Am I Nearly There Yet?

Author: Eloise Rodgers

Epic Adventure in Caucasus Region!
The Caucasus Mountains are true paradise for the lovers of extreme adventure. Mountain landscapes, climate and breathtaking nature are perfect for outdoor activities. Are you ready to spend the most fantastic days in the Caucasian mountains and experience strength in the most extreme situations?
Paragliding in the Caucasus Mountains
Year by year paragliding is gaining popularity among young people. In this term, the Caucasus mountains are ideal for paragliding. You can see the beauty of the mountains from a bird’s eye view both in Armenia and in Georgia, and each time you will get new impressions.
Which are the best places for paragliding? Armenia has several destinations for paragliding with the best view of the mountains.
Take a short hike in Armenia, along the shores of Lake Sevan and then head to Tsovagyukh village. The flight starts at an altitude of 2300m and passes over the lake and the picturesque mountains. The best time for the flight lasts from July to September.
Georgia is another wonderful destination with beautiful mountain peaks for paragliding. Gudauri is the place that is the most popular among the extreme lovers. The ski resort is overcrowded regardless of the season. Here you can enjoy both summer and winter flights.
Mountain climbing
We can discuss the beauty of the Caucasus Mountains for hours still you’d better see it once than hear for thousands of times. Armenia and Georgia are greeting you with the highest and dangerous peaks of mountain ranges.
Hiking in Georgia will surely be an unforgettable adventure in your life, however your heart will always strive higher in the mountains. Climbing in Kazbek is the most popular destination in Georgia. The peak with the height of 5034 m is located in the eastern part of the Caucasus Mountains. The high level of difficulty of climbing the mountain requires professional skills and special equipment.
The second most popular route in the Caucasus Mountains is Mount Aragats in Armenia. The mountain has four peaks, the height of the lowest is 3879 m and the height of the highest point of Aragats is 4090 m. Aragats is the fourth highest mountain in the Armenian Highlands. To conquer all four peaks will be another victory for the real mountaineer.
Freeride in ski resorts
For extreme lovers the Caucasian mountains are visualised into snow tops reaching the ski and ideal slopes for skiing. Virgin slopes of Caucasian mountains are perfect for skiing and freeride.
Ski resort Tsaghkadzor in Armenia is the first destination in the list for freeride. It offers 15 routes for both beginners and professionals. The highest point of the slope is 2819m and a modern lift with a total length of 4500 meters, leads to the highest point.
Another popular destination for fans of freeride is a ski resort in Gudauri, Georgia. The total number of routes is 22, some of them are kept for freeride. Choosing any of these destinations one should always take into consideration the danger on such extreme slopes.
Rafting on the mountain rivers
The Caucasus mountains are hiding so many wonders; stormy waterfalls, deep gorges, caves, forests and mountain rivers. Rafting is another exciting form of extreme adventure. Mountain rivers with different degree of difficulty are suitable for both professionals and beginners.
The highest category of complexity is the Dzoraget River in Armenia with the length of 30 km. The perfect season for rafting is spring. In summer, the water level is much lower which makes the river suitable for beginners as well.
The territory of Georgia is most rich in mountain rivers, many of which are perfect for rafting. Rioni River, the largest in the Transcaucasus with a length of 120 km has the highest complexity of alloy.
This is just a small part of adventure in the Caucasus Mountains. Once you visit Armenia and Georgia, you will keep the warmest memories about Caucasus in your heart.
September 4, 2017
Making The Most Of Lanzarote
For a relatively small island, Lanzarote has a lot to offer. Not only is it consistent with the weather that it presents all year round, but there’s a vast wealth of history to this island that often works in conjunction with a few of the other islands within the Canaries as well. So what are the things that we need to look out for when visiting?
The Right Accommodation
Certain parts of the island are more expensive than others, but this is mainly down to how many tourists they attract each year. The more popular a location is, the more that they can hike their prices to meet demand. For cheap hotels in Puerto del Carmen, you only have to look around on the internet to find a great deal.
There’s no point in looking elsewhere when you have it right at your fingertips. The great thing is that you can put in exactly what you need with no obligation to commit and buy, so shop around a bit and see what suits you. This goes for anywhere on the island that appeals to you.
Take A Trip Elsewhere
Although it might seem counterproductive – especially when booking a holiday to Lanzarote in the first place – it’s easy to get to Fuerteventura by just a simple boat trip. The islands are extremely close to one another, making it an easy ride across without having to do much in terms of planning and organisation.
A lot of people trip over from Fuerteventura for the day to look at the volcanic history that Lanzarote has to offer, which makes a welcome break from the holiday-focused lifestyle that resides on the other island.
Look At The History
The whole of Lanzarote has been formed on many volcanic eruptions over the years. There are dried streams of lava that can be seen all over the island which are testament to its fiery past. It is the oldest of the Canary Islands, being the first to come out of the ocean when the first eruption took place. It has Timanfaya National Park at the tip of the island, which still has an active volcano within.
Although the access in and around the park is restricted to help protect the species of flora and fauna that reside within, it doesn’t mean that tourists can’t get a glimpse of what is there and what it’s got to offer.
The Timanfaya Devil is the symbol of Lanzarote, and folklore has it that it is residing in the active volcano, ready to jump out when it erupts.
The Food, The Food!
Being in the middle of the ocean, Lanzarote has a lot of fresh seafood on offer to passing tourists. If you like to have a taste of the sea, this is definitely the place for you – and you can be reassured that you will be eating only the freshest and best food that is available to you. It’s definitely worth a try, if only to say that you’ve sampled the island goods!
July 26, 2017
10 Things You Might Not Know About Japan
Japan has a reputation for being tech-savvy, efficient, busy and vibrant, but what secrets are to be unearthed beyond the neon lights? Here are ten things you might not know about Japan.
Up until late 2015, there was a strict ban on late night dancing in clubs across the country. Although people would still be able to frequent clubs after midnight, once the clock struck 12, they’d no longer be able to tap their feet to the beat or move to the music.
Queue a room full of alcohol-fuelled people with no way to let it all out. The ban was in place for 67 years until it was finally lifted to make way for the vibrant nightlife enjoyed in Tokyo today, especially in the likes of Shibuya and Roppongi Hills.
The Japanese are known for being efficient and their transportation network is no different. As creators of the Shinkansen, otherwise known as the bullet train, the nation is well versed in making good time.
In fact, the average train delay in Japan is just 18 seconds. Pushers are even employed to stand on platforms and ensure the timely departure of each train by prodding people’s straying limbs into tightly packed carriages.
Japan is home to some weird and wonderful creations, therefore it’s no surprise to learn that the square watermelon originated from the mind of a Japanese graphic designer. The idea behind its development was to make stacking and cutting easier, however they are so expensive that they’re often just used as decorative pieces for special occasions.
Around 24 billion pairs of chopsticks are used annually in Japan. That’s over half of the 45 billion chopsticks produced by China every year and around 200 pairs per person!
Whilst much of the western world is suspicious of black cats and has demonised them for centuries due to their association with witches and bad luck, in Japan they’re a symbol of good luck. If a black cat crosses your path, it’s a simple case of saying ‘konichiwa’ and taking hold of your own luck.
As a manga loving nation, Japan has a soft spot for all things animated. Head down the streets of Harajuku and you’ll find boutique stores selling a selection of merchandise adorned with the faces of the characters you almost certainly forgot about. One of those characters is Snoopy.
The Japanese are such massive fans of the character that earlier this year, a Snoopy Museum opened in central Tokyo. Here you can view the works of Charles M. Schulz, the creator of Peanuts.
Forget the Mediterranean lifestyle, because Japan has the highest life expectancy in the world. You can expect to be ambling the streets of Tokyo up until the ripe old age of 83.7 if you’ve stuck to the healthy Japanese diet which is said to be the root of their long life expectancy.
Being a sumo wrestler isn’t just about eating copious amounts of chankonabe to fatten up (yum!).
Sumo wrestlers go through rigorous daily training exercises to ensure they’re body is strong, flexible and able to balance in the ring. There are 45 sumo stables dotted around Tokyo where wrestlers train, making this traditional form of performance big business.
Not your average fish market thrown together on a Sunday in the local town square, Tsukiji Market is not only the largest fish market in the entire world, but also the largest wholesale food market of any kind.
Huge auctions kick off at around 5:30 daily before any remaining fish is sold on stalls within the market throughout the rest of the day when you can buy everything from tuna to swordfish.
Palace Hotel Tokyo is one of the only luxury hotels in Tokyo to offer a guided gastronomical journey through this bustling market.
Famous around the world, the word karaoke means ‘empty orchestra’ and is often said to have originated from Japan. The Japanese are karaoke addicts, to the point where it’s standard behaviour for well-dressed businessmen to hang around karaoke booths for hours after they’ve clocked off work.
Where’s your favourite place in Japan, let us know below!
November 16, 2016
5 Proven Ways To Stay Healthy When Travelling the World!
Travelling around the world is a fantastic way to broaden your horizons – but it’s surprisingly easy to fall into the trap of building up something of a beer belly or falling ill while you’re on your journey. Here are five ways you can stay healthy when travelling the world.
1.Drink plenty of water
Consuming an adequate amount of water will do wonders for your health on a long journey, with it not only keeping you hydrated, but potentially also seeing you lose weight.
Dehydration can often be confused with hunger – which means rather than drinking a calorie-free glass of water people will instead fill themselves with food.
Water will generally help to keep you more full, resulting in less food consumption as a whole. Be careful though; taking on too much water is also incredibly unhealthy and in extreme cases can even lead to getting sick.
Read more – Annoying People You’ll Probably Meet When You Travel in Asia
2.Get your vaccinations
There are a whole host of deadly diseases out there you’re going to want to avoid contracting when on your journey.
If you want to stay healthy when travelling the world, make sure you take the precautionary steps and protect yourself against the contagious diseases which still exist across the globe.
With more viruses than you can shake a stick at, it’s worth checking up to see what diseases are out there and what you have to do to prevent them from doing serious damage. Jabs and vaccinations are the only way to go.
3.Exercise
It sounds like a simple one, but doing basic exercise is a great means of staying in shape while you’re traversing the globe.
Physical activity makes you feel awesome and encourages blood flow in the lower limbs, which helps to ensure you stay trim and fit at all times. All you need is comfortable clothing and footwear and you can exercise anywhere – so why not make the most of that and exercise in some really unique locations?
Take a long jog alongside an historic landmark, or do Pilates on a hillside over-looking a beautiful valley. The choice is yours. Burning the calories doesn’t have to be boring, after all. Plus, exercise is one of the best rated healthy travelling tips – so it pays to keep this in check.
Read more – 21 First World Traveller Problems!
4.Stick to your daily routine
If you’ve gotten yourself into a regular routine in life, it’s best to ensure when you travel overseas you stick to it at all times.
Disturbing a delicate balance is hugely detrimental for your health, with the body reacting negatively to sudden and drastic changes in vitamin and nutrition intake. While it will be impossible to take in the exact same types of food while you’re on your adventures, make sure you don’t neglect the vitamins and medicines your body has become accustomed to. The same can even be said of skin and haircare products – which will be slightly harder to transport, but not impossible. The key to a healthy balance is consistency.
5.Cut back on the booze
Okay, we know this isn’t one many people will want to hear, but cutting back on alcohol intake during your travels will mean you seriously reduce the amount of excess calories you’re taking in.
While alcohol doesn’t actually turn into sugar in your blood as some people would have you believe, it nevertheless will see you taking in a huge proportion of “empty calories”.
These are effectively calories which add no nutritional value to your diet, but are still taken in and used up by your body. For example, a glass of Guinness contains as many as 210 calories – numbers that hugely add up after a few pints.
It would be wrong to suggest you shouldn’t have the odd tipple when you’re on your adventures, but just make sure that it’s within reason or else you could come back with something of a gut.
These are just five useful ways to stay healthy when travelling the world. If you follow these handy tips you’ll find keeping in good condition will be a lot easier than you might have originally expected! What are your favourite ‘staying healthy’ travel tips?!
September 6, 2016