Jim's Articles

San Blas day tours and offers for February, 2020

San Blas sailing and deals for December, 2019! San Blas adventure travel destinations are a hot thing to do in 2019. San Blas is the most stunning place I’ve been to – no exaggeration. It’s just the most amazing turquoise water mixed with blue and the sand is perfectly soft and white. There are starfish by the dozens below and with the addition of the unique Guna people living on the islands like they did hundreds of years ago, fishing with line, and chopping down trees with their machetes, it’s just an adventure that you won’t want to miss. It brings people from all over the world – but it’s not mass tourism here. It’s still pretty and quiet and while we sailed around we barely saw another soul. This is mostly because people think it’s hard to reach and don’t add it into their Panama itinerary.

San Blas is one of the last pristine island archipelagos in this world with the indigenous Kuna population, which ,to this day, still lives in a very simple and happy way. We are offering an all-inclusive San Blas Day Trip that will allow our guests to visit San Blas and get a glimpse of paradise while visiting 4 of the 365 islands in San Blas. Due to our close connections with the Kuna tribe, we are able to offer you the best San Blas Day Tour experience at the lowest prices. Our third destination will be the amazing Natural San Blas Pools. Stand waist-deep in the middle of the ocean on fine sand and admire the many sea stars populating this vast, shallow area. Whether using your snorkel gear or not, everyone will be able to glimpse the amazing underwater world only a few feet below the surface.

The archipelago has 365 islands picturesque and palm tree covered, uninhabited and set in indescribably beautiful aqua waters. When famous author John Le Carre of The Tailor of Panama stayed in San Blas his comment upon taking in an island view was, “This is not paradise, this is heaven.” This is the place to go if you truly want to “get away from it all” to be seeped in and surrounded by nature. Owned by the Guna indians, they’ve kept everything natural and authentic. What a pleasure to spend a few days where there’s no concrete, glass or steel. The second major attraction is the Guna people- a beautiful ancient people, largely unspoiled by modern life. See additional info on San Blas day trip.

For those coming from or going to Colombia and who have plenty of time to spare, you can charter a sailboat that will travel for 4–5 days between Panama City and Cartagena (or vice versa), with a 2–3 day layover in the San Blas islands. Prices start from around $530 for the crossing, though you really need to do your research to make sure you have a seaworthy boat and a dependable captain. Hostel Mamallena operates in both Panama City and Cartagena, and has the best information on sailboats. Be warned: even with a solid boat and captain, this trip involves 30 hours or so on the open ocean; those who get very seasick might want to look elsewhere.

Few attractions include Isla Taboga is Panama’s favorite escape out of the city to bathe in its sandy beaches, ride Jet Ski’s, speed boats and fishing charters. First settled by the Spanish in 1515, Isla Taboga has a charming village with the second-oldest church in the western hemisphere, a few narrow streets with a few restaurants and great views to Panama City from the top of the Island.

In this place the first Spanish settlement in the area was built in the early seventeenth century and was also where San Blas was founded. On the San Basilio Hill the most important Colonial Ruins on the Pacific Coast are found. The old fort of San Blas also known as La Contaduria (now semi-restored) and the Church of Our Lady of the Rosary «La Marinera» dating from 1769, where you can find the famous bronze bells immortalized by Henry W. Longfellow in his posthumous poem «The Bells of San Blas.» These Colonial ruins are not restored but well worth visiting… The church is beautiful and gives us a clear idea of the Spanish community that settled in San Blas in those days.

Bocas del Toro is Panama’s main beach destination on the Caribbean. This collection of low-lying tropical islands, not far from the border with Costa Rica, is known for its outstanding soft-sand beaches lapped by crystal-clear, azure-colored waters. The atmosphere here is beyond relaxed, with many young travelers coming to the area and, in some cases, staying for months or years. Things to do in Bocas del Toro include surfing, swimming, diving, or just lazing on the beach. Activities are generally cheap. Although you can find luxury resorts with infinity pools, this is a budget-friendly destination, frequented by mainly singles or couples. The main town, also called Bocas del Toro or simply Bocas Town, is located on Isla Colon. The town itself is not known for beaches, but you can find lovely stretches of sand on other parts of the island or by taking a boat to nearby islands. Some of the most popular are Bluff Beach, Starfish Beach, and Red Frog Beach. Discover extra info at San Blas Travel Tours.

Visit Sri Lanka for a fabulous holiday tour

Travel to Sri Lanka for an awesome vacation tour ?Sri Lank safaris and vacation tours … an incredible destination that we will focus in this post. Udawalawe is in our opinion the best safari in Sri Lanka because it provides a truly gratifying experience. You can get very close to animals, particularly the elephants, and you’re never bothered by other jeeps and tourists. Whilst your chances of spotting leopards at Udawalawe are less than at Yala, there is nonetheless a healthy leopard population in Udawalawe that sightings do happen, for example when we saw the two cubs playing. You’re also almost guaranteed to spot Sri Lankan elephants as well as red-spotted deers, wild water buffalo, sloth bears, crocodiles, monkeys and many different species of birds.

These two parks are within half an hour’s drive of each other in the North Central Province, situated around two large reservoirs. Scrub jungle surrounds the lakes and contains many mammals, but game viewing is generally poor – except for the wonderful seasonal congregation of elephants. The ‘gathering’ takes place in Minneriya during September and October, when over 300 elephants come together on the bed of Minneriya Lake, which dries out to create a lush grassland.

Four shrines of gods processions marched after the Maligawa procession firstly shrine of Natha then shrine of Vishnu, then, the shrine of god Kataragama which includes Kavadi dance that uses wooden contraptions studded with the peacock feather. People carry it to their shoulders and dance. The last one is the shrine of Pattni that is the only procession that women can participate in. First, five nights of the procession is known as the Devale Perahera. Drummers and tuskers take part without any ceremonial costume. Devale Peraheras is dedicated to the four shrines of gods and goddesses. Performers take gold armaments with them as a token of gods accompanied by music mainly composed of drumming and spearman with shield, flag bearers, and canopy bearers. The Kumbal Perahera begins on the sixth night and continues for five days, This Perahera supposed to be more magnificent than Devala Perahera. Kumble Perahera joins the awaiting Devale Peraheras and leads the procession, with the relic casket, which is a replica for the Tooth Relic is fixed inside the Ransivige fastened to the Maligawa Elephant.

The Kandy to Ella train journey is said to be one of the most scenic, epic train journeys in not only just Sri Lanka but the world. So with a few days to spare in Sri Lanka, I decided to purchase a ticket for $1.50 and climb aboard for the 5-hour journey. Yes, the train really does cost just $1.50. I have now taken the train in both directions. From Kandy to Ella and in reverse from Ella to Kandy. On both occasions, I just arrived at the train station and bought the cheapest ticket and walked on. I didn’t sit in a seat, I preferred to an open door and hang my legs over the edge for the entire journey. Read additional details Folk Stories In Sri Lanka.

One of Sri Lanka’s most iconic sights is the Nine Arch Bridge in the small mountain town of Ella. This viewpoint offers spectacular panoramas of the surrounding area, which is made up of verdant greenery and tea fields. Visitors can watch trains roll over the bridge as they make their way along the Demodara Loop. Constructed in the early days of the railway expansion in Sri Lanka, the bridge is particularly impressive because it is made of cement, stone and brick, without the use of any steel. Mihintale is a mountain near the town of Anuradhapura. Its summit has much spiritual significance to the Buddhist community. It’s believed that on this mountain top a Buddhist monk named Mahinda met King Devanampiyatissa and together this meeting introduced Buddhism to the country. Monk Mahinda impressed the King with the peacefulness of the Buddhist doctrine and his contented, serene nature. The King subsequently renounced war, and went on to spread peace throughout the nation. There are several impressive religious and historical structures on and around Mihintale Mountain. Hundreds of pilgrims visit the site each year.

An awesome country : Malaysia and the best homestay

Malaysia is an incredible destination, so much colour, a must see for any travel enthusiast. A quaint city with an abundance of breathtaking sights and rich heritage, Malacca is easy to get around on foot or trishaw to explore the many places that make it unique. As the unofficial historic capital of Malaysia, Malacca’s most prominent contribution to the Malaysian cultural landscape is the Baba-Nyonya or Peranakan culture. Possessing an eclectic blend of customs, traditions, food and lifestyle, the Peranakan still thrives in Malacca with a mix of old and new with historical buildings standing side by side with ultra modern shopping centres. From Ayer Keroh’s lush greenery to the Malacca City’s urban landscape, we have found our top ten places in Malacca that no visitor should leave out on their travel itinerary.

This nature reserve borders an old Dutch colonial fort and the paddy fields of the old town of Sekinchan. Loved by history and nature lovers, many flock to this mangrove swamp to watch huge colonies of fireflies during the mating season, or to spot the elusive leopard and playful river otters. This unforgettable, unmissable monument is the pride and joy of Malaysia, and are the tallest twin towers in the world. Spend an entire day hanging out in the famous Suria KLCC Mall at its base, or take time to explore the towers themselves, viewing the city from the Sky Bridge or the observation deck on the 86th floor.

With its heart-warming locals, stunning sunsets, excellent arts and music scene, and culinary spectrum that is opulent, Kota Kinabalu is likely to win your heart. This breathtaking destination in Malaysia is ideal to plan a holiday, if exploring the diversity is in your head. An out and out modern place, Kota Kinabalu has astonishingly kept the rich history of the place alive. KK is famous for offering the best wildlife and diving adventures, and a trekking expedition to Mt Kinabalu.

A fascinating fusion of eastern and western influences, Penang is Malaysia’s most tourist-visited destination. The island manages to embrace modernity while retaining its colonial traditions; due to its well-preserved heritage buildings Penang’s capital, Georgetown, has been accorded a listing as a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site. Although Georgetown’s landscape is dominated by Chinese storefronts – most in need of a good paint job – there are also swanky shopping complexes, refurbished Chinese manors, rowdy pubs and artsy boutiques, cafes and studios. Discover extra info at Homestay Melaka with Swimming pool.

As temples go, Kek Lok Si Temple at Penang is a relatively new temple, dating back only to 1891. Despite its youth, it is one of the most important Chinese Buddhist temples in Southeast Asia. The Temple of Supreme Bliss, as it’s also known as, is an impressive sight, with countless images of Buddha another Buddhist icons and gods. It is the largest Buddhist temple in Malaysia and draws pilgrims from throughout Southeast Asia. The main highlight of the complex is the Temple of Rama IV with its 10,000 Buddha carvings.

For our malaysian guests:

Homestay ayer keroh, homestay bukit katil, homestay mitc melaka, dan homestay di melaka ada kolam renang juga terdapat pasaraya yang sering menajadi tumpuan pengunjung antaranya Pasaraya hyper market Mydin Melaka, Jaya Jusco aeon ayer keroh melaka, aeon jaya jusco bandar melaka, Melaka Mall, The Shore Melaka dan lain-lain lagi. Terdapat juga pusat pengajian dan Universiti sekitar Ayer keroh, Durian Tunggal,malacca homestay with swimming pool, alor gajah, bukit katil,inap desa melaka, bandar melaka dan homestay with private swimming pool ini, seperti Universiti Teknikal Melaka Utem induk durian tunggal, utem ayer keroh melaka, uitm melaka, International College of Yayasan Melaka (ICYM), kolej Yayasan melaka, Kolej Manipal melaka, Melaka International College of Science & Technology – MITC Campus , Univerisity Multimedia Melaka – MMU Melaka, Kolej Yayasan Saad Melaka dan pelbagai lagi. Rancanganlah percutian anda sekelurga dari awal. Pilihlah Malacca homestay yang terbaik mengikut citarasa dan bajet anda. Selamat bercuti dan berkunjung ke Melaka nanti. Baca lebih info di laman web ini https://www.anugerahhomestay.com/.

Hurghada diving school in german

1st we will discuss about top diving places in the world, advantages of diving in Hurghada and ending with the introduction of Tauchkurs Hurghada , a diving school that is suited for everyone but especially the german speaking visitors.

For Divers of All Levels – Egypt. Egypt offers exceptional diving for both beginners and more experienced divers. So if your travel buddy has “been there, dived that,” s/he will have plenty to enjoy while you complete your training. If you’re concerned about seasickness, head to Dahab where you can dive right from shore and avoid getting on a boat.

The Blue Hole in Belize is one of the most famous dive sites in the world, and you can probably see why. This peculiar site is actually a massive marine sinkhole. It was popularized by the famous explorer Jacques Cousteau who actually declared it to be one of the best diving sites in the world. The hole itself is around 300m in diameter and around 125m deep. The waters here are crystal-clear, offering up a chance to see reef sharks, as well as bull sharks and hammerheads.

Why Hurghada? Perhaps the most amazing thing about Red Sea diving is that this wealth of world-class experiences comes at an incredibly low cost. Egyptian tourism has taken a significant knock in recent years thanks to safety concerns raised by terrorist attacks and political instability in some areas of the country and as such, many dive centers are offering rock-bottom prices in an attempt to revive the industry. Diving hotspots including Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam are still considered safe by UK and US travel advisories. Discover additional info on www.tauchkurshurghada.com.

For our german guests:

Wenn dich das Thema Tauchen interessiert, dann hast du bestimmt auch schon von den verschieden Verbänden wie PADI, SSI, und CMAS gehört. Tauchverbände sind Organisationen die nach verschiedenen Regeln ausbilden und Tauchschulen in der ganzen Welt unterhalten, über die du deine Tauchgänge machen kannst. Bei unserer deutschen Tauchschule in Hurghada erfährst du die Unterschiede, die Vor- bzw. Nachteile und was du mit dem jeweiligen Tauchschein anstellen kannst. Entdecken extra info Deutsche Tauchschule Hurghada.

Tauchen lernen oder Tauchen in Hurghada ist eine faszinierende Erfahrung, die du niemals vergessen wirst. Deine DeutscheTauchschule in Hurghada (Tauchkurs Hurghada ) lässt dich die Welt mit anderen Augen sehen, über wie unter Wasser. Mit unseren erstklassigen Tauchkursen kannst du egal ob bei PADI, SSI oder CMAS deine Ziele erreichen. Verglichen mit anderen populären Abenteuersportarten und Freizeitaktivitäten ist es nicht teuerer, das Tauchen zu erlernen. Tauchen Hurghada steht für faire Preise bei hoher Qualität.

Musandam attractions and top destinations selection

Top destinations in Musandam: Located in Zighy Bay, the Six Senses Zighy Bay is probably the world’s only village-style resort that lets you check-in by paragliding. The 20-minute paragliding journey, after showcasing breath-taking sights from hundreds of meters above the ground, ends at the resort’s private beach. Of course, there’s an alternative way to reach the property from the mountain top, that is by driving – but that’s too normal, isn’t it! Zighy Bay, on the Musandam Peninsula, is a picturesque region flaunting the Hajar Mountains and an untampered coastline to all. Here, you can enjoy the culture of Oman and buzz of the UAE simultaneously. With both contemporary and traditional attractions, you are bound to make your travel experience truly extraordinary.

Having all these crystal beautifully-turquoise waters in Musandam reflect only some of the hidden gems and treasures. That’s why visitors must go diving or snorkeling to enjoy the beauty of nature and the incredible sea creatures. There are lots of places in Khasab that offer these adventurous activities for visitors.

What could be more wonderful than a blissful sail around the fjords of Musandam on a Dhow? Enjoy the sight of the unique fjords, very much like those found in Sweden, Norway and other Scandinavian countries. Don’t forget to sip a cup of the delectable Kahwa (Omani coffee) and munch on some Omani dates as you enjoy your leisurely sailing adventure. If you feel like a dip in the crystal clear water, you can ask the dhow captain to anchor for a bit. Enjoy the refreshing weather and the lovely breezes as you sail around the peninsula and back. Sailing around the fjords is one of the top things to do in Musandam Oman.

The 28km (17-mile) coastal road from Khasab to Bukha is Musandam’s only surfaced connection with the outside world, a spectacular feat of engineering which winds dramatically around the sea cliffs and khawrs of the coast. The first few miles out of Khasab are particularly fine, blasted out of the feet of the mountains around Khawr Qida and revealing vivid bands of sedimentary layering. On the far side of the bay, Wadi Tawi has petroglyphs featuring camels, sheep and hunters pecked into the rocks. From here the road climbs up to the village of Al Harf at the highest point of the ridge, offering spectacular views over the Strait of Hormuz – on a clear day you can see Iran. It is another 12km (7 miles) or so from here to the quiet town of Bukha, home to an impressive seafront fort. See extra details on Musandam Trip Offers.

Custom hiking front packs online shopping

Ultralight hiking shoulder strap pouches online store and backpacking guides. Pick a well-traveled trail and well-established camp: It’s nice to have hikers and backcountry campers nearby who can give you a hand if you run into difficulties. Make sure there’s water near camp: If your source will be a lake or large river, you should be fine. Streams and springs can dry up, though, so double check with local land managers before relying on a small water source. Consider going without Junior or Fido on your first trip: Though they can both be great fun, their presence will complicate things a little. If and when you decide to have them join you, check out our articles on Backpacking with Dogs and Backpacking with Kids.

Lowering backpack weight tip : Use Lithium batteries. They are more expensive, but last longer and weigh less. Go stoveless. There are plenty of non-cook, nutritious and tasty meal plans out there. Leaving the stove, cup, fuel and spork at home can save pounds. Tooth powder vs toothpaste. Yep, there is a “dehydrated toothpaste” and it makes a good substitute for the real thing on trail. See tooth powder recipes. Stuff the fluff manually. Leave extra sleeping bag compression sacks and tent bags at home. Instead, mash your sleeping bag and tent down by hand inside your bag. They will be more ‘flexible’ like this as well… not like an overly compressed ball. Read more info at Custom Hiking Dry Bags Online Store.

I updated my first aid kit with some other items and the helpful laminated first aid field guide that you get in class. I have a pre-packaged first-aid kit that I’ve supplemented with some Tenacious Tape if I need to seal a major gash. It helps to take a NOLS First Aid class; it will teach you how to actually use a first-aid kit and potentially save a life. Another benefit of the class is that they show you how you can customize a first-aid kit. Most of the time that I’ve pulled out my first-aid kit, it’s been to help another hiker. It’s been handier than I’ve imagined. One of the things you learn at the Tracker survival school is how to start a fire without matches. After the classroom demonstration, you get to do it on your own with help from the instructor. You learn how to make fire, shelter, find food, and in general, feel very comfortable living in the outdoors. You can use fire for light, warmth, a rescue signal, to cook food, and more. I try to have a lot of ways to create fire because each tool is small and light.

The Raven UL40 is a fast & light frameless backpack ready to put in some miles. Featuring our custom printing options such as our signature “Leather & Burlap” print. Handmade and fabric printed in Pennsylvania, USA. Fully customizable and made to order. We did our best to strip this pack down to a crazy light weight. Depending on options this pack starts at just 14 ounces. When adding a padded Hip Belt you are still keeping things under control at around 17 ounces. Find extra details on www.hilltoppacks.com.