Category Archives: Travel Articles

Articles, stories and advice on travel.

Wildlife and Nature

Six Mysterious Creatures and Where to See Them

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Interesting and odd, every year scientists discover new species of animals. Sometimes they’re small insects and lizards, sometimes they discover new monkeys or fish.  I’ve come across a number of strange animals on my travels and tend to be drawn to biodiversity hot spots like Madagascar and Papua New Guinea.

A Tuatara in New Zealand
The Tuatara of New Zealand is born with a Third light-sensing Eye!

 

From the Arctic to New Zealand, here are six of the most mysterious and interesting animals I’ve heard about or seen around the world.

Aye Ayes

The island of Madagascar is home to an astonishing number of endemic species, many of which look or act in unique ways. Lemurs are the island’s most famous inhabitants, but the Aye-Aye is probably the ugliest and most mysterious. The Aye Aye is a nocturnal lemur-like creature that has developed an extremely extended baby finger that it uses like a stick to root around in tree holes. Using this unique and sensitive digging finger it taps on the wood of trees to locate hiding spots for grubs and bugs, then it digs them out! They’re believed to be evil demons by some Malagasy, who claim that if an Aye Aye points it’s finger at you, you’ve been marked for death.

Whale Sharks

These are the largest fish in our Oceans, growing to sizes in excess of 40m long! They are sharks, but are friendly, docile plankton eaters, something you typically associate more with whales. It is said that 90% or more of the large fish in our Oceans are now gone, so there is an attraction to seeing these beasts before it is too late. It used to be a rare and lucky experience to be diving or snorkelling and come across a Whale Shark, but today it is big business in places like Isla Mujeres and Holbox in Mexico, the Bay Islands in Honduras, Ningaloo Reef in Western Australia and Donsol in the Philippines.

Tuatara

How about a three-eyed ‘living fossil’, the last of it’s kind? Indeed 200 million years ago the Tuatara may have made more cousins and relatives roaming the Earth, but today they’re on their own. A vulnerable species found only in New Zealand and it’s surrounding islands, the Tuatara has a ‘third-eye’ that gets covered over by skin in adult Tuataras. This eye is sensitive to light and is believed to be a way to trigger sleep and hibernation in these odd animals. They look like lizards (but aren’t) and can hear, but have no visible ears. Your best chance to spot one will be finding one in captivity at a zoo or wildlife park.

Reindeer

They are not stuff of fantasy or only owned by Santa Claus, Reindeer really do exist and they roam free in the high Arctic. Living off the frozen tundra, Reindeer go by different names around the world, but can be found in northern Scandinavia, Russia, Canada and Alaska. We call them Caribou in North America and they’ve been domesticated enough in some extreme northern climates to be used for sledding. They are, apparently, extremely tasty to eat too. Northern Finland and Sweden are the best places for visiting Reindeer farms.

Angora Rabbits

I have never seen an Angora Rabbit, but I have been to the city that they are said to originate from – Ankara, Turkey. If you’re familiar with the internet obsession with LOLcats and furry, funny animals then you need to do a Google image search for Angora Rabbits. These furballs are enough to make you burst out in smiles or laughs! Among the first domesticated rabbits in the world, they are raised for their amazingly soft, luxurious and silky fur.

Sloths

Would you prefer two or three toes with your Sloth? These cute guys are a big draw for wildlife fans who visit Central and South America. It isn’t their odd looks so much that makes them mysterious and interesting, but their extremely slow metabolism. Sloths do nothing fast, including digest their food. It can take them a month to totally digest a meal! They spend their time in trees, but head towards the ground to relieve themselves when that digestion is finally done. They move so slow that their fur is sometimes coloured green because moss begins to grow on them! Aviarios del Caribe is a popular sloth rescue centre in Costa Rica if you’re yearning for some close encounters.

Travel Articles

Maldives Cruising Safari

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The Maldives Islands are one of those rare travel destinations that can live up to the label of ‘paradise’, but for most people they’re out of reach either because they’re so far away or cost so much to visit.

Vaavu Atoll, Near Thinadoo Island, Maldives
Local fishing Boat near Thinadhoo Island in the Vaavu Atoll, Maldives

 

If you can fore go the extreme luxury treatment and pampering, then there is a lesser-known adventurous way to enjoy the islands at a very affordable price. What is even better? You don’t have to be a couple on your honeymoon to enjoy the affordable Maldives.

Taking a Maldives Dhoni Cruise is not only the most affordable way to visit the islands, it is also the only way to explore around some of the more remote atolls and uninhabited islands. To put it in perspective, spending 36 hours at one of the nice (not ultra luxury) Maldives resorts costs as much as a 7-day cruise.

A Traditional Style Boat in the Maldives
Many fishing boats are still built by hand in the Maldives Islands

 

There are a few suppliers out there, Voyages Maldives has a solid reputation and was the company I was with. You can book direct with them, although if you don’t mind giving up some privacy, you can book an organized tour from them via G Adventures. The Voyages Maldives crew was amazing and made the trip a real cultural experience too, not just a relaxing escape to the Indian Ocean.

A Typical Cruising Safari Boat
My Cruising Safari Boat in the Maldives Islands

 

With a four person crew and an amazing chef on board for just me and the six other boat guests it was an extremely chilled out tour. Sure, the rooms were a bit cramped and hot, but there were three bathrooms between us and a ton of deck space to lounge around or enjoy some card games, watch the sun set or drink some beers.

That last point may be a big one for some people. The Maldives is a dry country. No alcohol allowed. The entire main island of Male’ is alcohol-free. The only places you can drink alcohol are at the resorts or on a boat safari. Be prepared to disconnect too, as you won’t have TV’s or internet while cruising around most of the islands.

A sunset in the Maldives
Watching the sun set from our Safari Boat in the Maldives

 

Every day was full of laughs and surprises on the Maldives cruise safari, with multiple snorkelling expeditions every day. The colourful fish and reefs we visited were more impressive than anything I’d seen in places like Belize, the Galapagos and Malaysia. Part of what made it extra special was the near fish-like capabilities of our boat captain and guide. They were both so at home in the water that they could free-dive down to insane depths and hold their breath for minutes at a time. Leave it to them to find all the hiding spots for the most elusive sharks, eels, rays and fish!

Snorkel time in the Maldives
Snorkelling near an uninhabited island, Vaavu Atoll, Maldives

 

Our cook would always greet us with some tea and either fresh coconut slices or chocolate cake after our snorkels too. Luxury? No. Pampered? We thought so! Spicy, spicy was the name of the game for lunches and dinners. If you like hot food, then you’d love some of the meals in the Maldives, where we’d usually have a spicy and plain version of each salad we had. While we did have some chicken and meat, the big thing – not surprisingly – was fish.

Lunchtime on the Dhoni Cruise Boat
Getting ready for Lunch in the middle of the Indian Ocean

 

In fact, we had more than one lunch disrupted as our fishing lines trailing the boat had caught huge deep sea fish. The crew would spring into action to haul in the fish, which would become that night’s dinner or tomorrow’s lunch. I have no idea what most of the fish were that we caught but they were big and they were tasty.

Trips to some of the smaller inhabited islands were a real treat too. The islands that are home to people of the Maldives, not resorts. We had to get special permission from the local chief to visit these islands and see where local children went to school, how people lived on the islands and what they did for entertainment. The Muslim influence was quite evident, but the people were surprisingly outgoing as well.

Convenience Store, Maldives
A Small Shop on one of the Villager Islands in the Maldives

 

The further north we went, the less touristy the islands became and I loved it. Fewer and fewer resort islands, more and more traditional islands where they still built wood boats, fished for a living and everyone owned their own patch of coconut trees. This was the real Maldives, not the Maldives found in glossy honeymoon magazines. Probably the most relaxing trip I’ve taken anywhere in the world.

Local Villager and Palm trees in Maldives
Simple Village Life in the Maldives - Notice the Coconut Trees are painted Blue or White, so people know who owns them

 

If you’re thinking of visiting the Maldives, here are some helpful travel tips.

First, don’t forget alcohol isn’t permitted. Your luggage does get checked and alcohol gets confiscated. If you’re transiting through the Maldives, you can usually have your alcohol stored away at the airport so you can pick it up when you leave.

Second, the airport is on it’s own island and you cannot arrive without a hotel or accommodation booking. They won’t let you leave the airport until you’ve booked something. If your cruise or resort stay doesn’t start on the day you arrive, you do have a few options.

Playing beach Volleyball while Picnicking in the Maldives
Enjoying a Game of Beach Volleyball on a Private Island in the Maldives

 

There is one hotel on the airport island called the Hulhule Island Hotel, which is convenient but pricey. There are many hotels on Male’ Island, which is a quick 10 minute ferry ride away (ferry taxis run at all hours). Some of them such as the Mookai Hotel are safe, simple and affordable. Or there are a few resort islands within a 30 minute fast ferry ride of the airport. Most resorts only run their shuttle ferries or helicopter transfers during daytime hours so if you need to go far and are arriving at night you’ll need to use one of these other options.

Third, don’t forget to bring a weaterproof camera with you! They really aren’t that expensive and will provide you with some stunning photos above and below the water.

Snorkel time in the Maldives!
Returning by Dinghy after a Snorkel Trip in the Maldives

 

Finally, especially if you take a safari or cruise in the Maldives, is bring your own snorkel equipment. While it is provided, you are in the water so often that ensuring you have fins, a mask and snorkel that fit properly is crucial and well worth the hassle of packing them in your luggage.

Travel Matches

Travel Match Maps

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**Now updated with Travel Match Map 4, only 8 Destinations Remain!**

The first-ever Travel Match happened on Twitter in early 2010. Almost every week since then there has been a competition to see which country was most desirable to travel addicts on Twitter.

Here we’ll show the progression of each round as the world slowly fades to grey and only one green country will be left. Any predictions as to which destination will be the final winner?

Be sure to follow the #TravelMatch hashtag on twitter and cast your votes!

Travel Match Map 1: Open to Everywhere!

The stage was set! In a countdown that will last nearly 2.5 years and include more than 110 matches, the #TravelMatch showdowns begin with Mozambique taking on Mongolia and Morocco in Match #1.  All matches are winner takes all, moving on to the next round. You lose once, you’re gone for good.

A Green World, Before the Matches Began
#TravelMatch Map 1: All Green, before the Competitions Began

 

Travel Match Map 2: After Round One

Every single country and many extra destinations squared off in a round of 72 Travel Matches. More than 240 destinations around the world were included in the competitions. A number of big travel destinations had surprising losses, while the small, remote islands proved they’re high on most people’s travel bucket lists.

72 Destinations Remain
#TravelMatch Map 2: The 72 Remaining Destinations

 

The 72 destinations remaining are: Albania, Antarctica, Argentina, Armenia, Barbuda, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, British Virgin Islands, Brunei, Burma, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Cayman Islands, China, Colombia, Cook Islands, Cuba, Curaçao, Denmark, Ecuador, Equatorial Guinea, Ethiopia, Faroe Islands, French Polynesia, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Greenland, Guyana, Hungary, India, Iran, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kiribati, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malawi, Maldives, Mauritius, Montenegro, Mozambique, Nepal, Nigeria, Norway, Oman, Pakistan, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Rwanda, Saint Lucia, Samoa, Seychelles, Slovakia, Soloman Islands, South Georgia, Sri Lanka, Switzerland, Syria, Tasmania, Tonga, Tibet, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, United Kingdom, Vanuatu, Zanzibar.

 

Travel Match Map 3: After Round Two

There are 24 matches in Round Two, with three destinations per match. When the dust settles these 24 winners will be one step closer to winning it all!

Matches for round two will be running until April 2012, so follow me on Twitter @redhunttravel and watch the #TravelMatch hashtag for updates.

Update: The Round Two matches are over, here are the finalists moving on to Round Three!

Winners from Travel Match Round Two
#TravelMatch Map 3: The 24 Destinations Moving on to Round Three

 

The 24 destinations moving on to round three are: Antarctica, Bhutan, Brazil, Cuba, Curaçao, Ethiopia, Faroe Islands, Gabon, Galapagos Islands, Hungary, India, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Madagascar, Montenegro, Mozambique, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Switzerland, Tibet, Trinidad & Tobago, Turkey, Uganda, Vanuatu.

 

Travel Match Map 4: After Round Three

From June – August 2012, the 8 Travel Match finalists were chosen on Twitter. The map is below!

Travel Match Map #4: After Round Three
The Eight Travel Match Quarter-Finalists have been chosen!

 

The 8 destinations moving on to round four and the quarter-finals are: Antarctica, Bhutan, Brazil, Cuba, Ethiopia, Faroe Islands, Galapagos Islands, Tibet.

 

Create Your Own Travel Maps

These maps are images taken from maps I created using the handy Where I’ve Been tool! You can create your own maps of places you’d like to visit, where you’ve been and where you’ve lived. You can even include cities too. Their maps can be linked up to your Facebook profile or embedded onto your website or blog.

Travel Articles

The Long and Short of Mayan Calendars

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Have you heard that the world is going to end on December 12, 2012? According to some that is what the Mayans predict – well, what their calendar predicts.

I’ve enjoyed plenty of time travelling through Mayan areas in modern day Mexico and Guatemala and have to admit I’d be kind of bummed out if the world ended in 2012. So I did a little digging and am happy to say, with confidence, that the world will not end in December 2012.

You see, this ‘end of the world’ concept is an improper interpretation of the Mayan calendar. What is even more interesting is that the Mayans had many calendars, all with different purposes.

Tikal, Guatemala
Jungle scenery at the Mayan Ruins of Tikal in Guatemala

 

The Mayan Long Count Calendar

This is the one that is associated with all the doom and gloom. The cycle of the long count calendar is soon coming to an end. But it has come to an end before, this is not the first time! In reality, when December 2012 arrives it will be a time of celebration as the Mayan people would be celebrating a change – a transition – of one world to another. The sun will still rise and set as it always has, as according to the long count calendar we will enter a new cycle of creation called the golden age. Sounds much better than end of the world doesn’t it?

The complexity of Mayan calendars comes in the fact that they do not just measure time, they’re more dynamically linked to civilization. A mix of daily life, understanding the cosmos and natural life cycles is what makes them somewhat mystical, giving Mayan calendars a more prophetic interpretation than our common Gregorian calendar.

The Mayan Tzolk’in Calendar

This is the most ancient of all Mayan calendar systems. It uses a 260-day cycle and began more than 2600 years ago. Most people believe the length of the calendar is linked to the 9-month time frame of a human pregnancy. The Mayans hold this calendar in highest regard, with it still being use today by Maya people in Mexico and Guatemala. (Yes, it is true there are still descendants of the Maya living today!)

Tulum, Mexico - Mayan Ruins
Mayan Ruins in Tulum, Mexico

The calendar is an interesting combination of days and day names. The day names come from the Mayan belief that the days of their calendar are living entities, more powerful than ourselves. Call it creepy or call it cool, it sure makes our standard calendar seem pretty lame.

The Haab Calendar

This is the 365-day Mayan calendar that focuses on planetary and cosmic events similar to the Gregorian calendar many of us follow today. Pretty simple to understand. But…that’s not the end of it.

This calendar, combined with the Tzolk’in calendar, create the Calendar Round, a 52-year  cycle! These round calendars are now popularized as souvenirs for tourists, but they once played a huge role in the  building of Mayan pyramids at sites like Chichen Itza.

What it all boils down to is that the Maya had a complex set of calendars linked to the important events in their lives. None of them predict the end of the world, but being cyclical in nature some of them do come to an end and need to start over.

So don’t worry, you’ll still be around in 2013, as will the descendants of the Maya!

Travel Articles

The Wild West of Madagascar

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I had been in Madagascar a couple of weeks already, doing plenty of Lemur-spotting, canoeing, hiking and sitting in a really hot, uncomfortable truck for hours at a time.

After exploring some of the more remote parks, it was time to head to one of the most accessible and most popular areas of Madagascar – Isalo National Park. The route there was mostly flat, dry grasslands with the occasional red dirt village here and there. Getting closer we reached Ilakaka, the Wild West town of Madagascar. Back in 1998 sapphires were first discovered here, causing somewhat of a mining rush for the Malagasy people.

Isalo National Park in the distance
View of Canyon des Makis and Canyon des Rats, Isalo National Park, Madagascar

With such possible rewards came plenty of risks, as violence in the area had also seen a sharp increase. That first sapphire discovery had been years earlier but the lure of sapphires remained in the area. I didn’t see any sapphires as we drove through Ilakaka to Isalo but there was a certain vibe of uneasy excitement to the area.

At dinner just outside of Isalo a few of us met our local guide for the next day. He’d be taking us on a morning hike then a afternoon hike to a natural swimming pool in Isalo. Sounded like great fun as he also guaranteed some Lemurs.

The next morning comes and the small group of us were enjoying breakfast. Typical fare in Madagascar – eggs, dry toast, bananas and tea. Oddly our driver / guide, Claude, was missing from the morning meal. We figure he slept in since the local guide would be picking us up soon for our hike. But after 20 minutes, half an hour, we began to wonder. The town seemed eerily quiet too, not a lot of commotion going on in the streets.

Elephant Foot Plant, Isalo National Park
An Elephant Foot Plant at Isalo National Park

Finally after almost an hour of waiting Claude appeared but he seemed shaken up a bit. After a bit of back and forth we figure out that our local guide – Jacques – will be along shortly. When asked why he is late, the answer wasn’t clear,  Claude didn’t want to tell us something. Finally we find out – one of Jacques’ brother had been beheaded by bandits the night before!

What the??

Out here, not far from the Wild West sapphire city of Madagascar, violence had reared it’s ugly head. As Jacques’ brother was on his way home the night before he was approached by two men. These men demanded he give them his Zebus (local humped cows). Since he used these Zebus for farming his fields, they were his only source of income. It is how he supported himself and his family. So he refused. They used a machete to chop off his head.

Jacques and many villagers had been at the funeral that morning. But he was adamant about taking us on our hikes that day, apologizing for being late. We wanted to give him time to himself, however it was also clear that the few dollars we’d provide him for his services were too valuable for him to give up.

It was a pretty sombre start to the day. One of those events that helps put everything into perspective and helps you realize how privileged ‘we’ are as travellers. We learned a lot from Jacques, who had a huge passion for the park and natural environment in which he lived. He was an enthusiastic guide even during such a time of grieving. We managed to get some smiles out of him and a few laughs. As hard as it was, it was nice to see that life goes on.

Rest stop after hiking in Isalo National Park
Sitting with Jacques - Taking a Rest after Hiking in Isalo

The next day, it was time to move on from Isalo. As we left, we found out that for some Malagasy tribes, in particular the Bara people, stealing Zebus is a rite of passage. For a young man to become an adult they must steal Zebus from someone else. It seemed more like a case of greed here, as such violent acts were not the norm. Perhaps it was an overflow of the nearby sapphire city and wild west atmosphere that had cost the life of an innocent farmer.

I never did find out if they had caught the people who beheaded Jacques’ brother or what would happen to them if they did.