Tripnista
Colombia - Heart Thumping Adventures
Located on the north-west coast of South America, Colombia - if I can say it - is geographically blessed!
Colombia's beautiful expanse is surrounded by the Caribbean Sea, the Pacific Ocean, the Amazon Rainforest and the Andes (the longest continental mountain range in the world!). With so much natural beauty, Colombia is the “go to” place for any intrepid explorer out there who wants some heart thumping adventures!
Here's my list of the top 5 things to do on any trip to Columbia!
Shark-diving in Malpelo
Malpelo, situated 506 kms off the Buenaventura coast, is one of the best diving spots in the Pacific coast - and to be honest, the world! The Malpelo Island is home to a huge number of hammerhead Sharks which school into awe-inspiring schools - often reaching more than 300 individuals! You can be assured of an electrifying experience as you dive into the Pristine waters of Malpelo and swim with these beautiful Creatures!
Mountain Biking in Bogotá
Conquering the rugged terrain of the Suesca hills on a downhill mountain bike is a spine tingling and thrilling experience that will stay with you for a long, long time! The Suesca town is located 65 kms north of Bogotá, the beautiful capital city of Colombia. Along the bike trail you'll also be witness to some breathtaking panoramas of both Bogota and Suesca town.
Paragliding over the Chicamocha Canyon
Fly like an eagle over the stunning Chicamocha Canyon - a Magnificent natural beauty formed 46 million years ago. The Chicamocha Canyon is located in Santander, a town famous for extreme sports.
Paragliding over the Canyon will lift any traveller's sprits as you float across the 108,000 acre wide and 2000 meter deep canyon from mid-air!
Rappelling in Juan Curi Falls
Imagine the adrenaline Rush of rappelling down the 80 meter long Juan Curi waterfalls in the mountains of Santander! With water crashing around you, this is one of the toughest rappelling challenges you can sign up for in Santander. With a shivering descent down the waterfall and a wonderful picturesque view of the Santander Mountains, be prepared to handle both your rope and you camera at the same time!
Rafting in the River Suarez
I know I keep on putting rafting on my top 5 things to do… but what can I say… I love it! So again, if you want to experience the extreme thrill of rafting in Columbia, the River Suarez near the Socorro town is the place to be!
With class 5 Rapids, rafting for 3 hours in this river is not for the faint hearted. The 15 kms run won't let you down and will provide a heart throbbing experience like never before.
Chile - Top 5 Things To Do
Chile is one of the most underrated tourist destinations in the world. While it's easy to be distracted by some of the better-known locations in South America - like Brazil, Mexico and Peru - Chile offers its own fair share of spectacular attractions, for almost any session!
The vertical Orientation of the country allows Travelers to enjoy a huge variety of climate and nature - from Glaciers to deserts to rain-Forests. Chile also offers opportunities for some extreme / dangerous activities for the adrenaline junky in us.
And here's a couple that you should check out:
Canyoning Nevada
You think you've navigated some tough canyons in your time? Well then how about giving Chile's Canyons a try? It's an amazing experience that includes rappelling down steep drops, sliding down some crazy slopes, diving meters into pools and even using zip lines to get from one side to another! If this sounds like fun, Pucon is the place you want to head to for some of the best canyoning in Chile. There are tons of agencies that can take you there and then guide you around.
Downhill Biking
The City of Valparaiso in Chile has some mean sloped streets - and downhill biking is very much one of the things to do here. The now famous downhill biking race that takes place here is called the 'Cerro Abajo Race'. This is the Grandmaster of all the downhill Races, and the most famous. The guys who get invited to this race don't just bike down these crazy hills; There are also several places where they've got to leap silly distances. But one of the hardest things they have to do is avoid stationary things like people and dogs… And by the way - don't feel too bad if you secretly enjoy the crashes - you're expected to. And lets be honest - everyone who goes there to spectate are going, hoping to see a gnarly crash!
Volcano Climbing
The Villarica Volcano is a top quality skiing location in the winter. But you're not just stuck with skiing… you can also climb up this awesome volcano! Anyone who's even got a drop of mountaineering blood in their body should definitely give Villarica a try. If you don't have your own equipment or can't be bothered to travel with your own you can always rent it from most tour companies. They can also supply you with the specialized shoes and ice axes - and if you ask nicely I'm sure they will show you how to use them;) While not as dangerous as some other activities, the whole experience is simply breathtaking - especially the view from the top.
Paragliding
From one of the coldest volcanoes in the world to one of the driest deserts in the world. The Atacama Desert near Iquique offers some Spectacular Paragliding possibilities. Taking off from Cerro Dragon, you can either take a tandem flight or if you want to master it yourself you can get some private lessons. You can also paraglide in Santiago, Chile's capital city, or go to Algarrobo or Maitencillo for Paragliding with a sea view.
Rafting
The Futaleufu River in Northern Patagonia is one of the toughest places in the world for whitewater rafting. If you're even slightly into rafting, "The Futa" should be on the top of your list. Once there, you can stay in your own personal cabin by the beach, and when you're done with rafting you can try plenty of other activities like kayaking, fishing, trekking, horseback riding or mountain biking.Peru - Stunning Adventures!
Peru is a culturally diverse and beautiful country. Its vast coastal deserts, thick rainforests, tall mountain peaks and serene beaches are just a few of the things that define this picturesque country.
While exploring all the beautiful landscapes and the rich heritage - you also shouldn't miss out on these electrifying adventures:
The Inca Trail to Machu Picchu
I know, I know… everyone and their Uncle knows about climbing Machu Picchu. But let's face it. If it wasn't so amazing, breathtaking, and a few more 'awesome' adjectives slapped on - then people simply wouldn't do it!
The 43 km long trail is one of the most famous treks in the world. In a 4-day all-encompassing trip, you'll pass along paved stone roads built by the Incas, climb up high altitude peaks and end up at the magical Machu Picchu mountain peak. The trek is an extremely challenging one, enough to get even pro hikers pumped.
Surfing in the Punta Rocas
Punta Rocas is one of the most famous surfing spots in Peru. And if you just want to watch it's also the venue for tonnes of international surfing championships! Around Punta Rocas, waves can rise up to about 5 meters, which makes great spectating and even better riding!
Mountain biking in Cordillera Blanca
Biking along the Cordillera Blanca - a 21 kms wide and 180 kms long mountain range in the Ancash region of Peru - is an awesome thing to do no matter how old or how fit you are! From the saddle of your bike you've be treated to some breathtaking views of the snow clad mountain ranges and canyons. Which'll be just the medicine you need to help you revitalize during your strenuous ride! Be warned though… you might well be biking up to over 4800 meters high!
Tambopata Jungle Rafting
Imagine the reaction when you tell you're friends that you just rafted down Class III and Class IV rapids in the middle of the Amazon rainforest! Can a travel 'bragging tale' get any better than this?! Your rafting begins from the shores of Lake Titicaca, passes through the Andes mountain range, through the stunning Tambopata canyon and into the Amazon rainforest reserve. The part of Amazon rainforest you raft through, is only accessible by white water rafting, and hence is why it's such a cool thing to do!Skip The Myanmar Visa Queue (in Bangkok)
I'm English and I've been living in Japan for the past 2 years… but I still can't stand queuing! It drives me Absolute mental. So when I heard that in order to get a visa for Myanmar in Bangkok I'd have to:
- Brave the Rush hour tubes
- Get there at 8am (an hour before the doors open)
- Potentially queue up on the hottest day in the year
My first thought was sod that!
But luckily after whining to a mate the night before about how much I was dreading it… he told me a little secret that meant I didn't have to queue and my whole application to less than 3 mins to process.
Here's what I did…
Step 1: Head Down To The Embassy
Like normal head down towards the Embassy where you'd usually have to queue. But instead of joining the already Massive queue carry on walking past it on the opposite side of the road. Click here for more info about how to get to the Embassy.
Step 2: Find The Building With Stairs
Carry on walking down the road until you see the first building with some stairs.
The building and stairs should look like this:
Step 3: Head On Up Into The 'Travel' Agent
Head on up into the 'travel' agent on the first floor, at the top of the steps, on the left, just before you actually go into the building. I but 'travel' in punctuation marks because it doesn't really look like a travel agents. It has a few computers, a front desk and bags full of photocopied visa. But don't worry - it's totally legit!
Step 4: Pay
Once you're there all you have to do is hand over your passport, 2 passport pictures and 1,800 THB. It's literally that easy.
Step 5: Leave And Return
The only other thing you need to do then is leave and return around 4pm to pick up your passport and visa! No queuing, no waiting, easy as pie… RESULT!
Compared to queuing up in the boiling sun and spending your entire day stuck at the Embassy - I think the additional 540 THB is totally worth it… but that's just me.
Trekking from Kalaw to Inle Lake
Trekking under the hot Burmese sun wasn't something that I'd originally planned to do. Especially after the oppressive heat we experienced in Bagan.
But after meeting a fellow traveller in Mandalay who said it was one of "the best" things she had done in Myanmar - well… we obviously had to see what all the hype was about.
So as soon as she finished telling her tale we got on the phone to book a two day tour with Sam's Family Hiking. And even though no one answered we still thought it was worth the 'punt' to just head down to Kalaw after Bagan and try and get on a hike without a reservation.
So after we'd soaked up all Bagan had to offer we boarded the 9:30pm 'VIP' night bus, which was meant to arrive into Kalaw at 5am. Sam's Family Restaurant wasn't meant to open until 8am - so we though a 3 hour snooze outside would be the best plan.
WARNING: The bus from Bagan to Kalaw doesn't drop you off at 5am. It does however drop you off at 1am!
So in peak season make sure you book a nights accommodation in advance. Luckily for us, travelling in low season, we were able to barter from $20 to $10 for a room (seeing as we were only going to be using it for about 5 hours!).
As I mentioned above we chose to go with the trekking company - Sam's Family. Even though there are loads of guides in Kalaw Sam's was the one we were recommended and therefore the one we used.
WARNING: You'll need to booked someplace to stay in Nyaungshwe if you want to have Sam's Hiking transport your bags ahead of you. We didn't have anything booked when we rocked in at 8am so we just picked the first one that came to mind which happened to be - Aquarium. And luckily for us it turned out to be perfect. Great for our budget, perfect location and really helpful staff.
I'd advise against staying on the lake itself, as there is honestly nothing to do. Better to stay in Nyaungshwe which has all the restaurants and stuff to do.
We chose the two day trek and loved every minute of it. Both days hike last for around 5 hours and are split up by a 2 hour lunch break.
The hike is amazing, the food you're cooked is delicious food and the cheeky siesta you can steal is medicine for the soul!
And let me tell you… the evening meal they make you is both massive and gob smackingly delicious! You honestly won't be disappointed. And if you're still peckish or in need of a beer there's a little shop near to the place you stay.
WARNING: If you're a light sleeper don't forget to bring along some earplugs. You'll all be sleeping in the same cabin. And if there are 6 of you someone is bound to be a snorer! Your earplugs will become your best friend :)
The next day hike is also an epic day. From the amazing breakfast pancakes to the boat ride along Inle Lake to Nyaungshwe it's a wicked experience.
Again the second day is broken up by lunch… which, in fact, is the final part of your trek. And just before lunch you'll also have to pay the $10 Inle Lake tax.
After lunch the only thing left is a 1 hour long longboat ride into town - which really is the perfect end to a fantastic trek!
The Train from Inle Lake to Yangon
If true be told the actually train journey starts in Shwenyaung - which is a 20 min ride from Nyaungshwe (aka Inle Lake).
I've just got back to Thailand from an amazing 13 day trip around Myanmar. And even though my friend and I chose to do the 'tourist hotspots' rather than make an attempt to travel to the infamous 'southern beaches' it was still a magical trip and one I would fully recommend.
Our 13-day itinerary went a little something like this: - Yangon - Mandalay - Bagan - Kalaw - Inle Lake (Shwenyaung) - Yangon.
Even though it may not seem like a lot of places to travel to, in the end we only had two actually days of rest and relaxation.
But I digress.
One of the things that EVERYONE who's traveled to Myanmar talks about is the train journey from Inle Lake to Yangon (which of course, I had to do!).
The beginning of this epic train journey is about 20mins outside of Lake Inle at the Shwenyaung train station. This 'Mammoth' 32 hour train journey is actually split into two.
A 'day' train and then a 'night & day' train.
I gotta be honest… before the train ride I didn't actually do much, if any, research into it as I didn't want to 'ruin the experience'. So I was under the impression that BOTH Trains were a part of the same 'epic experience'. But after doing both Trains… I going to have to say that the 'amazing experience' everyone talks about is only the first train. The second train will give me Nightmares for a long, long time to come.
I'll save the negative for later. Let's just say that the first train was actually, hand on heart, an Incredible experience and one that EVERYBODY should do!
The train actually left slightly earlier that Seat 61 says, so get your hotel to call and check.
You have to leave pretty early, but watching the sunrise from the back of our tut-tut at 6:30 am was a cool experience as we zoomed to catch the first and most scenic train.
At the trainstation you can either get an upper or lower class ticket. If I was you - I would get upper. The first train is pretty long and sitting on a wooden seat (lower) for 14 hours isn't going to help your haemorrhoids. No siree!
The upper isn't that much more expensive… and there is no harm in knowing you have a comfy seat to go back to if you choose to sit in the lower for a while - especially for the bouncy parts of the journey.
The first train leaves from Shwenyaung around 8am and arrives into Thazi around 9pm. This part of the journey was Incredible. Everyone on the train was an Absolute Pleasure to be around and the countryside was beautiful. Because we were initially so high up and constantly traveling towards the ocean the temperatures were perfect to sit back and watch the world pass you by.
And there is no need to bring supplies like we did. If you get peckish or thirsty the train stops every 30-60mins in a trainstation / transformed market place.
The food that's sold at the stations are fresh - so no worries on that one. We even ended up eating two types of berries that I can't for the life of me remember the names for.
I want to sit here and describe the trip in its entirely… but I'll get bored writing it and let's face it, you'll get bored reading it! But let's just say that it was the one thing I really wanted to do in Myanmar, and I'm so stoked I did.
The Burmese are super friendly. Once we arrived into Thazi we asked some lovely people to show us where to eat. Not only did they take us to a lovely little roadside Café for dinner but also took us back to our train, and en route took my friend to buy some flip-flops! So, so, so, so kind.
Now… this is the point in which I would advise you to HEED MY WORDS - Don't get back on this train and take it to Yangon!
The next 15 hours (11pm - 2pm) was the worst journey of my life. But if truth be told the 1.5 bottles of whiskey and the couple of Beers didn't help much either;)
My seat didn't recline, I Forgot to take my Sedil's, I spent the night bouncing in and out of my seat whilst moving my head from the arm rest to the window as the air temperature gradually got hotter and hotter. Suffice it to say… this is what I looked like at 9am the next morning….
And if that pic doesn't scare you enough to not take the train nothing will! ;)
In Conclusion
Everyone has to ride the train from Shwenyaung to Thazi. But once you arrive into Thazi get the night bus. You'll not only be able to sleep but you'll also be able to get into Yangon around 6am and actually have a whole day to do stuff. On the other hand you can get the train, arrive at 2pm and feel so awful that the only thing you can manage to do is watch the worst Arnold Swatnegger movie of all time in a Burmese Cinema (true story).
Is Brizzle Really The Best Place in The UK?
If you don't know what 'Brizzle' means it's just 'Bristol' but with an accent on it!
And if you don't know where Bristol is in relation to London it's here:
Now I've got to admit… if I was ever to move back and Settle in England the only place I'd move to would, without a shadow of a doubt, be Bristol.
Bristol to me is the perfect location to settle down.
It's large enough for a city that it has everything you'd possibly need. But on the flip side it's also small enough that you can very easily hop on your push bike and zip around without the need of a car. It's like the Edinburgh of England.
More than that, in relation to the rest of the country, it's in the perfect spot. From Bristol you've only got to drive a short distance before you're in Magical places such as Gloucestershire, Wales and Herefordshire.
Living in a city that's got easy access to both the coastline and the countryside, allowing you the possibility of a whole host of outdoors adventures, is pretty rare - no matter where you're from.
Also with Bristol having its own airport you're able to hop across the channel into Europe for next to nothing. And if you're using Bristol as a point to leave the UK there are tonnes of really good hotels that you can stay in the night before departure.
But it's not just the size, atmosphere, location or people that make Bristol so special. It's also the fact that there are tons of cool things to do and see in this awesome city.
Basically… it's the best place to live in the UK.
For example some random but fun things to check out in Brizzle that don't involve going out for dinner or heading to the Boozer include:
Bristol Lido
I don't know why but there's something really English about outdoor open air swimming pools (aka. Lido's). And Bristol's Lido is no exception. The public hot tub which was Originally built in 1849 has now been fully restored and is back to its steamy best. There are also the additional options of spa and massage treatments if you want to push the boat out!
St Nicholas Market
If you ever travel to the UK one of the things you have to do is go to a local market. And for all those market lovers out there if you're visiting Bristol you have to head to the St Nicholas Market on Corn Street. You'll easily be able to spend your afternoon just strolling and browsing music shops, book shops and even candles makers. And if you go around lunch time there are loads of stores where you can pick up some tasty treats!
Clifton Suspension Bridge
You can't go to Bristol and not visit the Suspension Bridge. It's basically the Golden Gate Bridge of England. If you walk across it you'll get some amazing views of the Avon Gorge. It's also a great place to check out in the evenings when the bridge is illuminated from below. Just don't forget to take your camera!
The M-Shed
Again, this is a random but 'must do' thing for tourists! This is Bristol's flag ship museum which gives you a great overview of Bristol and its roots. It's a fun, family friendly, interactive museum. And best of all…. the museum's totally free.
So even if you are not going to live in the UK and just come over for a holiday please, please don't spend all your time in London. Get on a train, bus or into your Hired car and spend some time in Bristol.
Saving Pennies To Travel
I don't know how many times I've heard people say… I wish I could travel but I just don't have the cash… and then go to the bar and order a round of £ 4 Beers!
And then on the flip side it's amazing how many Travelers I've met on the road that've reached a breaking point and decided then and there that EVEN without money they'd still go travel.
This usually means that they sold all their stuff and saved up just enough in order to buy their plane ticket, sign up to a TEFL course and then immediately start teaching English as a foreign language.
If you really want to do it, then getting out there really is as simple as that.
And with an English as a foreign language qualification these guys were able to travel all over South East Asia while earning good money!
But if you want to save up a bit of money before you take the plunge you don't have to work all night and all day and never go out.
There are really simple things that you can do to save yourself for your travels or holidays that don't involve you sacrificing anything.
It's actually exactly the same way that I save money while I travel on the road.
Basically… I just cut out all the little things that I don't really need.
For example if you cut out that one crisp packet, that one bar of chocolate, that one beer in the evening you can save around £ 20 a week - which is one full day and night in SE Asia AND it's really healthy for you to cut out all that junk.
So not only do you save money but you're also healthier for it!
The easiest way to save is honestly cutting out the little things that can save you £ 10, £ 20, £ 40 pounds every week.
And with a SE Asian travel budget of £ 20 your potential travel time adds up fast!
There's a really cool animated website that sums up exactly how cutting out the little things really does add up - which you can find here.
Another thing you can do is limit the number of times you got out to eat or drink every week. Instead of going out twice a week just cut it back to once.
It's amazing how much money you can spend in England on a night out.
One night out in a nice London restaurant is like one week's worth of travel.
ONE WEEK'S WORTH OF TRAVEL !!!!
There's no way you can tell me you'd prefer eating one meal over one whole week on a beautiful Thai island… and keep a straight face.
So whether you are going to try and save up a little before you travel or whether you're just going to go for it… remember it's really not as difficult as many people make out. You've just got to really want it.