Archives for May 2012

Giveaway: Two FREE Rocketman Flights

May 31, 2012 By Jillian

Giveaway Alert!

We’re giving away free stuff – 2 free Rocketman flights !

A couple of weeks ago we were lucky enough to fly with RocketMan at the exclusive launch location in Fort Lauderdale.

Have you ever wanted to fly? I have, in fact, flying in many forms is on my bucket list. It’s an incredible experience to glide across the water with Rocketman strapped on your back. We inadvertently did a backflip, skimmed the bottom of the Intracoastal and free fell into the water, and it was AMAZING. We got the hang of jetpack travel faster than we expected and after a few minutes we were up in the air, zipping around like pros.

So what’s it like to have a jetpack strapped to your back?

Flying with Rocketman was a bit like paragliding, only faster, over the water and with more control. Your helmet is connected to a “controller” on the dock, who helps guide you through the launch, the flight and the landing. Don’t worry, the controller can actually control your thrust and prevent you from going too high if you’re afraid.

Are you up for an adrenaline rush?

Enter below for a chance to win one of two gift certificates! The more actions listed below you do, the higher your chances are to win!
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Photo: Tunnel Log

May 30, 2012 By Danny

Giant Sequoia trees are quite common in California’s Sequoia National Park and a Californian tour is not complete without a visit. The tree in this picture fell in 1937 and blocked the road. Rather than move the gargantuan tree, someone had the bright idea to just cut a hole through the darned thing instead. Thus was born Sequoia National Park’s infamous Tunnel Log. The tree itself measures 84m (275 feet) tall. The tunnel, built in 1938, is 5.2m (17-feett) wide and cuts through tree’s 6.4m (21 feet) diameter.

To me it is almost a shame that the road is still open to traffic rather than having the space closed and used as something of a study center for children to learn about the forest and the growth rings of trees. Many of these trees are older than the United States of America and that makes the forest tops on my list of places to visit out west. Supposedly the tallest tree in the park is kept a secret by those who know so that it can reign over the forest in peace.

IF YOU GO: If you do visit the Sequoia National Park then don’t forget to see the Moro Rock as well. It has been listed in the National Register of Historic Places. You can always Tour California with Titan Travel, 16 day Californian Holidays from only £1685. Or fly to Los Angeles with British Airways from £680 return in August.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Flickr user Sowerspics via a creative commons license.

Burj Khalifa

May 25, 2012 By Danny

This monstrous beauty is currently the tallest man made structure in all the world, and yes, it sits in the middle of Dubai. Dubai may be known as an oil-rich nation in the middle east, but it’s been trying to revamp it’s economy and image in the last decade.

What I love about this building is that the design pulls in elements of traditional Islamic architecture. Inspired by the Hymenocallis flower, the building spirals upwards in a geometric and nature inspired pattern. With 27 terraces and a floor plan designed to maximize views and natural light, the building probably feels like it’s reaching into the sky. Apparently the view from above or from the foot of the tower looks like an onion dome, also a typical element in Islamic architecture.

For all its fanfare and good looks, it’s actually not doing too well. Started in 2004, the building was finally opened in January 2010- right in the middle of the global financial crisis. I hope that means the Penthouse is still available.

IF YOU GO: For some, the hustle and bustle of the city is superb and the reason to visit Dubai. From extravagant shopping malls to high end boutiques, Dubai is a shopper’s paradise. Find cheap holidays to Dubai to have more money to spend once you’re there!

To see more of our favorite photos from around the world check out our travel photo page. Let us know your favorites and we’ll include them in our photo of the day series.

Photo Credit: Courtesy of Flickr user neekoh.fi via a creative commons license.

Seven Super Travel Shots

May 24, 2012 By Jillian

Have you heard of seven super shots? It’s a game running through the blogosphere right now, backed by HostelBookers. A fun way to look at your pictures in a different light. Amazing travel shots are the best memories of a trip, so going through our pictures brought back a lot of memories. Without further delay…drum roll please..

A photo that…takes my breath away

Ok, so I went literal on this one. Standing on top of Uhuru Peak, the tallest peak on Kilimajaro I felt like I could hardly breathe. Yes, at 5985m I was gasping for air. This photo quite literally took my breath away. Ten minutes later I was rolling down the mountain toward the permanent camp at 4500m.

A photo that…makes me laugh or smile

This little boy was running around naked at his mom’s drink kiosk at Angkor Wat. After enjoying every last bite of his ice cream, he snuck around to the cooler, pulled out a coke and promptly threw it as hard as he could on the ground. His mother punished him, but left with a busted up can she could not sell, eventually relented. He triumphantly enjoyed the coke!

A photo that…makes me dream

Pamukkale, Turkey at sunset. Need I say more?

A photo that…makes me think

Aren’t all pyramids Egyptian? These pyramids in Meroe, Sudan are actually Kushite. Never heard of the Kingdom of Kush? Exactly. This pyramid and the sand dune remind me that there is always more than meets the eye – things aren’t always what they seem. We slept by the pyramids under the desert sky- an experience I’ll never forget.

A photo that…makes my mouth water

We were hiking in Banos, Ecuador when we came across a small cafe atop a hill. Overlooking the city below, we indulged in this delicious hot chocolate. More artfully prepared than I would have expected on top of a mountain. Delicious.

A photo that…tells a story

There are only a few places left in the world where you can wander in to a religious site, stumble across a prayer session and be invited to lunch in an hour. Plov in Khiva, an experience I will never forget.

A photo that…I am most proud of

I love this photo. We were visiting the lake monastaries near Bahir Dar, Ethiopia when a monk pulled religious texts out of a locked chest. In the damp, dark overhang of the monastery, he flipped through the texts, showing us the pictures. Ethiopian religious art is more reminiscent of European art than African art, as you can see in the picture. I don’t know that this is my best picture ever, rather is it one that I love.

So:

Katherine from Beyond Disney Travel

Mike and Ashley from Traveled Earth

Caro and Matt from Passport and A Toothbrush

Ben from Adventures with Ben

Alex from Off The Path Travel

What are your seven shots?

Source of the Nile

May 23, 2012 By Jillian

The Source of the Nile, the famed river of Egypt, is actually deep in Uganda. Well. technically the source of the White Nile is in Uganda. The Blue Nile starts in Ethiopia. Yes, there are two Nile rivers, which combine in the Sudanese Capital Khartoum to create the Nile river we think of today.

The source of the White Nile is a small tourist destination in Jinja, Uganda. At it’s beginning, the White Nile has a series of big water rapids, so Jinja has become somewhat of an adventure sports mecca for Uganda, that’s how we got there in the first place. We body boarded the huge waves of the Nile, an experience now significantly reduced by a hydroelectric dam. The upper part of the river, including Bujugali Falls is now closed. Class V water is still available downstream, but the closure of the falls means no more “carnage” viewing from the riverfront- a popular activity for locals and tourists alike.

IF YOU GO: The source of the Nile is a nice walk from Jinja’s city center. Matatus go from downtown, but it’s better to walk and reward yourself with an iced cold local brew when you arrive. Jinja is a very walkable and friendly city with a lot of outdoor activities- something not as common as you would think throughout Africa. There’s a decent expat population of whitewater kayakers and raft guides, so expect some Western comforts as well! There are a lot of rafting companies in town, we went with Nalubale Rafting- the only group at the time to over body boarding.