Calling out all Biking Adventure lovers: Destination Sulawesi, a 525 km adventure route in and around Tana Toraja (Feb 1 – 13, 2010)

Indonesia is renowned as the last eden on earth, home to the second largest rainforest biodiversity after the Amazon. Adventure awaits at every corner, replete with among the friendliest people in the world and a culture and fiery cuisine like no other.

They say the closer you get to the ground and to the people, the better to appreciate their culture. Such is the philosophy behind Cycle Sulawesi, a 13-day biking adventure tour organized by Jakarta & Sydney-based Cycle Indonesia.

Colin Freestone, Founder of Cycle Indonesia, is avid cyclist, die-hard Yoga practitioner, and old Indonesia hand, will be your guide par excellence. Mr. Freestone, who happens to be my uncle, will lead the group tour through Tana Toraja’s famed natural beauty and her unique culture. This is Cycle Indonesia’s second year, after last year’s successful debut (see pictures below), which was a much longer trip covering Makassar to Tana Toraja (27 days, 1,200 km)

Other activities include: Daily Yoga Sessions lead by in-house guru, Mr. Freestone himself. Trekking, Rafting, Village Stays and a chance to dabble into Bahasa Indonesia.
ARE YOU GAME? To learn more about pricing and registration, click here. Or email Colin Freestone of Cycle Indonesia at: cycle_indonesia@bigpond.com.au

Source: Ideas Inspiring Innovation

Not bad for a day's catch. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

For the seasoned Bali visitor who yearns to explore all the Isle of Gods has to offer (even an extended vacation will never suffice) and anyone who is intrigued by unique travel experience, with some fishing thrown in, here’s a Safari Camp like no other.

Join Cyrus Boyum and Michael Owen, two American adventurers and fishing aficionados for a safari camp to Grajagan, East Java, for some serious Ulua fishing. For the novice, Ulua is Giant Trevally. All fishing trips depart from Bali.Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures. And while in the area you can always go surfing at the world-famous G-Land.

Let’s start with the location, along the coast of the southeasternmost tip of East Java, deep in the Alas Purwo National Park. Alternatively, you could mention one name to any serious surfer and they’d lead you right to it: G-Land, a popular surf spot in the same area, that has been secretly on the surfers’ radars for years, before it went mainstream, thanks to the internet.

A TRUE STORY OF A SURFERS HAVEN DISCOVERY
G-Land, the surf spot was discovered by two American brothers, Bill and Mike Boyum, in 1972 when Bill spotted the area from his plane window enroute to Bali. They soon ventured to surf there. And a new surf haven was annointed as among the world’s best left! Eventually they set up a Surf Camp, and the rest, as they say, is history. G-Land has seen some of the world’s best surfers ride its waves; Kelly Slater, Shane Dorian, Joel Fitzgerald, Taj Burrow, Jamie O’Brien, Gerry Lopez, Peter McCabe, Ozzy Wright and many others.

Bills’s son Cyrus was literally born with G-Land in his DNA. Born in Hawaii, never venturing far from water. Cyrus is based in Indonesia, where he has spent much of his adult life.

Entrance to Alas Purwo National Park. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

2010 SCHEDULE
Trips are conducted only from June through mid-September (during the dry season only).
Indonesia is tropical and only has two seasons. During the rainy season (monsoon) road and beach conditions do not permit trips.

All trips depart the exotic island of Bali.
Generally trips depart every 3rd day of the week, however schedules can be tailored to specific groups’ needs. For further info, please contact the founders Cyrus Boyum (email: jungleulua@gmail.com), or Michael Owen (email: kaowenoz@hotmail.com) of Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures.

Just your average daily catch. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

True adventurers ~ founders and guides Michael Owen & Cyrus Boyum. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

The trek may be somewhat treacherous, but look at your bonus sight! Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

An hour's trekking northeastward takes you to the magical Bropos Point. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

Living well ~ all in a day's work... in a tropical jungle in East Java. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

Everything is brought in on foot-head porter & security Mariati. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

All the day's fresh catch on the grill. All-organic cuisine-par excellence. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

Guide Cyrus and his catch. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

Guide Cyrus with blue omilus (blue fin trevallies). Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

The Camp. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

The world famous G-Land break near camp. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

Lobsters. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

Local fishing boat-East Java. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

Who doesn't have a weak spot for this scenery? Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

We mean business. Photo: Jungle UIua Fishing Adventures

Beauty of the sea. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

Tt takes a village to go on a fishing trip. Photo: Jungle Ulua Fishing Adventures

Source: Enchanting Eden

The animal world is more captivating than ever. With the explosion of media, especially TV programs dedicated to animals and wildlife, and with a big help from the internet, information about animals have become readily available like never before. The most intelligent of animals, apes, are of particularly interest, as they… well, remind us so much about ourselves.

With continued research we are learning about just how intelligent they are. Recent research indicate that Orang Utans have the ability to heal themselves with self-made medication when they are sick, making concoctions of herbs and leaves they find in the forest. An interesting find indeed, as research has demonstrated that Orang Utans in the wild are healthier than those in captivity, that are more prone to ailments. Germs passed from humans are one reason to blame. The fact that Orang Utans recognize which plants to use for medication is fascinating. You can get involved by becoming a volunteer to work with these fuzzy, cuddly & friendly Man of the Forest (Malay translation of Orang Utan)!

Orang Utans by riverside in Bukit Lawang. Notice how they use their hands to drink.

Mother and baby in the jungle. Photo: Chris Bannister

Orang Utans are amongst the most endangered species in the world. Their habitats can only be found in the rainforest of Indonesia’s Sumatra and Kalimantan (Borneo, the part Indonesia shares with Malaysian). If you’ve always been intrigued to get close and personal with the Orang Utan, you could choose to volunteer at an Orang Utan Rescue center in Indonesia. Organized through Eco Volunteer, that works with the Bukit Lawang Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center in North Sumatra. The project is located near Gunung Leuser National Park, the orang utans natural habitat.

Orang utan in the wild. Photo: Bukit Lawang Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center

Orang Utan with baby at Bukit Lawang Orang Utan Rehabilitation center

Bukit Lawang ranks as the best place to see these unique primates, with one of the largest strongholds of orang utan communities. Bukit Lawang situated at the eastern side of Gunung Leuser National Park, by the Bohorok river. It is estimated that there re over 5,000 orang utans in the jungles of this national park.

River crossing during jungle hike. Photo: Ivona Foitova

Mother orang utan and her baby at the Bukit Lawang Orang Utan Rehabilitation Center, North Sumatra

Although Eco Volunteer works with a different Orang Utan rehab center, it’s interesting to mention the Bohorok Orang Utan Centre at Bukit Lawang, as the pioneer center for Orang Utans. Established in 1973 by two Swiss Zoologists with funding from Frankfurt Zoological Society (FZS) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The centre’s mission is to safeguard the decreasing number of orang utans from hunting, orang utan trading, habitat destruction due to forest fires and deforestation caused by palm oil plantations and illegal logging. The rehabilitation center helps orang utans re-gain their natural habits through training and rehabilitation before being released to the wild. Once orang utans are back in the wild, the center monitors their whereabout, providing them with regular medical check-ups.

Rice field, view from the volunteer accommodation. Photo: Ivona Foitova

Volunteer accommodation. Photo: Ivona Foitova

Project accommodation is in the rice fields in the Timbang Lawan village, in a tranquil setting that sees volunteers from around the world. The center works closely with the community of this village. And in the nearby Bohorok river is Gunung Leuser National Park, one of the richest expanses of protected tropical rainforest ecosystems in Southeast Asia and where the center’s research is focused.

Boat river crossing in boat to Gunung Leuser National Park. Photo: Chris Bannister

Mother and baby in the jungle. Photo: Chris Bannister

While working with orang utans, volunteers can also help fellow-humans, through the Bukit Lawang Community Charitable Trust to help support the local Bukit Lawang community that was hit by disastrous floods in 2003, wiping out the whole of the village and killing 300 people. The Trust provides immediate aid, and set up a health clinic in the village. The Trust now helps other villages like Bukit Lawang throughout Indonesia that have been affected by natural disaster such as the tsunami and earthquakes by helping the communities to rehabilitate through water, health and education projects. 100% of funds raised go directly to projects.

Conducting reserach work in the office. Photo: Ivona Foitova

Another Mother and baby photo in the rainforest. Photo: Chris Bannister

Conducting research work on jungle floor. Photo: Chris Bannister

Trekking through the thick rainforest jungle. Photo: Chris Bannister

Source: Endangered Eden

Peponi Hotel, a small family-run hotel on the unspoiled Swahili island of Lamu just off Kenya’s coast.

Sitting at the entrance of the Shela channel that runs between Manda and Lamu Islands, to the south of the hotel lies a 12km stretch of beach open to the full force of the Indian Ocean. Traditional Arab Dhow sail boats still ply the waters, as they have for hundreds of years. The sight of these boats leaving the harbor at dusk, with their sails’ silhouette against the sunset is simply magnificent. To the north is Lamu town, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that sits in a time warp, where the streets are just wide enough for a fully laden donkey to pass, the perfect place to explore Swahili culture and the town’s rich history as a spice trade hub.

Peponi is simple, fresh, friendly and cheerful, distinguished with a reputation for delicious cuisine. Accommodation is in 24 rooms, a mix of standard and superior rooms all with a sea view. Optional activities include windsurfing, water-skiing, scuba diving & snorkelling, dhow trips & deep sea fishing.

Peponi is not only proud of its heritage as a long-standing quality lodging, but also for its pioneering efforts in conservation, long before it was fashionable. The hotel started Lamu Marine Conservation Trust (LAMCOT) in 1992. The project began with the translocation of a turtle nest to the hotel grounds for protection. Since then the project has been growing every year and has now become an established trust. It has been managed by Carol Korschen of Peponi Hotel from the start. See the their LAMCOT Website and LAMCOT Blog.

Lamu Island has a relaxed and sleepy atmosphere, making it a wonderful place to relax and make the most of the stunning scenery, sweeping beaches, rolling sand dunes and warm Indian Ocean. The ocean continues to play a vital role in the life and livelihood of Lamu, and traditional sailing dhows abound. A trip on one of these wooden boats offers a highly relaxing way to explore the area, travelling to neighbouring islands and fishing villages.

Snorkeling is excellent in the waters off Lamu and the surrounding archipelago, which teem with vibrant marine life. Diving is becoming increasingly popular here, and many superb sites remain relatively unexplored.

Over a thousand years of East African, Omani, Yemeni, Indian, Portuguese and Victorian British influences have all left their mark on Lamu Island, in the architecture, the language and the very essence of the place. In bustling Lamu, winding alleys lead past the intricate carved doorways of white stone houses –some of which are truly majestic and still home to the very wealthy. And, because the alleys are too narrow to be negotiated by cars, the modern world has had little visible impact on this historic town.

Life appears little changed since Lamu was a busy port town in the 14th century, donkeys remain the preferred local mode of transport, and the streets are lit by lanterns after nightfall. Spices and the smell of grilled food scent the air around the markets, mosques, museums, fort and ancient houses, and exploring Lamu on foot –or donkey –is a treat for all the sense Sitting at an open-air restaurant by the water and watching the world go by is an irresistible past-time. Fishermen haul their catches ashore, locals walk or ride by, donkeys carry their cargo. Shopping for local woodcarvings and batik is another ‘must’

Source: Unique Travel Destinations

Casa Quetzal

Valladolid is in the heart of the Mayan world. If you are interested in history or nature, this is the perfect place to discover endless Mayan archeological sites, colonial convents, and the amazing Cenote watering holes, which are typical from this magic Mayan region.

This beautiful retreat is located along side the XVI Century Convent of Fray Bernardina de Siena.

Here you can enjoy a quiet and leisurely vacation in luxurious rooms surrounding a garden and swimming pool with large terraces.

All rooms feature AC, Cable TV, large bathrooms, and Wireless Internet. There is also parking available in case you are traveling through the Mayan World with your own car. Furthermore, Casa Quetzal offers Yoga and Chi Kung classes, Acupuncture, Oriental massages, Tuina, Shiatsu and Reflexology.
Casa Quetzal combines the tranquility of Valladolid, the Mayan handcraft details, and the charm of an intimate place to arrive.

Source: Mayan Eternity & Unique Travel Destinations

La Pleta is an luxury health hotel located in the heart of the Pyrenees, in the Baqueira-Beret Ski Resort. One of Spain’s premier 5-star ski hotel, and a member of the Small Luxury Hotels of the World.

La Pleta is a 3-hour drive from Barcelona, located on slopes at a height of 1,750 meters above sea level. The hotel is surrounded by some breathtaking picturesque mountain scenery. Managed by Rafael Hotels, La Pleta is the Pyrenees leading destination, an ideal base for winter sports and summer leisure activities.

The hotel is renovated in 2004, guaranteed a tranquil and comfortable stay in the rooms or enjoyable suites. The property offers 71 rooms with spacious bathrooms and forms. They are equipped with the latest technology, such as the safety deposit box, mini-bar, hairdryer, satellite television and background music. The hotel’s facilities including the indoor swimming pool, gym and spa & beauty salon.

This typically alpine resort is the perfect base of the fascinating scenery that folds itself around waterfalls, forests and lakes. The hotel’s area offers the wide variety of attractions. There are 57 ski slopes for skiing and snowboarding, also you can go fishing in crystal clear mountain rivers, hike on hidden paths through an untouched nature, discover tiny, romantic villages on a mountain-bike.

Skiing in Spain. Photo: AP

Source: Wayfaring

Explora started life as Chile’s leading adventure tour operator, taking world travelers to witness her majestic – and diverse – landscapes that are distinctively different. Atacama Desert in the north and the world-famous Patagonia in the south that leads to the southernmost tip of Tierra del Fuego.

Evolving into hotels was a natural progression for Explora. And it opened its first – Hotel Salto Chico in Torres del Paine National Park in Patagonia, in 1993. Following its success, Hotel de Larache opened five years later in the Atacama Desert, and in December 2007 the newest hotel, Posada de Mike Rapu, opened on Rapa Nui (Easter Island). Posada Mike Rapu is Chile’s first LEED-certified property, Chile’s first when it opened.

One of the many giant Moai stone statues watching over Easter Island. Photo: Michael Calderwood for Architectural Digest

Nestled in Hanga Roa, the ocean front Mike Rapu features 30-rooms with alfresco Jacuzzis, swimming pools, and locally grown cuisine (along with excellent Chilean wines).

The well designed hotel offers all the latest comfort, and leaving your room may be the last thing you’d opt for. But with Rapa Nui’s intoxicating history, venturing out is a given. Explora has prepared guided “cultural excursions”: offerings include hikes through semitropical forests, bike rides along rugged trails, visits to a nearby volcano, and, of course, a trip to the iconic Moai statues.

Posada de Mike Rapu is located on a hill in the Te Miro Oone area in the center of the island (27º09’ S and 109º 26’ W), and makes an excellent base for exploring this attractive and mysterious island which is home to a culture whose origins and evolution remain unexplained. Volcanic rock, native to the island and always used by the island’s inhabitants in construction, and wood from the mainland, are the principal materials that have been used to build the hotel. The hotel has 30 guestrooms, a pool, massage salon and open-air Jacuzzis.

Panorama of Anakena beach, Easter Island. The moai pictured here was the first to be raised back into place upon its ahu in 1955 by islanders using the ancient method.

The Legendary Rapa Nui (Easter Island):
Located 3,700 kilometers (2,237 miles) from the American continent, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, surrounded by the world’s most transparent waters, Rapa Nui (Easter Island) is the cradle of an unusual and enigmatic culture which persists to this day. The language, music and many traditions remain alive amongst the island’s inhabitants. Orongo Village is good place to see this fascinating culture still alive, and there are also cave dwellings to see.

Rapa Nui holds a very special mystery and magic. The great majority of the island is part of the Rapa Nui National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the landscape is akin to an open-air museum with the giant carved stone Moai, a heritage – and mystery – from her Polynesian inhabitants. Much is still being learned about precisely why and how these giant statues were made. There used to be thousands strewn across the island, today there are about 600 Moai left.

Dining area. Photo: Michael Calderwood for Architectural Digest

Guest Room with a magnificent view. Photo: Michael Calderwood for Architectural Digest

Source: Unique Travel Destinations

Malawi may be a small land-locked country in Africa whose claim to fame in recent times is probably Madonna’s adopting a Malawi orphan. There is of course more to the country, blessed with a natural beauty, although less known for its safaris, compared to her neighbors Kenya and Tanzania. And not having a coast doesn’t stop Malawi to mesmerize with her beautiful beaches on Lake Malawi. Pumulani Lodge is your perfect base to explore her natural assets.

Pumulani offers the perfect mix for a memorable holiday. Enjoy being active or simply relax in the beautiful and tranquil scenery.

Pumulani is situated on the westside of the Nankumba Peninsula in the South end of Lake Malawi. The beauty of this lake is indescribable. The beautiful sparkling colours shimmering over the water, the clear blue skies and the panoramic vistas truly make you feel like you are in paradise. David Livingstone named Lake Malawi ‘Lake of Stars’ for good reason. According to experts this lake is home to more native fish species than any other lake in the world.

The ten villas are situated in such a way that they blend in completely with the natural surroundings and the cooling grass roofs reflect the African sun.

Each villa has its own distinct character. The villas consist of a bedroom, sitting area and bathroom with double showers, double basins and toilet. The bedroom and sitting area open out on to an elevated deck. The sitting area has a coffee/tea corner and a small fridge for cool drinks.

The main area with restaurant and bar is set high above the Lake with magnificent views. Meals are served either on the beach, in the gardens, in the restaurant or on your private deck.

At Pumulani we offer many activities. The lake is ideal for water sports such as snorkelling, kayaking, waterskiing, diving or fishing. Sail the impressive lake on our traditional wooden dhow. We also offer village trips for those who like to experience true African village life.

The flora and fauna surrounding the lodge is amazing. It is a bird watchers paradise with over 300 different bird species. A popular combination is a walk along the trail heading through the hills, finishing at a secluded beach and kayaking back to Pumulani along the shoreline of the National Park.

For those who like to sunbathe and simply relax there is a private beach and an infinity swimming pool. The pool is situated on the upper terrace with beautiful views overlooking the water and the hills beyond.

Families are most welcome in our two bedroom family villa.

The Lake combines excellently with our safari camps in South Luangwa.

Source: Robin Pope Safaris & Unique Travel Destinations

If there’s any similarity between Hollywood movie-making and hotel creation, it’s this: they take years to plan, scout and develop, and require so many logistical challenges along the way that simply to finish one, to say nothing of a whole trilogy, is possibly enough achievement for a lifetime. The trilogy here comes from Francis Ford Coppola whose movie-making accolades now include the new roles of vintner and hotelier.

And a very specific hotelier at that, creating exquisite eco resorts. Coppola is now on his third and last of trilogy of eco resorts in Central America, with La Lancha, on Lake Peten Itzá, near Tikal, in Guatemala.

It’s the third in a trilogy that already includes the charming Belize eco-resorts of Blancaneaux Lodge and the Turtle Inn. The La Lancha experience is very much of a piece with its sisters: a lush rainforest setting, an emphasis on low-impact living, and close proximity to some Mayan historic sites, in this case the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Tikal within the Tikal National Park.

Where it differs is in the finish. This is a more rough and rustic experience, ten rooms with shared terraces, some with views of the lake. You’re not here for the luxury, but for the setting. The immediate rainforest surroundings would be enough, but La Lancha throws in the spectacular Lake Peten Itzá and the Tikal ruins for good measure — plus a restaurant that mixes authentic Guatemalan cuisine with Italian-style wood-fired pizzas and wines from the Coppola concern.

Mayan Temple of Tikal, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Source: Enchanting Eden

Cars have always played a major role in our lives, as well as in pop culture. Marking certain milestones and historic eras. And we’ll all admit to relating personally to our vehicles.

One such vehicle that is synonymous with the care-free hippie movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s, is the VW Combi Van. A vehicle forever linked and etched into San Francisco’s Haight Ashbury neighborhood, Jimmy Hendrix, and Woodstock on the East Coast. Replete with the Peace Sign and… a flower in your hair!

And while the US population of the VW Combi Vas has dwindled, Europe still has a few. And retrofitted as an RV (Recreational Vehicle) for the modern age too. So anytime you itch for some nostalgia, you can rent one of these RVs that are about the size of an American RV’s cooler box… and hit the road. After all, everything in Europe is smaller and more quaint, making for a truly unique travel experience.

The Danbury family in the U.K. just can’t get out of the ‘70s. But we think that’s great, because they have taken regular VW campervans and turned them into something a bit more luxurious.

Take the Danbury “Rio.” It has a modern water-cooled engine, full-length kitchen unit furniture, 40-liter fridge, table, wardrobe, double bed, and optional roof bed. It’s a bit cozier than an RV, but it has just about all the luxuries. Prices for the Type 2 “Rio” start at $40,000.

If you don’t want to buy your own personalized “Rio,” you can rent one from other U.K. companies such as O’Connors Campers (from around $500), which has a fleet of 11 VW campervans. Or, rent one from Seven Degrees West (from around $500) which, with the help of Carbon Footprint, will offset the van’s carbon emissions by planting a tree for every trip taken in one of its vehicles. This means that anyone wanting to relive their hippie days can do so, all the while knowing they’re having fun and staying green.

Source: National Geographic’s Intelligent Travel and Enchanting Eden