Posted August 25, 2009The Republic of Iceland, located in the North Atlantic Ocean, has a population of almost 320,000 with Reykjavík as its largest city where approximately two thirds of the population live. Reykjavík is a modern town with a well advanced infrastructure and when you're here in this town, it sure doesn't feel like some far-off tiny island known for its fire and ice. Continue reading... Read Full Story
Posted June 30, 200Head down to southern Iran to the town of Shiraz, in search of something special. This area is apparently the origin of Shiraz wine (where the Shirazi wine was produced). However, wine has long been outlawed since Iran's 1979 Islamic revolution, so no more Shiraz wine here! The area of Firuz is where you will find the nomadic people referred to as the Qashqai. These people are nomadic pastoralists. Read more about the Qashgai people Read Full Story
Posted May 30, 2009Hikers in the Nepalese Himalayas have two serious choices: The Khumbu (Everest) region in the west, or the Annapurna region in the east. I have done both but spent more time in the Everest region. I liked both and my advice is to do both. They are different and they are both spectacular. This is a photographers paradise and an experience of a life time! Continue reading about the Nepalese Himalayan hiking Read Full Story
Posted April 30, 2009Sweden's Ice Hotel is a few hours north of the Arctic Circle in the Swedish Lapland. Here you can roam around the 73 rooms (between 10am and about 5pm) and be amazed about how artists have carved sculptures for the 50 or so themed rooms. Fancy staying over night? No problem. A standard square room costs US$350 and if you want one of the many themed rooms, be prepared to pay from $400 to $900. Spend time in the Ice Chapel and the Ice Bar for Vodka on the ice. Continue... Read Full Story
Posted February 16, 2009 Tancho Cranes and Hooper Swans migrate from the upper Russian Siberia to the relatively less harsh winters of eastern Hokkaido. Watch as these cranes do their love dances in the snow and feel free to join the swans in the lake. When bird spotting in the deep freeze gets too tiring, soak in one of the many romantic outdoors natural thermal springs while your surroundings get covered up in soft falling snow. End off the day with creatively prepared Japanese cuisine arou... Read Full Story
Posted January 15, 2009I recently had a good talk with John Pilkington who explored the Mekong River in 2003 and with two Tibetans reached and mapped its source at over 17,000 feet in northern Tibet. They followed the Mekong from it's sprawling Delta in Vietnam through China's Qinghai Province right to its source! His stories and photos inspired me to take a new look at the amazing lives of the people of Vietnam's Mekong Delta. Continue reading about Life along the Mekong Delta Read Full Story
Posted December 20, 2008Ushuaia (pronounced [u'swaia]) is the capital of the province of Tierra del Fuego in southern Argentina. While this is not the most southern settlement, it is generally labeled as the "southernmost town" in the world. Slightly further south on the Chilean islands are a few tiny settlements before the open sea leads to Antarctica. Puerto Williams, on the Chilean island of Navarino is further south and has only 2800 inhabitants. Continue reading about Ushua... Read Full Story
December '08: Most southern town in the world - Ushuaia, ArgentinaJanuary '09:Life along the Mekong Delta - Southern VietnamFebruary '09:Ice-Breaker ship through the Sea of Okhotsk, north of Hokkaido - Northern Japan Read Full Story
