Someone comes up to you with a map or a newspaper in their hands. As they speak to you in a foreign language they point to something on the paper or map. While you concentrate on understanding what they want their other hand under the paper is busy extracting your wallet or rummaging in your handbag.
3. Taking a late night taxi in a foreign country check your change (paper money) carefully. Make sure it is real money, make sure it is not out of date currency.
4. When arriving at your holiday destination in a taxi, take your bags with you to check in and keep them beside you. Do not leave them in the taxi to be rifled through.
5. Someone near you picks up a piece of jewelry from the ground. They ask if it is yours. Just say no and keep going do not get involved or fall for giving them some money in exchange for the jewelry or sob stories of starving children.
6. A popular one in China is the mother with a number of poorly dressed and dirty children. Mind you these children all seem to have red rosy cheeks and are frequently chubby. Anyway she will obviously beg for money and so will the very persistent children. Do not be fooled the children are usually hired by the day. You can usually tell the genuinely needy who do need your help and are hungry or disabled.
7. In most Mediterranean resorts there will be an abundance of “touts ” They will offer you scratch cards and even if you do not want it they will scratch the card for you. Of course you have won. This involves going to their office to collect your prize. Do not believe a word of it and do not go unless you want to waste half a day trying to escape from the time share sellers.
All of these are current scams which are doing the rounds in various countries. We obviously do not want to put you off travelling but we do want you to be watchful and aware that everyone is not what they seem to be or as honest as yourself or the people you usually associate with. So be adventurous, have a great holiday but keep an eye out for the scammers amongst you.
THE EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK
Within its territory the USA has some of the finest National Parks in the world. These eco systems of outstanding scenic beauty and teeming with wildlife make for a fantastic holiday destination. The three largest Parks are Death Valley, Yellowstone and the Everglades.
The smallest of the three, created in 1934, is the Everglades National Park in Florida. This subtropical wilderness covering 1,509,000 acres is a slow moving system of rivers fed by the Kissimmee River and Lake Okeechobee. Its importance is such that it has been declared a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve and a Wetland of International Importance.
It contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere which acts as a nursery for the many marine and bird species. The Everglades is inhabited by 350 species of birds, 300 species of fresh and sea water fish, 40 species of mammals and some 50 types of reptiles. Apart from mango swamps, their habitats include Pineland, Sawgrass and Sloughs (Low lying areas covered in water flowing at an almost imperceptible rate)
Reptiles and amphibians find homes in the Hardwood Hammocks which are tiny tear-shaped islands rising a few inches above water. Protected or endangered species include the Florida Panther, Turtles, the American Crocodile, - which shares a rare co-existence with alligators - the West Indian Manatee, Tree Snails and the Wood Rat. For the bird watchers, exotic birds include the White Pelican, Turkey Vulture and Wood Storks. The Park is the most significant breeding site for tropical wading birds in North America.
There are several visitor centres including the Shark Valley Centre, the Ernest Coe Centre, the Flamingo Centre and the Gulf Coast Visitor’s Centre From the latter canoers can access the Wilderness Waterway, a 160 Km canoe trail. On Pine Island there are self-guided walking trails through hammocks, pinelands and sloughs where on the Anhinga and the Gumbo Limbo Trails visitors can see alligators, turtles and birds, close up! More rugged trails for serious hikers exist in the mangrove swamps which are best for seeing Shore and Wading Birds. Two high boardwalks allow visitors to explore a Cypress forest at Pa-Ha-O-Kee. The Marjory Stonemann Douglas Wilderness Area offers cyclists 45 Km of off-road riding.
Low powered motorboats are allowed in certain areas. Jet skis and air-boats are forbidden. Swimming is not recommended unless you wish to collide with Water Moccasins or Alligators in the low visibility water!!
There are 234, all-year-round campsites with 108 accessible by cars and RV’s. Back-country permits are required for certain of these sites.
The Everglades National Park is without doubt an American treasure and you and the family will surely enjoy a visit to this unique region. It is highly recommended for photographers, campers, hikers, canoeists, birdwatchers,animal lovers and those who love adventure. The Everglades National Park has it all.
THE GREAT BARRIER REEF - ADVENTURE HOLIDAY
Posted by Sunny
One of the world’s greatest natural wonders the Great Barrier Reef is perfect for an adventure holiday.
The Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef in the world, roughly parallel to the coast of Queensland, Australia, for almost 2,000km.
The waters of the Reef provide the world’s busiest and most varied marine habitats. There is an abundance of Marine life here, 2800 species of fish, 400 different types of coral, 400 types of molluscs, 500 species of seaweed, 215 species of birds, 15 species of sea snake and 6 species of sea turtle.
That is why some of the best scuba diving and snorkeling in the world can be found here. Also, because they have such great weather in the area you can dive here virtually 365 days of the year although the best times are from October to December. January to March can be rainy not that it matters much if you are getting wet anyway!
In the area of the Great Barrier Reef you can get many adventure holidays. Scuba and Diving Holidays are the obvious but there are also Safaris and Jungle Tours, Skydiving, Bungy Jumping, White Water Rafting Holidays, Horse Riding Adventures, Rain Forest Hikes, Hill Climbing, Parasailing and the all important Surfing.
So if you are the great outdoor type and into adventure holidays try the Great Barrier Reef for the ultimate Adventure Holiday.
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