All posts by Red Hunt

A former journalist and business analyst that now works in the world of travel marketing. Based in Toronto, Red Hunt has travelled to more than 50 countries over the past 15 years. You can follow Red on Instagram or Twitter.

7 Wonders of Central America

Central America is perfectly suited for both short-term or long-term travelling. A collection of seven countries, conveniently wedged together so that a border crossing is rarely more than a half day bus ride away. You can just as easily immerse yourself in one country or visit all seven.
A Raggamuffin tours boat going snorkelling
Headed out to the Belize Barrier Reef with Raggamuffin Tours

 

Each country – Belize, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Panama – has it’s own allure. Costa Rica may get a lot of the glory, but I’m only willing to give it one wonder from this Central America list.

Seven countries for seven wonders, right? I could just name each individual country as a wonder in itself, but that would be too easy. Lucky for me I’ve travelled through a lot of Central America and can say picking only seven wonders was pretty tough. I’m sure some will disagree with these choices too. If so, let me know!

So, here are some top spots you won’t want to miss while venturing around Central.

Wonder #1 from Belize: The Belize Barrier Reef
When you hear people from Australia say that the snorkelling and diving here is better than the Great Barrier Reef (which I did hear more than once), you have to stop and take notice! At 300km long it is a part of the world’s second largest reef and sports more than 500 species of fish. What makes it even better is easy access from Caye Caulker and Ambergris Caye, two laid back islands off the coast of Belize where coconuts and Belikin beers are as plentiful as the underwater wildlife.

Wonder #2 from Guatemala: Tikal Mayan Ruins
One of the most impressive of all Mayan sites, Tikal is a massive complex of pyramids and structures set deep in the Guatemalan jungle. Colourful birds and prehistoric-sounding howler monkeys call this place home. You’ll feel like you’ve been transported back in time as you wander around Tikal and soak up so much ancient history. The stories that these structures could tell, but don’t worry the local guides here do a great job of bringing it all to life.

Wonder #3 from El Salvador: Cerro Verde National Park
There is remarkable nature to be discovered in El Salvador, and the Santa Ana Volcano, which lies in Cerro Verde Park is one of the best attractions. It is one of three volcanoes in the park that offers challenging nature treks to the heights of this often overlooked Central American country. While there are multi-day treks that are available, if you’re short on time it is possible to climb to the top of one of these volcanoes in only a few hours. Santa Ana gets my nod as it offers the best panoramic views and takes you past some impressive crater lakes. The nearby areas are home to many indigenous people too, making for a great culture and climbing combination.

Wonder #4 from Honduras: The Ruins of Copan
The site of Copan in Honduras represents the southern extremity for the Mayan civilization and offers a great contrast to the jungle pyramids and complex seen in Mexico and Guatemala. Here, you’ll be treated to intricately carved stellae unseen at other Mayan sites. With wide open spaces, the site is easy to walk around and a great spot to stop, relax and have a picnic or soak up the sun.

Wonder #5 from Nicaragua: The City of Granada
Colourful colonial buildings are commonplace in Granada, which I think is one of the most attractive cities in all of Central America. A great place to base yourself and spend extra time, Granada lies on the shores of Lake Nicaragua, a popular area for swimming and beach time for locals. It is an especially busy place around the Holy Week of Semana Santa. Cheap food and drink as well as easy access to some popular nature spots like Masaya Volcano make Granada my choice for favourite colonial city in Central America (sorry Antigua!).

Wonder #6 from Costa Rica: The Osa Peninsula
Down the the far southern reaches of Costa Rica is a peninsula that is one of the most bio-diverse places in Central America. Small towns and totally relaxing beach areas are countered with the impressive Corcovado National Park, perhaps the wildest place in all of Costa Rica. Don’t believe me? Well National Geographic called it the “most biologically intense place on Earth.”

Wonder #7 from Panama: The Panama Canal
The most modern wonder of my Central America list, the Panama Canal remains one of the greatest feats in recent human history. The tumultuous story of how the Canal came to fruition makes for a great read and brings this place to life. Many of the greatest ocean going vessels passage through the canal which saves thousands and thousands of kilometres of travel for shipments of fruits, commodities and passengers. Did you know there was once an idea to build the canal in Nicaragua? Like I said, the history of the Panama Canal is an interesting read.

8 Great Reasons to Travel with Me in Nepal

This coming March I’ll be leading a small group tour through Nepal. The ‘Wild & Natural Nepal‘ tour has been carefully crafted, with help from friends at Original Trails and it is unlike any other organized tour out there! I’m really excited about this unique itinerary and the mix of experiences we’ve packed into a 15-day trip.

Head to Nepal with Red Hunt and Original Trails
Visit Nepal with Red Hunt & Original Trails

Wild & Natural Nepal details:

When: 15 Days from March 11 – 25, 2012.

Where: Starts and ends in Kathmandu, Nepal.

Cost: $2090USD per person.

How to Book & Full Itinerary: Head to the Original Trails website at:

http://www.originaltrails.com/trips/wild-and-natural-nepal/

Now for the ‘why’ part. In short, this is a guided tour that offers a different experience, to hidden parts of Nepal that you’d be unable to experience with a larger tour company. What makes it so special? How about:

  1. Bardia National Park. This is the wild side of Nepal. A remote national park in western Nepal, often dubbed an untouched wilderness. Unlike the ubiquitous Chitwan, few travellers visit this park as it requires a lengthy travel journey. The reward is an abundance of flora and fauna. More species have been spotted here than in Chitwan, including elephant, tiger, crocodile, barking deer, sloth bear, clouded leopard, hyena, rhino and, of course plenty of monkeys and birds.
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  3. Private Transport. This tour will be run with such a small group that we’ll take full advantage of our own, private and comfortable transportation. This means we’re not at the mercy of changing bus schedules and we have the freedom to stop at selected points of interest that are missed by many.
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  5. Connecting with Culture. A big part of this trip is taking time to enjoy the towns and cities we visit, in particular when we stay in Panauti. Here, we’ll become part of the town as we will live with and learn from the locals. Eat, drink and sleep the Nepalese lifestyle – undoubtedly the cultural highlight of the entire tour.
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  7. Paradise for Photographers. This is an adventure tour, with an abundance of photographic hotspots packed into two weeks. From the majestic Annapurnas to living with a local family and trekking around Bardia, photo opportunities are endless. We’ve slowed the pace of the tour down to allow for a more immersive experience at each place we stop, ideal for planning – and getting – those perfect shots. I’ll be there to help with some tips and advice along the way too.
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  9. Trekking in the Annapurna Foothills. Get your trekking poles ready, as we’ll be venturing into the foothills for a 5-day circuit trek. From farmlands and forests to mountain villages and towering peaks, the fresh air will invigorate and get us in touch with the natural side of Nepal.
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  11. Ample time in Kathmandu. With two full days at the start of the tour, you’ll have an easier time acclimitizng to the altitude in Kathmandu. Once you’re rested and full of energy, the Nepalese cuisine and shops will be ready for you to explore. From Durbar Square to the Garden of Dreams and Swayambhunath Temple, there are plenty of attractions to keep you busy in Nepal’s capital.
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  13. Ample time in Pokhara. Unlike many tours that hustle you out of the larger cities to save on costs, we’ve included plenty of free time in both Pokhara and Kathmandu. The eating, shopping and adventure options (white-water rafting anyone?) in Pokhara are impressive, as is Fewa Lake.
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  15. Sleep well, travel well. In line with the private transportation, this tour includes stays at some unique hotels, lodges and guesthouses. From a special lodge at Bardia to well-appointed hotels in the cities, you can expect a good night’s sleep, so we’re all rested and ready to explore the wonders of Nepal each and every day.

There you have it, a 15-day tour of Nepal, with plenty of time to experience the cities, parks and culture of this mystical country. Wild and Natural indeed. With all of the free time built into the itinerary, suggestions on best places to photograph and options for daily activities in Bardia or in the cities will be presented each day. Plus, we’ll enjoy the local expertise of Nepal guides during our excursions.

For a day-by-day breakdown and listing of all inclusions and highlights, visit the official Wild & Natural Nepal tour page on the Original Trails website.

If you have any questions about the tour, let me know…hope to see you there!

The Most Photographed Places on Earth

I have often wondered, what landmarks and attractions are the most photographed on Earth?

Have I seen any of them? If you count our bright, beautiful Sun on the list then sure, I think we’ve all photographed one of the world’s most popular sights as it rises and sets above the horizon.

Horseshoe Falls at Niagara Falls
Horseshoe Falls at Niagara Falls, Canada

But after that, what other places lay claim to ‘most photographed’ something or other? Ahhh, after scouring the Internet and some great tourism websites I have put together this comprehensive list.

Have any additions? What is the most photographed landmark in your country? Let me know and I`ll keep growing this list.

How many of these have you seen and photographed?

  • The Colosseum in Rome is often reported to be the most photographed landmark in Italy
  • The most photographed city in the world? New York
  • Not a single animal, but collectively known as the Big Five – lion, leopard, elephant, rhino and buffalo – are considered the most sought after wildlife in the world for photographers
  • India’s most photographed landmark? The Taj Mahal
  • In the Seychelles, the island of La Digue island claims to be the most photographed island in the world, although that seems difficult to believe
  • Santorini is the most photographed isle in Greece
  • Albuquerque’s International Balloon Fiesta claims to be the most photographed world event
  • South Africa’s Table Mountain is it’s most photographed landmark
  • The Little Mermaid statue in Copenhagen is the most photographed object in Denmark, and possibly the most photographed statue in the entire world
  • San Francisco’s Golden Gate Bridge lays claim to most photographed bridge and most photographed US landmark
  • Strange, but true – the most photographed toilets in the world come from New Zealand (The Kawakawa public toilets)
  • The most photographed wall in the world? The Great Wall of China
  • Picturesque, fairytale-like Neuschwanstein castle in Germany claims the king of the castle category for photography
  • Europe’s most photographed structure? The Eiffel Tower
  • Both the Evangeline Oak in Louisiana and the Lone Cyprus tree in California have claims as the most photographed trees in the world
  • Egypt’s Pyramids of Giza get the nod for most photographed in that country
  • Ayers Rock gets the nod for most photographed in Australia when it comes to sunsets
  • Most photographed road in the world? Abbey Road
  • Most photographed waterfall? Niagara Falls

Welcome to…the LARGEST stone in the WORLD!

Sometimes you just have to use bold or CAPS letters to make something stand out. Certain things, no matter how eloquent a writer you are…require help.

When it comes to the world’s biggest, largest, oldest, ugliest lists, usually you can really on the natural curiosity of people to visit your attraction (or read your story in this case).

But when your attraction is…a stone, well how exciting can that be?

Actually, the giant stone of Lebanon was fairly impressive. Beforehand I did question the validity of said stone, as I’ve seen giant buddhas in Sri Lanka and the giant Moai on Easter Island. This was, maybe larger than those, but maybe not. Plus, this is just a blocky shaped stone, woo hoo. The one advantage it had over other large stone-y things? You can climb on it!

So Lebanon has claim to the world’s largest stone. Is that enough to make you book a flight to Beirut and seek it out? Probably not. Luckily Lebanon does have many other worthwhile attractions. But, back to the stone.

A mighty stone it is. At well over 1000 tons in weight, it is a monster. The stone is sometimes called the ‘stone of the pregnant woman’ and was cut around 2000 years ago for use at a temple in Baalbeck, but it was never completed. Perhaps the workers realized they had no feasible way to carry or move this giant stone to the temple?

On its own, it is not much, but when you visit the nearby ancient ruins of Baalbeck, it helps bring the site to life and put things into perspective in terms of the dedication, effort and talent that went into building such an impressive . Many who’ve visited Roman ruins throughout Greece, Lebanon and surrounding countries hail Baalbeck as among the most impressive Roman ruins in the world, and with that, I have to agree. A pretty bold statement perhaps, but at least now you might be more inclined to also visit the largest stone in the world to find out for yourself.

Stone of the Pregnant Woman, Baalbeck, Lebanon
Stone of the Pregnant Woman - Baalbeck, Lebanon
Largest Stone in the World - Baalbeck, Lebanon
Largest Stone in the World - Baalbeck, Lebanon

Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle

Travel triangles seem pretty popular. Maybe it’s a sneaky way to trap tourists into visiting a triage of destinations? Or maybe they’re all legit attractions in their own rite. Some, like the Bermuda triangle are surrounded with mystery and intrigue, some are natural wonders and others are culturally significant attractions. Whatever their role, the most impressive travel triangle I have enjoyed visiting is the cultural triangle in the interior of Sri Lanka.

Sri Lanka’s Cultural Triangle

This travel triangle of ancient sites provides a glimpse into the history of Sri Lanka. All vastly different in appearance, and spread out across the country, the cultural sites of Sigiriya, Polonnaruwa and Anuradhapura make up the main attractions, however the Dambulla caves and Mihintale mountain are also worth visiting, as is the city of Kandy which serves as the southern border to this triangle.

Monk climbing stairs at Mahathupa, Anuradhapura
Anuradhapura's Great Thupa called Ruwanvalisaaya

Anuradhapura, is the most northern tip of the triangle, in central Sri Lanka. Once the capital of Sri Lanka, this ancient city is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Mostly in ruins, some stupas remain in great condition and there are finely detailed carvings, stones and paintings around the area.

This is a major pilgrimage site for Buddhism as the Jaya Sri Maha Bodhi tree is found here.  This sacred fig tree was planted nearly 2300 years ago, making it the oldest known planted tree in the world. This Bodhi tree is believed to have been planted from part of the tree in which the Buddha achieved enlightenment. When I visited there were literally hundreds of young monks visiting the site, most for the first time. It was fun to watch the young monks laugh and have fun at a place of such spiritual importance.

Famous Reclining Buddha of Sri Lanka
The Reclining Buddha, part of Gal Vihare at Polonnaruwa

Another UNESCO World Heritage Site, Polonnaruwa lies further east, in central Sri Lanka and is most famously known for it’s rock carvings and statues.

The rock temple of Gal Vihara is a collection of Buddha carvings, with the giant reclining Buddha being one of the most famous sites in all of Sri Lanka. There is a lot more to see here too, so staying a night or two in the modern, clean city of Polonnaruwa is well worth it. The ruins are nearby and a great way to get around to see the ancient sites is to rent a bicycle.

Sigiriya Rock also known as Lion Rock
Sigiriya Rock in Sri Lanka

Finally, Sigiriya, my favourite must-visit destination along the cultural triangle route. Lying further south in Central Sri Lanka, Sigiriya enjoys greener, more natural surroundings. As you approach the area, the landscape is mainly flat grasslands, until you see this one giant rock. Once a strategicaly important rock fortress, Sigiriya is also known as Lion Rock as the gateway to climb to the peak of the rock was once carved in the shape of a huge lion. Today, only the giant carved lion paws remain.

There are beautiful gardens and walking paths in the area, and as you climb Sigiriya, you’ll spot some of the best rock paintings in all of Sri Lanka. There is also a strangely interesting mirror wall. This rock wall was once polished so finely that you could see your reflection on it! Views from the top of Sigiriya are worth the effort of climbing the steep stairs bolted into the rock.

Other stops along the route. The Golden Buddha is massive! It is close to the entrance to the Dambulla caves. The Temple of the Tooth is in Kandy, and is said to house an actual tooth from Buddha. Worth visiting if you can handle the crowds and heat – you only get a fleeting, obstructed glimpse of the tooth at certain times of the day. Mihintale is a climb and a half. Lots of stairs up to the top of a mountain but well worth, it especially at sunset. You might just catch a monk or two hanging around on top of the mountain too.

The massive Jetavana Stupa
Jetavana Stupa at Anuradhapura
Rock carving at Polonnaruwa
Elephant rock carving at Polonnaruwa
One of the frescoes from the caves at Sigiriya
A well-preserved fresco at Sigiriya, Sri Lanka

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Golden Temple at Dambulla
Giant Golden Buddha near the Dambulla Caves
Temple of the Tooth in Sri Lanka
Temple of the Tooth, Kandy
Monk giving blessings at Mihintale mountain
A Monk giving blessings atop Aradhana Gala at Mihintale

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

While Sri Lanka may be rich in cultural history, the country also boasts an abundance of wildlife, including leopards, bears and elephants. If you like hot, spicy food then you’ll also love Sri Lanka!