Canada's Adventure Couple

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• Top 10 Most Beautiful Things to do in Florence
• The Best Landscape Photography Tutorial Ever
• 10 Incredible Reasons to Love the Republic of Kyrgyzstan
• Yes You Can Achieve Your Life Goals
• Unique Chiang Mai Attractions that Avoid Elephant Riding
• 6 Packing for Travel Tips to Make Your Trip a Breeze
• Fly to Dubai in Style with Air Canada
• Have you Experienced Greenland?
• Sabah Diving Guide: Beyond Sipadan
• It’s Aussie by Air New Zealand Time!
• Our Most Memorable Moments from Wales in Photos
• 10 of the Most Unforgettable Winter Things to do in Banff

Top 10 Most Beautiful Things to do in Florence Posted: 06 Feb 2016 02:00 AM PST Florence doesn’t need much of an introduction as it is one of the most spectacular city in Italy or maybe even on the world. In the past it has been a home to many incredible painters, sculptures, architects, poets and important church figures. Even if you are not an art connoisseur you probably heard of people such as Michaelangelo, Dante Alighieri, Donatello, Niccolo Machiavelli or Leonardo Da Vinci who made Florence their home at some point and therefore left their work for us to see now. Below you can find a list of top 10 most beautiful things to do in Florence. Top 10 Most Beautiful Things to do in Florence 1. Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. The cathedral is probably the most famous building in the city. You can spend ages exploring both the outside and the inside of the cathedral as it is full of amazing art. Some say that the renaissance art began here when the famous marble door with the scene of the scarification of Isaac was created. Inside of the cathedral you can see some sculptures by Michaelangelo including the most famous tomb of the pope Urban the VII. Trust me, you will be amazed by the amount of art you can see! 2. Ponte Vecchio. One of the most famous bridges in the world doesn’t fail to impress visitors as it looks like from a fairy tale. On the bridge itself you can buy a lot of silver, so if you want to propose to your girlfriend in Florence that is the place to get her a beautiful ring. The bridge has two levels, however the upper floor is closed to public and only opens for special events once or twice a year. Ponte Vecchio a must when visiting Florence Florence isn’t the only beautiful city in Europe: Check out our list of the most Beautiful Cities in Europe 3. Basilica San Miniato al Monte. Basilica San Miniato al Monte This church is impressing both from the inside and the outside. It's situated in the highest point of the city, so the view from the top is really breathtaking. Basilica is one of the best examples of Romansque structure not only in Italy, but also in the whole Europe! Enjoy: Discover the best of Gargano in Puglia Italy 4. Copule of the cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore. If you are not tired and want to see the city from the high up, you can climb the copule of the cathedral. The view is definitely worth it, but remember there is no elevator inside, so you need to climb all 463 stairs even when it is hot outside! 5. Piazzale Michaelangelo. If you don’t want to climb too many stairs you can also head to the hill of Piazzale Michaelangelo to have a wonderful view of the whole city. You can either take a short walk up the hill of simply take a bus right to the top of it. Apart from a wonderful view you may see another replica of the statue of David on the top of the hill as well. It is well worth it! Looking for more in Italy than Florence? Read our Italy Travel Guide for Travel Tips and Travel Information 6. Piazzale della Signoria. Right after the Piazzale Michaelangelo, Piazzale della Signoria is the most beautiful square in Florence. Go there if you are hungry- it is the best place to eat delicious Italian food like pizza, spaghetti, tiramisu or panna cotta. If you don’t feel like eating, you can just stay for a while in one of the romantic cafes and watch the people passing by… 7. David's statue. The statue of David created a lot of confusion as a lot of visitors think you can see it right in the middle of the square. Well, we are sorry to tell you this, but that is just a copy of this famous Michaelangelo’s work and the real David is standing inside in the Accademia di Belle Arte Stay patient when you visit as the line might be as long as to Mona Lisa painting in the Louvre or Sistine Chapel in the Vatican city. Love Florence? Read: A Walking Tour of Florence, A Tale of Two Davids 8. Basilica di Santa Croce. Santa Croce Image source Wikipedia Another beautiful church of Florence! It's the place where the most famous Italians were buried. You will find there graves of Galileo, Michaelangelo or Machiavelli. These people changed the history of the world, so it is great to be able to give them proper honour while sightseeing in Florence. There is so much to see in Italy: 10 Amazing Places to See Near Rome! 9. Galleria d’Uffizi. This wonderful museum probably has so much to see that you can spend hours and hours in there. Starting from Venus from Urbino and finishing on Botticelli’s Primavera you won’t forget your visit. Make sure you prebook your tickets in advance to skip a very long time outside the museum. It is better to get lost in the beautiful streets of Florence than stand in a never-ending queue. 10. Piazza del Duomo A must see in Florence Last but not least. Piazza del Duomo, situated in the heart of Florence, is surrounded by beautiful buildings and breathtaking artwork. It has many restaurants and shops around, so it is an amazing place to spend some time after busy day of sightseeing in Florence. Enjoy: Rome in Photos Florence is truly a city of art. Have you been? What’s your favourite spot in Florence?  Traveling Around Italy? Check out the Top 10 Things to do in Bologna Author bio: Karolina and Patryk are young, adventurous couple who decided to follow their hearts and start traveling around the world while making money online. On their blog they are sharing their travel experiences and helping others to start living their dream life. Follow them on: Pinterest Twitter Facebook Google+ Instagram Read the original post Top 10 Most Beautiful Things to do in Florence on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

The Best Landscape Photography Tutorial Ever Posted: 04 Feb 2016 06:28 AM PST I know it is a bold statement but Photographing the World by Elia Locardi is hands down the most in depth, well produced and educational landscape photography tutorial I have ever experienced. I love reading reviews when I am going to purchase a product but it has become increasingly difficult to come across ones that actually give an honest opinion. Most are written by the people who produced it or are selling it or by people who are paid to write it or are really vague. This is not one of those reviews. In the oversaturated world of travel photography it can be hard to get a leg up or find educational materials that just simply repeat what you have seen before or can come across with a little digging on the internet. So you can imagine my delight when I started to dig into the Photographing the World course by Elia Locardi and found that it is full of fresh ideas and great tips on improving your photography as a whole. From on location to post processing it really actually gives you the tools to become a better photographer. Photographing the World – Landscape Photography Tutorial Who is Elia? Elia Locardi is an acclaimed travel photographer and Fujifilm Global Ambassador who spends his life shooting some of the most beautiful locations in the world. Looking for more travel photography help? Read How to Improve your Photography with Filters I have not met Elia in person yet but have chatted with him online and let me tell you he knows what he is talking about. I have respected his work for a while now and really enjoyed how his processing has evolved so I was excited to dig into this landscape photography tutorial and learn from the master. What you get: Here is what the photography course includes: 12+ Hours of Video Content (1080p, 23.9fps, H.264 mpg4, over 25GB of material) 15 On Location and Studio Post-processing Lessons Intro to the Basics of Photography Overview of every piece of photography gear Elia uses and why Full RAW files and companion software catalogs so you can follow along (Lightroom, PSD, and CaptureONE) 8 Behind the Scenes episodes of our experiences traveling and filming this incredible project Private Elia Facebook Group access for extended education and photo sharing I am a self taught photographer and have avoided most online courses for the simple fact that I have found that they have often offered nothing more than some conventional tips with no real substance when it comes to taking photography to the next level. I was looking for something that taught me new techniques and broke some of those conventional rules. I have found in this course. Who is it for? You may be thinking that you must have years of experience in order to take advantage of this course but you would be wrong. One of the things that I loved about it is that you can learn something no matter what level you are at. Elia takes the time to explain in detail the processes, settings and gear he is using so that you never feel left behind. So whether you are a beginner photographer or someone who has been shooting for years you definitely create more beautiful images with this course. Read: Photography Tips from the Best Travel Photographers in the World I do have to note that you should have some knowledge of Lightroom and Photoshop before you start the tutorial. This will make the learning process easier as he does not cover the basics of these programs. So lets get into it. Production Value The first thing you will notice is the incredible production value. Elia and the guys at F-Stoppers have gone to great lengths to make this tutorial visually appealing and they have succeeded. It travels from Iceland to New Zealand and showcases some of the best landscapes out there. Kudos guys. This is some serious eye candy! Also check out the "Behind the Scenes" episodes for some hilarity and an idea of what went into producing this tutorial. First Lessons The course itself starts out with an extensive and in-depth look at what gear you need to capture great images. What works so well in this part of the course is that Elia doesn't just focus on high end lenses and bodies but offers alternatives for people on a budget. Gear doesn't make a photographer as we all know. He also goes on to explain what I would call the basics of photography that talks about f-stop, shutter speed, depth of field etc. so that if you are just starting out or need a refresher you walk into this course armed with the necessary base knowledge to take advantage of all the information included. Traveling soon? See my Photography Guide to Santorini One of the huge advantages of taking the landscape tutorial is that it is progressive. So the lessons you learn in the first tutorial are applied again and again so that they become second nature. I loved this approach because it allowed me to improve on my Photoshop skills without having to constantly go back to previous lessons to see how it was done. My recommendation would be to make sure you watch each lesson in order as they build upon each other. Course Structure The structure of each of the videos is the same. We start out in the location where Elia takes us through his process of finding an interesting composition, what he looks for, his camera settings and his general approach to how he deconstructs a scene and how to capture the necessary elements that he will use in post processing to achieve the look he is aiming for. It is so important to have a vision when you are creating stunning images. Elia’s teaching style is easy to follow. He takes the time to explain each step and more importantly why he is doing what he is doing so that you can apply it when you are on location. Truthfully I would have liked a little more in this section. Though Elia explains himself well I think it would have been better if he went into more detail and compared different angles so that he could let us know why he chose that particular composition. What I also liked it that the shooting situations are real. By that I mean not in perfect conditions. As we all know we are almost never presented with that ideal shooting situation so to see how he adapts and processes these images applies to real life situations and not ones that they went back to again and again to get that perfect shot. Post Processing From there we move into the post-processing phase (which is the bulk of the tutorial) and the one that I was most interested in. I learned a lot from this part of the course. Not only does Elia cover things like Luminosity masking, colour enhancement and sharpening but he also delves deep into exposure blending and the techniques that he uses in his photos. If these terms seem overwhelming or foreign to you don't panic. He explains each one in depth and describes how to use them and what they do so that ANYONE can master these techniques. He also goes in depth in to RAW processing and the benefits of both Capture One and Lightroom as a RAW processor. As we move further into the course we are taught more advanced techniques that cover different colour, saturation and contrast adjustments as well as how to use masks to control where the effect takes place in the image. I found that this gave me so much more control over how my images look and how I can selectively apply any adjustment that I want in any area of the image that I want. When you purchase the course he provides you with all of the RAW files so you can follow along step by step. A great idea as I find it easier to learn if you are working on the same image. I was definitely a rookie when it came to Photoshop before I started this tutorial but I have found that the lessons that I learned throughout this course have now found a place in my everyday image workflow. Other things covered in the tutorial include: Photography Basics (ISO, Shutter Speed, Aperture, White Balance, etc) Overview of best lenses and gear for Landscape photography Tips for better composition Focus Stacking and maximizing depth of field Bracketing and multi exposure blending Graduated Neutral Density Filters Solid Neutral Density Filters Blurring water and skies with long exposures Building Panoramic images Dealing with Sun Flare Understanding Light (Golden Hour, Blue Hour, Sunrise and Sunset) Using lens compression to your advantage Removing and adding the human element into your images Polarizers? Bracketing and multiple exposure blending RAW Processing and Editing Workflow Colour correction and image adjustment Basic object removal, painting, and cloning Masking and Layering Techniques Introduction to Luminosity Masking Time Blending (combining exposures shot at different times) So as you can see it is a very extensive course packed full of information and education. Summary The Photographing the World Course is perfect for the photographer or blogger who finds themselves at a stand still technically and creatively. If you want to improve your skill set, and learn new techniques then this tutorial is for you. I know that when you compare the price of this course ($299) to other online courses it seems quite expensive. But, as I stated above, it is worth every penny. Most photographers spend there money solely on gear and cheap out when it comes to education. What good is gear and software if you don't know how to maximize it? If you love photography and want to take it to the next level then you should definitely invest in this course. Purchase the tutorial here! Read Next: The Complete Travel Photography Gear Guide Read the original post The Best Landscape Photography Tutorial Ever on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

10 Incredible Reasons to Love the Republic of Kyrgyzstan Posted: 02 Feb 2016 02:32 AM PST Named the Pearl of Central Asia, the Republic of Kyrgyzstan is a small country mostly covered by mountains and almost untouched by tourism. These attributes make the perfect combination to live a memorable trip! As I toured the country, I experienced many moments that I will never forget and I am sharing 10 of them in photos with you. And if those pictures convince you to plan your next holiday, check out my Destination Guide to Kyrgyzstan with many more photos and detailed planning information. 10 Reasons to Love Kyrgyzstan Explore the Skazka Canyon Beautiful Landscape of Kyrgyzstan Not far south of the Issyk -Kul Lake, you can find the Skazka Canyon, also called Fairy-Tale Canyon. Plan enough time to go explore on your own, climb this rock or that one and discover more intriguing shapes and colorful landscapes. Interested in travel to Kyrgyzstan , you may also like our travels in Kazakhstan.  Listen to Kyrgyz Music At the Burana Tower, an old minaret surrounded by stunning scenery, we met with 2 young Kyrgyz girls and their music teacher. They practiced in front of us on their traditional guitars. And, seeing how interested we were, their teacher started singing for us too! Her love for music was contagious. Check the video at the bottom of my dedicated article if you want to hear how this sounded. Get an Allergy Just for the View Early morning I had ordered a cab to go watch the sunrise on the eastern shore of Issyk-Kul Lake. As the sun got higher I spotted a huge field of flowers and decided to go capture the beauty even though I was sure to get an annoying allergy. Don’t you think this view was worth the sneezing? Hike in the Altyn Arashan Valley Altyn Arashan is an isolated valley east of Issyk-Kul Lake. Famous for its hot springs, it is also a great place to hike. Imagine those horses trotting past you all at once! Enjoying these photos of Kyrgyzstan, check out our photo story from Kazakhstan Observe Locals at the Karakol Animal Market Every Sunday, Karakol welcomes nomads and sedentary Kyrgyz from the whole region. They come for the animal market where you can find mostly horses, sheep and cows. They are not yet used to travelers and are happy to exchange as much as possible (they only speak Kyrgyz and Russian). But watching them do business was already fascinating. Go Further than the Seven Bulls One of the most famous geological features in Kyrgyzstan is Jeti Oguz and its Seven Bulls. This is not what you see on the photo above. I decided to climb on the hill opposite to take better photos and discovered that it actually continues into the Dragon Gorge which is impressive too. Sleep in Yurts at Song Kul Lake, Kyrgyzstan One of my favorite nights in Kyrgyzstan was the yurt stay at Song-Kul Lake. It was freezing at 3000 meters (9850ft) but the profound silence and majestic landscapes were all I needed. They are Yurts in Kyrgyzstan but in Mongolia they are called Ghers: Check out Share the View, a Look Back at Mongolia Spend Time Admiring Horses The Kyrgyz love their horses. How many they own determines how rich they are (except in the cities…). So they are well taken care of. Many times I just stopped and admired them. On the photo above, it was during sunset at Song-Kul Lake. Love horses? Check out Icelandic Horse – Pure Beauty  Stop and Admire Painting-like Landscapes The roads in the center of the country are lesser known. The few tourists traveling to Kyrgyzstan often focus on the more famous locations. However I was blown away by the many landscapes I drove by, that look just like paintings. I promise, this was not altered by filters or post-processing! Thinking of a trip to Kyrgyzstan ? You may want to drive: Here’s our tips for driving from England to Mongolia Get stuck between 2 walls of Ice and horses This is one moment I would never have imagined: driving at a mountain pass between two walls of ice and being stuck because of horses and cows! So what do you think? Is Kyrgyzstan your next destination? Author Bio: Claire is the French Traveler and Travel Planning Addict behind ZigZag On Earth where she shares her growing collection of destination guides, with detailed location articles and plenty of beautiful photos. Her goal is to help you make the most of your vacation time. You can follow her discoveries on Pinterest or Facebook. Read Next: Mongolia in Photos Read the original post 10 Incredible Reasons to Love the Republic of Kyrgyzstan on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

Yes You Can Achieve Your Life Goals Posted: 29 Jan 2016 02:00 AM PST Well, the first month of 2016 is nearly over and it’s been a good four weeks since vowing to make a change while suffering from yet another New Year’s hangover. We’ve all made a New Year’s resolution at some point in our lives, and even for those who say “I don’t make New Years Resolutions” you probably have made some life goals through the years. Committing to your Life Goals Following Through With Life Goals Most of us never follow through with many of our goals and end up feeling like failures. For two years I’ve been saying that I am going to get back in shape and lose my “blogging” weight. I haven’t achieved that goal and I beat myself up every day about it. I almost actually convinced myself that as I get older and my metabolism slows down, I am just destined to continue to gain weight. Diet Coke isn’t going to Cut it For more inspiration to achieving your life goals read: How to Avoid the I’ll Do That Next Year Syndrome But then I stopped to think about everything I have accomplished over the years and realized that when it comes to losing weight, I haven’t planned in the same way that I planned when I achieved my other goals. When it comes to making a life goal, there has to be a lot of thought, preparation and motivation involved. I’m not destined to keep gaining weight, I just have to start making a plan. Read all about our Journey from a Dream to becoming Professional Travel Bloggers Read: You’ve Found Your Purpose – Don’t Let it Consume You Intend to Commit Whatever your ‘New Years Resolution’ (or if you prefer ‘life goal”) may be, I have learned that there is a tried and true pattern to make it work. Whenever Dave and I have sat down and truly planned to make things happen, we have achieved success. But more importantly, we have learned that first and foremost you really have to want to make that change. I have thought long and hard about my frustration with my weight and fitness over the past two years and I realized that I didn’t really have any intention of committing. I had so many other things on my plate, focusing on fitness wasn’t a priority for me. In the back of my mind yes, I wanted to look and feel better. But in reality, I had no intention of doing anything about it. And deep down I knew it. Intend to Commit, don’t just say it I have had friends in the past who said that they wanted to quit smoking, but when I watched them light up another cigarette after having a few beers, or after a stressful day at work, I knew they really didn’t want to quit yet. They liked the idea, but the reality was, they weren’t committed to taking action. They kept making excuses as to why they weren’t committing. After a few years of saying they wanted to quit, they finally made the hard decision to quit and they took action. It wasn’t until they were ready that they were able to stop. Check out: How to Live an Unconventional Life, Tips to Getting Started So the moral of this story is to choose a goal that you are willing to commit to. Sure, we ladies all want to be a size two, but the reality is, are we ready to give up the wine, the cheese, and put the commitment into working out every day to make that happen? If you said yes, you’re ready and it’s time to commit and make that happen. Time for less of this and more action For Dave and I, we are finally ready to take back our fitness and health. Before blogging we were uber fit. We cycled the continent of Africa for crying out loud. What happened? Our life goals changed. Cycling Africa was a means to an end. We wanted our adventure lifestyle to translate into a career in travel and it worked. Unfortunately, we didn’t continue our workout routines once our blog started seeing success and we started to look for softer adventures that didn’t really push us beyond our limits. Now, we’re finally feel ready to push ourselves physically again. Now that our careers are feeling secure, we are ready to recommit to a life of health and fitness again. Make Plan Now that you have a goal set that you are ready to commit, to it’s time to make a plan. No life goal magically happens. When we decided to start ThePlanetD, We had a plan of where we wanted it to be in one year, two years and five years. Because we had a clear vision of where we wanted to be (with a timeline in place) we achieved all our goals and beyond. We knew exactly how we wanted to share our travels with our audience and we knew how much money we would have to have in the bank before we could finally leave for India seven years ago. We knew that we could sustain our lifestyle without an income for 6 months or so, and that gave us time to really build our business plan. Read more about achieving your goals at: In Search of Living an Enriched Life Working on our business in Sri Lanka When it comes to your own life goal, sit down and really plan how long you think it will take, how many hours each day you will need to set aside to make it happen and what will the financial commitment be. For our weight losing goal, we plan on committing a budget to personal training and fitness classes.  We also plan on slowing down our travels for 2016 and we haven’t accepted one trip after the month of March. This is going to be our summer to focus on Dave and Deb. In 2015 we managed to find balance between life and work, now it’s time to add health and fitness to the equation and we are ready to make it happen. Need More Motivation? Read our 10 Easy Tips for Finding Work Life Balance Tell the World Shout it out loud and Celebrate! We have said this on more than one occasion and we will keep saying it again. The minute you decide that you are ready to commit to a goal be it changing careers, getting in shape or finding more time for travel or family, tell your everyone what you intent to do. The more people you tell, the more you are obligated to follow through with your goals. When we decided to leave our jobs in the film industry we told everyone our plans; including our bosses . We said, “By this time next year, you’re going to have to find a replacement for us.” It was scary and a very big commitment, but it forced us to follow through. There was no going back once the decision was made. Believe me, many times we wanted to chicken out or give up on our training for Africa, but because we told our friends, families and co-workers, we couldn’t give up. We would be embarrassed if we suddenly said “Oh, sorry, we changed our minds.” We had to keep training rain or shine because we were committed That really takes me back to the first point when we said, “Intend to commit.” If you over commit to something that you know you really can’t or won’t achieve, don’t make the life goal. It just won’t work. If we decided to start a travel blog, quit our jobs and cycle Africa without any travel experience we would have failed. But we had spent 7 years already traveling extensively and at least 4 of those years had been actively looking for ways to have a career in travel. The foundation for our goal was already set. Achieve Your Life Goals – Take the Enlightenment Challenge Get Organized Once you had made the intention to commit, told the world your plans, and have a plan…get yourself organized. What tools do you need to make things happen? It’s time to eliminate all the noise in your life and focus on what’s important. Are you binge watching too many TV Shows? (I know we do and that has to stop) Cut yourself off and put your time to better use. Is your life cluttered? Hire a professional organizer for a day to give you pointers on how to clear out your house. If there is one thing we’ve learned over the years is that a little investment can pay off ten fold. You can’t do it all yourself. For us, it’s about cutting back on travel. We haven’t been able to get into a routine because we are flying 10 times a month. We’re crossing time zones and dealing with wasted time on airplanes. This month alone we flew 55 hours! That’s a lot of time that could be put to better use. We use the TripIt app to organize our travels and when we looked at our past trips, it was all right in front of our eyes that we fly too much. It’s unhealthy. I love this app because it amalgamates all our travel plans in one place, but it also was an eye opener for us. To really see it laid out in front of our eyes made us see that even though we thought we were living a balanced life, it is still out of balance. Travel is fun but it has to be in smaller doses. When looking at our screen shot of travels, we realized, no wonder we couldn’t really concentrate on health and well being, we are working or traveling every single day! A Snippit of Our 2015 TripIt Schedule Travels are Back to Back We’re looking to apply the same principals to our life as TripIt does to travel. It helps make life easier by organizing everything into one place and letting you see your past and future travel plans. TripIt, you gave us a snapshot into our lives and helped us make a change. Check out TripIt to see how it can make Your Travels Easier Create a Support System It doesn’t matter who you choose for your support system, just make sure you have people there to lean on. Dave was just talking to our friend Matt Kepnes of Nomadic Matt and he said that his mastermind group has helped him immensely. I’ve had friends see great success joining WeightWatchers because they needed someone to motivate and encourage them to stay on track. Family and friends can be great motivators, but sometimes you need to look outside that circle and get professional help. There are many clubs and organizations that help people with different goals, problems, or challenges. Our Cycling Club had Similar Interest When Dave and I were training for Africa, we joined a cycling club because we could be around like minded people. They kept us motivated more than our family or friends could and encouraged us to join rides several times a week. When we take time off in March and April, we plan on joining an organization in our community to stay active. I remember a few years ago I was really into fitness and I joined an online fitness program that helped track my progress. There were chat rooms and forums, it was an excellent way to look for support when I needed it. Achieving life goals is about making plans and commitments. Everyone has dreams and aspirations, but how many people actually follow through? We’ve followed through many times and we know it is possible. We’ve achieved success beyond our wildest dreams but life is always about evolving. Each year we enjoy making new goals and taking stock of where we are today while making plans for tomorrow. We’ve made the commitment to living a healthier and more active lifestyle for 2016, what are your going to commit to this year? Read Next: Why Learning from Mistakes and Shifting Focus is Important This post is brought to you by TripIt.com – Check out our latest video on the TripIt Blog: Epic Adventures Around the World Read the original post Yes You Can Achieve Your Life Goals on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

Unique Chiang Mai Attractions that Avoid Elephant Riding Posted: 26 Jan 2016 02:00 AM PST As I planned my trip to North Thailand, scouring dozens of lists of Chiang Mai attractions, I was deeply saddened by a finding: several lists included elephant riding as a "top thing to do." If travelers only knew how these huge mammals are "broken" for "joyrides…" Elephants have never gone through a formal domestication process, as dogs and horses have. Instead, they are wild animals that must go through a "breaking" process in order for them to accept a human master, so to speak. Picture a baby elephant being beaten with a sharp, bull-hook-encrusted club. That's shortly after being separated from its mother, put in a small cage, and  left to starve. For days. If a puppy were put through similar misery, I'm sure its "master" would be criminally prosecuted. Why would you give your trip savings to a business that makes elephants suffer? DISCLAIMER: this photo will probably give you nightmares, but will also give you a glimpse into their suffering. Below, alternative Chiang Mai attractions What if I told you there are many other fantastic cultural experiences and natural gems, waiting to be discovered in Chiang Mai, that don't involve animal cruelty? Opportunities to mingle with locals, while helping furthering their education. Opportunities to mingle with some of those very elephants, which were rescued by a responsible organization that is now thriving to give them better lives? Unique Chiang Mai Attractions Visit the Right Elephant Sanctuary Bathing elephants in Chiang Mai by sarahchats, Flickr Be cautious of parks or agencies that claim to be elephant sanctuaries. If they still allow you to ride elephants, they're not doing their best to protect them. Why? Their spines are actually frail, not built to withstand the weight of an average human being. When doing your research, ensure elephants roam freely around the grounds. Bathing and playing with them side-by-side should be okay if they have been rescued or retired from riding (they've already been "broken"). Remember, though: performance of any unnatural "tricks for treats" are red flags. The most well-known non-profit organization in the area is Save the Elephant Foundation. Founded by Lek Chailert, any funds raised are used to buy elephants from the abusive tourist trade and give them a better home. Better yet? Travelers are encouraged to visit their Elephant Nature Park. There, visitors are able to interact with these beautiful creatures in a natural, safe environment. Win-win for everyone! Try Northern Thailand's Cuisine khao soi, a Chiang Mai must-try. Photo: LatinAbroad.com Whether you book a cooking class, join an Old Town foodie crawl or simply visit one of Chiang Mai's night markets, you have to try Northern Thai cuisine. I was introduced to the region's delicacies by Chiang Mai Food Tours and have to say, it is my favorite type of Thai food! Also known as Lanna food, regional dishes on this part of Thailand are quite a contrast from those found in the South. Not only are dishes around Chiang Mai typically the least spicy in the country, but also commonly rich in dried spices and/or bitterness. Don't be wary, though: Thais have an incredible ability to pair seemingly-off-putting flavors in order to create a delicious, aromatic concoction. Some must-tries include: khao soi, a rich Burmese-influenced coconut curry soup, sprinkled with crunchy noodles fried laab, minced meat rubbed with local dried spices sticky rice with nam prik ong (spicy minced pork tomato dip) nam ngiao, a tangy tomato noodle soup with pork Chat with Monks or Meditate at Wat Suan Dok Chiang Mai monks by Roberto Trombetta, Flickr Wat Suan Dok is another one of my favorite Chiang Mai attractions. Not only is its 14th-century architecture beautifully unique, but members of the late Lanna Royal family are buried around the temple. Better yet? The grounds serve as a monk university, holding daily monk chats and weekly meditation retreats–all open to the general public. What could be more unique than hearing about North Thailand's culture and religion firsthand from a young monk, all he gets to practice his English with you?! Monk chats take place Monday through Friday, 5-7 PM; while meditation retreats start every Tuesday at 1 PM and conclude Wednesday by 3 PM. Visit MonkChat.net for more details, up-to-date schedules, and other special events. Extra tip: other popular Chiang Mai temples (i.e. Wat Chedi Luang, Doi Suthep, Wat Umong) also offer monk chats, so feel free to visit them all for different perspectives! embed the following video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GRbxtZjVzjE See Chiang Mai From Above Before you leave this magical region of Thailand, rise with the sun one morning and see Chiang Mai, Mae Kueng Dam, and vicinity from a different perspective.   microlight over Chiang Mai Sky Adventures offers two types of aerial experiences: micro flights and hot air balloon rides. I took part of the former and let me tell you: it was absolutely breathtaking and exhilarating! It is so open, you almost feel like you're flying yourself. Pickup times and trip schedules vary by experience and season, but expect to be ready by 5:45-6:30 AM. While micro flights can be booked all year long (always dependent on weather conditions), hot air balloon rides are only offered between November and March. Overnight Trip to Chiang Rai Wat Rong Khun, also known as Chiang Rai's White Temple, by Lanna Photo, CC Whether you think you've gotten a good feel of Chiang Mai or can't simply resist the idea of visiting a white temple, an overnight trip to Chiang Rai is another great option. One of the highlights of North Thailand, the Wat Rong Khun we see today is actually the product of a late 20th-century renovation, which morphed the original temple into a privately-owned art exhibit. It was fully rebuilt, decorated, and funded by local artist Chalermchai Kositpipat in the late 20th century. Other top attractions in the area include: Chiang Rai Night Bazaar Baan Si Dum, also known as Black House Tad Kwan Village Park & Waterfall Extra tip: don't plan to visit Chiang Rai unless you can spend a full night there. While many companies offer jam-packed, 12-hour "day tours," you'll feel too rushed. Worst yet, your experiences will be too diluted. Chiang Mai view from Doi Suthep by Chrisgel Ryan Cruz, Flickr If your stay is short, I highly recommend you taste every delicious bite, smell every seducing aroma, visit every exotic site Chiang Mai itself has to offer. Don't be afraid of "missing out." If anything "slips through the cracks," you'll just have more reasons to come back. Trust me: you will want to anyway. Have you been to Chiang Mai? Which are your favorite spots? Maria Alexandra Laborde is a twenty-something thrill junkie that has lived, studied and traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean, Middle East, and North Africa. Through tales and snapshots, she shares her knowledge and love for the Arab world on her niche blog Travel The Middle East. Additionally, Maria is the author of LatinAbroad: The Nomadic Translator, where she shares her struggles, inspiration, and advice after traveling solo to more than 20 countries across 4 continents. Follow her adventures on Twitter @latinAbroad, 'Like' her Facebook page & 'Pin' her on Pinterest. Read the original post Unique Chiang Mai Attractions that Avoid Elephant Riding on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

6 Packing for Travel Tips to Make Your Trip a Breeze Posted: 24 Jan 2016 02:00 AM PST We’ve received a lot of messages about people asking us for our packing for travel tips. With winter in full swing and people wanting to escape to warmer weather, we thought we’d share some of our best tips to pack smarter. Dave and Deb’s Packing for Travel Tips Dave is ready! Packing for Travel 101 You see, Dave and I have been travelling for more than a decade, but it wasn’t until this past year or so that we really focused on packing smart. We used to fly away to hot destinations in the middle of the Canadian winter and spend our time on a tropical island of some kind with nothing more than some board shorts, sarongs and flip flops. You don’t need a lot of organization when you are heading to the tropics. But now that we’ve added more city destinations into our itineraries, we find that we need to think about our wardrobe and plan more for our trips. In the past 30 days we’ve been to the snowy Rocky Mountains of Alberta to New York City and then onto the heat and sunshine of Australia. That’s a lot of different climates and a lot of different wardrobes. We do purge a few items between trips like our winter parkas or snow boots, but for the most part, we keep a core list of clothing and travel gear with us at all times and dump items off at our car parked at the airport or for a longer term at my parents basement. So here is the gear that we carry with us all of the time. These items not only save us space but make our travels more convenient. 1. Choose the right bag We’ve tried many bags over the years and have finally settled on a system that works great for us. Once upon a time we swore by backpacks, but as time goes on, we’ve wanted to look more sophisticated at the airport and in hotel lobbies, so we’ve switched to rolling duffels. For a long time, we enjoyed our TravelPro rolling duffel, but found they were too large and toppled over whenever we put them down. We’ve recently switched to Eagle Creek’s 28′ Road Warrior rolling duffel which is the perfect size, it stands up on its own with ease and it is made for stacking packing cubes and wardrobe envelopes. For the first time in a decade, we’re organized and can find everything. 2. Mix and Match Clothing This is something that expert travellers stress regularly, but often don’t explain what they mean. Sure, you mix and match your clothes but how much do you bring with you? Well, that is completely up to you. We like to keep things light, but we don’t like going the carryon only route. I like to have a choice of clothes to wear and I like to have certain pieces of gear at my fingertips. So while we keep our bags light, we do have a lot of options to choose from. Packing for Travel – A Quick Overview of our List For Deb: Feeling Good at the Airport I usually fly in a pair of comfortable jeans and a tank top with a lightweight blouse over top with a pair of flat ballet shoes. That way I look smart for walking around but I’m completely comfortable on a long haul flight. When I pack, I keep things to a minimum, but I make sure that everything can be worn together. Read: 7 of the Best Mix and Match Travel Clothing for Women Packing list: 2 pairs of pants – black leggings and a pair of lightweight pants that can dress up or down. 2 pairs of shorts– for city walking 1 pair of hiking/board shorts for the beach and for hikes 1 pair of zipoff trekking pants. I am still a fan of zip off pants for hiking. I often wear them as shorts and when on a hike, I start off in the early mornings with full length pants and then transfer to shorts. 2 t-shirts 3 blouses – I can pack 3 because my lightweight travelsmith tunics are so small and light, I can put several into a sac and hardly know they are there. They can dress up a pair of shorts or I can wear them out at night with a skirt or pants. 1 skort – I’ve become a huge fan of the skort. I can wear it around town sightseeing during the day wearing a t-shirt or use it as a skirt at night when switching to a nicer top. 1 skirt – I like dressing up. When going out to dinner, I enjoy wearing a skirt. Shoes – So I already told you that I wear ballet flats when traveling and they can dress up a skirt or shorts, but I also bring hiking shoes, flip flops and sometimes a wedge heel. The ballet flats and flip flops take up no space. Hiking shoes are a must for our type of adventure travel and the wedge heel is an unnecessary item, but I like the way it makes my legs look. Check out the TravelSmith Website for more travel clothing. For Dave Dave also travels in jeans when flying and wears his dressier sneakers on the flight with a short sleeve button down shirt. Check out: Looking Smart in Men’s Travel Clothing His packing list: 4 button down shirts – 1 long sleeve and 3 short sleeve. The long sleeve can be used for a nice dinner or cooler evenings. He also packs 2 T-shirts You may be saying, 6 shirts, wow! But these 6 shirts all fold neatly into a packing envelope that takes up very little space. The 3 short sleeved shirts are microfibre and lightweight and can be mixed and matched with his pants and shorts. 1 pair of jeans 1 pair of lightweight slacks 2 shorts dressier for sightseeing and cities – his TravelSmith Jimmy Buffet reversible are a huge benefit for two shorts in one 2 board shorts for the beach Shoes – hiking shoes, dressier sneakers, flipflops 3. Layers Layering for all types of weather Often when traveling to Europe, you are going to need more than just flipflops and a bathing suit, so it’s important to pack lightweight layers to help keep you warm. I always carry a wrap or large silk scarf for the plane and for cool evenings out. We both also always have a merino wool sweater for hikes, mountains, or cool outdoor days. And we both always have an outer weather resistant jacket for rainy and windy days. These items are good for all weather (except for cold winter conditions) Winter travel is a completely different set packing for travel tips – You can check out our articles 6 Winter Layering tips for the Winter Deep Freeze and Packing Tips for Winter Travel 4. Keep it Light Yes, it’s obvious that you want to pack less to keep your suitcase light, but I’m talking about keeping your gear light. Our Eagle Creek rolling duffel is a fraction of the weight of our Travel Pro. Our clothing is all lightweight, microfiber or nylon material. We keep away from heavy cottons. Even our underwear is Exofficio and very lightweight. Fibres can make all the difference between a heavy suitcase or light and carefree travel. Know someone special who loves to travel? Check out out Favourite Gifts for Travel 5. Use the right Packing Gear Packing cubes are all the rage since being developed a few years ago. Before they were invented, Dave and I always used large ZipLock freezer bags. So we were thrilled to find out that we can pack our clothes in reusable nylon sacks that can even be compressed for bulkier items. We mentioned the packing envelopes above and we swear by them. Even if you have wrinkle resistant clothing, they can still look rumpled when you unpack them. The packing envelopes help to keep everything crisp, organized and your clothing takes up less space. Toiletry bag – Dave and I used to have a bunch of different bags for our toiletries but we now keep everything in one foldable travel tote. It takes up less space and keeps everything organized. Want more packing for travel tips? Read our post 8 Great Travel Organizers for better packing 6. Size Matters It’s important to think about the size of everything you bring. Right down to choosing your suitcase. Sure, the large suitcase looks promising because you can fit everything into it easily, but the larger the suitcase, the more useless items you will bring. Instead, choose a smart and classy smaller rolling duffel and you won’t have the option to pack more than you need. It’s lightweight and easy to roll and you will be happier boarding trains, planes and buses, or lugging them up stairs in places like Europe. Leave the large shampoo bottles at home. We put shampoo, conditioner and lotions into smaller GooToobs that fit into our toiletry bag. We barely even have to break out our own shampoo as most hotels now offer nice boutique shampoos and lotions for guests to use. We just use their stuff wherever we go. Really, just think small. Now is not the time to take the big Costco bottles of headache medications or sunscreen with you, when you put everything into small bottles you’ll be a happier traveller. Packing more than just clothes? Read our Travel Photography Gear Guide So there you have it. Our 6 Packing for Travel Tips to make your next vacation happier. Do you have a tip? We’d love to hear from you. Save 15% off this Travel Tote and other Travel Gear by TravelSmith when you spend more than $50.  At check out use PlanetD promo code Click here to start shopping.  Read Next: The Most Complete Travel Packing List You’ll Ever Need Read the original post 6 Packing for Travel Tips to Make Your Trip a Breeze on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

Fly to Dubai in Style with Air Canada Posted: 21 Jan 2016 02:00 AM PST A lot of people will say that you must fly one of the Middle Eastern Airlines to Dubai to really do it in style. We admit, we have flown these airlines and have even managed an upgrade or two on them, but I would like to set the record straight, that you can enjoy luxury and comfort on Air Canada.  We know because we had the chance to sample both business class and premium economy on our direct flights to and from Dubai from Toronto on the Dreamliner 787.. Deb’s Loving the Air Canada Business Class from Dubai Air Canada direct to Dubai Air Canada now has direct flights from Toronto Pearson to Dubai International Airport and it is already hugely popular. As part of the Star Alliance Network, Air Canada is a great option for Canadians and international travellers. U.S. customers can earn MileagePlus points (United customers) on Air Canada flights that serve over 50 US markets. Instead of connecting through the States, you can take a short hop over to Toronto instead of connecting through the busy New York, Chicago, or Atlanta hubs. We like flying Air Canada. When given the choice (and believe me, we have many) we always ask to fly them. For one it’s because we love gathering points. We are points hoarders after all. But the other is the friendly and comfortable feeling we have whenever we step on the plane. It’s a sense of relief with that feeling of “Ah, we’re Home.” We flew to Dubai on premium economy with a bunch of other Canadians who spent time together in the Air Canada lounge before the flight. It seemed that everyone in the lounge that evening was flying to Dubai. Even the lounge attendant mentioned that the flight was very popular this evening. Sitting in the lounge is a great way to start a trip. With free food, beverages and premium wifi, it’s the perfect place to relax or catch up on work. You can even have a shower to freshen up if you desire. Check out: 10 Must Have Items to Make Air Travel Easy Air Canada Lounge When boarding the plane recognized each other and gave friendly nods of hello and how are you? 10 days later, we were back on the plane flying home and noticed that everyone was coming back on the same flight as us. I feel that this could only happen in Canada, but while standing in the departure lounge of the Dubai airport, all of us started talking. We recognized each other from the way there and everyone was smiling talking about what a great time we had in the city. It seemed that all of us were waiting with baited breath to see if we made the upgrade list so we were hovering around the counter. We flew back from Dubai in Business Class! Business Class on Air Canada from Dubai Good news! Everyone of our newfound friends were upgraded to business class and we were ready to enjoy the next 14 hours in style. Since our seats were last minute upgrades, we were all scattered throughout the cabin. Typically Canadian, we offered up seats to each other to let everyone sit together. Within a few minutes, we were all happy and settled in. I will admit, there were a  lot of “sorry’s” being said and apologies being made to the flight attendants for our seat changes. But they just smiled and made their changes to the flight plan like nothing happened. In business class, the flight attendants have a passenger list. When your seat is assigned, they introduce themselves and talk to you by name. Whenever they come around they say things like “Mrs. Corbeil, what would you like for dinner tonight?” Mr. Bouskill, would you like an orange juice or sparkling water before we take off?” It’s really quite civilized. Being the new 787 Dreamliner, we were very excited to give business class a try. The Dreamliner is a larger and roomier airplane and you can feel the difference the moment you board. Even the economy class has more room than the usual flights, so you can imagine how luxurious business class is. The pods in business class on the Dreamliner are huge. We had full size TV screens, wide seats that recline completely into a bed and the square shape offered a lot of privacy. Once we arrived, we were given a choice of refreshments and reading material. Dave and I were taking pictures like mad and nobody looked at us like we were crazy at all. I tell you, it’s a Canadian thing. On other flights, we have felt embarrassed documenting business class because we feel that we have to act cool for school. But this flight had a levity about it. Everyrone was in a great mood! Enjoy: 11 Quick Tips to Make Your Travels Easier A bit about the Dreamliner Air: The 787 Dreamliner has better air than other planes. It filters the air inside the cabin and pulls in fresh air from outside. I always suffer from dry sinuses on flights, but not on this one. If you care about the environment (and you should) you’ll be happy to know that the Dreamliner fleet may be larger, but they are also more aerodynamic their new engine technology reduces emissions and fuel economy. Windows are 33% larger making the cabin feel roomier. I love the new electronic dimmer control that allows you do dim your windows while still being able to see outside. It’s not just about having windows open or closed, you can now have them dimmed. Big Windows, Big Screens, Plenty of Food TV screens. The screens and touch screen system are bigger. Air Canada has my favourite entertainment system out of all the airlines in the world. It’s easy to navigate and there are a lot of choices for TV series, movies and games. What I love is that you can start watching your favourite program the minute you get on the plane and they don’t make you turn it off until the doors are open. I always wonder why other airlines turn off the entertainment system for take offs and landings? (can someone explain that to me?) About about Business Class If you have ever flown business class, you will know what I mean when I say it’s hard to go back to coach. We don’t get the opportunity to fly it all the time, but when we do, we relish every minute. Your vacation truly starts the moment you arrive at the airport. With priority check in, lounge access and priority seating, you are truly treated like a movie star. While others stood in line at the busy Dubai airport, we breezed through the Elite status lounge and were relaxing in the lounge in no time. The Air Canada Lounge in Dubai was under construction when we were there, so we didn’t spend too much time listening to the hammers and saws at work, but I am sure that it will be ready to go in no time. After all, Air Canada is a new, in demand flight coming into the city. We didn’t have to wait long until our flight and when we started boarding, all the business class personnel boarded the plane first. Business Class Premium Boarding When flying business class, you have an overhead entire compartment to yourself. You don’t have to scramble for a spot. There is also plenty of room in your pod for personal items but you really don’t need to stow anything close by. Everything you need is supplied. There is even a care package with lip balm, hand creams, socks and eye masks for comfort. There is a bottle of water supplied for you to sip on even thought the flight attendants come around regularly with drinks and a very comfortable duvet and fluffy down pillow are supplied to make your sleep as comfortable as possible. Need help with air travel? See our Seven Tips for Stress Free Travel.  A Bit About the Meals in Business Class The meals service is out of this world. When dining in business class you feel like you are dining in a five star restaurant. And with good reason, The food in both the international lounges as well as the meal service available in premium economy & business classes on flights departing from Canada are part of the new menu created by Canadian celebrity chef David Hawksworth. Business Class Appetizers In business class you are served your meals on white linen and china plates. Your first course is an appetizer choice and tonight we have an Arabic messe place with walnut, halloumi cheese and baba ghanoush. Next came a fresh salad of mixed greens with a small bottle of balsamic vinairgrette dressing and bread. I always dip my bread in my balsamic dressing. Mmmm. Main Course Hot meals consist of choices like garlic crusted beef fillet with a thyme shallot sauce, MIddle Eastern chicken, seard cod fillet with tomato and olive ragout or a mushroom and ricotta filled ravioli. By now you are stuffed, but there’s more! After each meal, flight attendants come around with a cart filled with cheese. I cannot get enough cheese so naturally I always order everything. And then, it’s time to finish off with the desert of the day, ice cream or seasonal fruit. Yum! Business Class Breakfast after a night of eating Usually I eat my meal while watching a movie and then settle into a night of sleep, but while flying in the 787 business class, I couldn’t seem to catch a wink. I loved my choices of movies. I laughed and cried into my duvet. When I got the munchies, I ordered a hot snack of chicken skewers. Pleasant Bathrooms When I went to the washroom (which you never have to wait for in business, I grabbed a chocolate bar and bag of chips. I know, this is starting to get ridiculous. I haven’t stopped eating for 8 hours! It’s a happy flight indeed! As I drifted off to sleep in my quiet little corner I stretched my legs and rolled over on my side as you can only do when flying business class. It’s a life of luxury on Air Canada from Dubai and that’s exactly the way it should be. When traveling to and from one of the world’s most expensive and exciting cities, shouldn’t you do it in style? If there is one time that you should splurge for an upgrade it should be during your travels to Dubai. Start your dream trip off right and do Dubai in Style. For more information on direct flights from Toronto to Dubai visit AirCanada.com For more details on the Dreamliner See more on the Air Canada Website Read Next: Hello Goodbye: Real Life Tales from the Airport Our trip to Dubai was sponsored by Expedia.com as part of the Expedia Viewfinder program. You can see our full article about Dubai on their blog.  Read the original post Fly to Dubai in Style with Air Canada on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

Have you Experienced Greenland? Posted: 20 Jan 2016 02:00 AM PST Last week we spoke at the New York Times Travel Show about our time in Greenland with Quark Expeditions. When talking to Quark they told us that Greenland has suddenly become a very popular destination for polar adventure lovers. We weren’t surprised. When they asked us what expedition we wanted to talk about during the show, we said Greenland because we want to let people know about this amazing destination that everyone is putting on their 2016 hot travel list. We’ve written about Greenland a few times, but we wanted to show you our latest video letting you really experience Greenland with us. Read: Greenland, Where Ancient Culture Meets the Modern World Experience the Real Greenland – Video Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for weekly videos in your inbox! Check out our article: Incredible Greenland, The Final Frontier of Adventure Travel I think that Expedition Leader, Alex McNeil summed up travel to Greenland perfectly in this video. “It’s the spirit of adventure, you never know what is around each corner” That is so true to Arctic travel. The ice is constantly shifting and changing, fjords are opening and closing with each season, and glaciers are constantly calving. On an expedition, no two days are the same. In fact, no two cruises are ever the same. The crew and captain are always switching courses, looking for new opportunities and keeping an eye out for wildlife and scenery. You will spend your days exploring by zodiac, watching the scenery pass by the bough of the ship or hiking along the tundra to stand beside magnificent glaciers. It truly is the final frontier of adventure travel. Experience the real Greenland Enjoy: Greenland, The Land of Kayakers. Our Journey through Uncharted Fjords.  We went kayaking, we took the polar plunge, we sipped champagne in hot springs and we sampled the local cuisine. I don’t recall a trip that has stuck in my mind so much as Greenland. I learned a lot, I came away with a better understanding of the Inuit culture and I now have a better appreciation of life in the North. If you are looking for a trip that will give you an authentic travel and cultural experience, Greenland is the place. For us, it was a destination that epitomizes the definition of adventure travel. For more information on travel to Greenland, Check out Quark Expeditions Arctic Expeditions.  Read next: Arctic or Antarctica, How to Choose Your Polar Adventure Read the original post Have you Experienced Greenland? on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

Sabah Diving Guide: Beyond Sipadan Posted: 18 Jan 2016 02:00 AM PST If I sum up Sabah diving in one word, it is diversity. Whether you are into muck diving or colorful coral, this region of Malaysian Borneo will leave you speechless. The uniqueness of Sabah dive sites lie in that you can see both sea fans, large pelagics and say, pygmy seahorses and frogfish, in a single dive. It's truly one of the most complete diving holidays in the world. Yet, most travelers have only heard about Sipadan Island and its resident barracuda tornado. While that is reason enough to visit, the state of Sabah has many other gems. In fact, some of my favorites lie outside Sipadan! Read up for a brief guide. Pink Pygmy Seahorse can be spotted when Sabah Diving Si Amil Island, Sipadan Barrier Reef Diving Season: Mar. to Oct. for best visibility What if I told you there's an unspoiled island, filled with a resident school of Devil Rays that far of numbers any rays seen at Sipadan Island itself? Not only that, but that it's also sprinkled with abandoned World War II buildings and a hilly rainforest to marvel at during your surface intervals? Welcome to Si Amil! Only an hour away by speedboat from Semporna, Si Amil's nine dive sites have everything from big pelagics and fantastic variety of sea fans and hard coral to colorful macro and World War II wrecks. Read: Great Things to do in Malaysian Borneo Night dives are quite special here as well, with sightings of bamboo sharks and rainbow runners being a common occurrence. Better yet? With all eyes on Sipadan, Si Amil remains one of the last frontiers of Sabah diving. Insider tip: make sure you ask for a Si Amil Island boat trip at the time of booking, as many dive resorts only plan trips there upon request. I can confirm this from my experience at Borneo Divers Mabul Resort. Speaking of which, if you still want to dive Sipadan, Borneo Divers is one of the few resorts that offer you not two, but four boat dives on a single Sipadan trip for no extra charge. Divers in Borneo PHOTO (Sabah diving Borneo divers file): Sabah Diving Photo by Borneo Divers Mabul Resort Seaventures House Reef Diving Season: Apr. to Dec.; best in Jul. and Aug. During my stay at the Seaventures Dive Resort, I was marveled at the incredible marine life and artificial reefs right underneath it. Large schools of yellowtail trevally, tiny cuttlefish, cute juvenile yellow box fish, and giant groupers are some of the daytime residents of this converted oil rig. You can even see schools of glassfish feeding by the surface from the highest platform of the rig! At night, a whole new world is unveiled: from elusive red orange/blue spotted flamboyant cuttlefish and schooling pipefish to Chevron barracudas and fat moray eels grace you with their presence. It was fascinating to see such a volume of macro and schooling fish in a single dive. As I enjoyed unlimited house reef dives during my stay, I can assure you Seaventures is one of the best dive sites in Sabah. Don't miss it! PHOTO: Seaventures House Reef by Seaventures Dive Resort Layang Layang Island Diving Season: Mar. to Aug.; Apr. to May for hammerheads Also known as Swallows Reef, Pulau Layang Layang is where the big guys go! Think massive schools of hammerheads, reef sharks, dolphins, Manta rays, whale sharks, and other pelagic species within a five to ten minute boat ride away. Ten different dive sites, most being walls, have a sick visibility as well–up to 60 meters in season. As such, all of them are rated 5 out of five stars by most experienced divers. Please note though, Layang Layang is unreachable in the rainy season, which typically runs between November and February. Plan your ?diving trip to ? Sabah diving trip accordingly if you're a pelagic fan. Enjoy: Malaysian Borneo, An Adventure Lover’s Dream School of Hammerhead Sharks Panglima Reef, Mabul Diving Season: Apr. to Dec.; best in Jul. and Aug. There's a rare show to watch at Panglima's gentle reef slope. It's just as likely to spot an 80-year-old Hawksbill Turtle and Cockscomb Oyster as it is to see a couple of Chromodoris and Nembrotha nudibranch right next to Crocodile Flatheads. Really, you just never know what you'll see. In one dive, I personally saw a few old Hawksbill Turtles; a peacock mantis shrimp being attacked by a few schooling fish; a massive school of traveling trevally, rivaling Sipadan's resident Barracuda tornado; several types of nudibranch (particularly black worm); in addition to the largest crocodile fish I have seen in 70 dives. I was in awe–how the heck had I never heard about this place?! Now you know! Peacock Mantis Shrimp PHOTO (mantis shrimp file): Peacock Mantis Shrimp by Silke Baron, Flickr Froggy's Lair, close to SMART, Mabul Diving Season: Apr. to Dec.; best in Jul. and Aug. Froggy's is commonly regarded as the muck diving capital of Mabul, Sabah. Poor visibility means this dive site is enjoyed by Eagle-eyed macro diving junkies only. Make sure you have a good guide! Mandarin fish, flamboyant cuttlefish, lobsters, octopus, garden eels, and legions of frogfish are frequently spotted. Speaking of frogfish, this dive site got its name due to the many different varieties, shapes, and colors of its resident frogfish. Quite a sight indeed. Read about our climb up Mount Kinabalu in Borneo Clown Frog Fish PHOTO: Clown Frogfish by Silke Baron, Flickr Mataking Island Diving Season: Feb. to Nov.; Apr. to Jun. for best visibility & whale sharks Unbeknownst to many, an island 40 minutes away from Semporna offers a beautiful combination of both macro and large pelagics–the common denominator of Sabah's top dive sites. It's easy for Mataking Island to slip under the radar though, overshadowed by its next-door neighbor Sipadan. Located in Alice channel, the Malaysian-Philippine border, Mataking's 12 dive sites could keep you busy for an entire holiday. Eagle rays, manta rays, whale sharks, grey reef sharks are some of the pelagics that wander the 100-meter-deep channel, attracted by the strong currents in the North. Resident macro life includes stone fish, octopus, ribbon eels, and frogfish. Just going on a day trip? Hit some of Mataking's top dive sites: Sweetlips Avenue, North Point, the offshore House Reef, Coral Garden, and the artificial reef the Shipwreck. Love travel? Check out our Epic Adventures page Whale Shark PHOTO: Whale Sharks by Klaus Stiefel, Flickr Any additions to our Sabah diving guide? Share them below Maria Alexandra Laborde is a twenty-something thrill junkie that has lived, studied and traveled extensively throughout the Caribbean, Middle East, and North Africa. Through tales and snapshots, she shares her knowledge and love for the Arab world on her niche blog Travel The Middle East. Additionally, Maria is the author of LatinAbroad: The Nomadic Translator, where she shares her struggles, inspiration, and advice after traveling solo to more than 20 countries across 4 continents. Follow her adventures on Twitter @latinAbroad, 'Like' her Facebook page & 'Pin' her on Pinterest. Read Next: Great Barrier Reef, the Ultimate Diving Adventure Read the original post Sabah Diving Guide: Beyond Sipadan on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

It’s Aussie by Air New Zealand Time! Posted: 16 Jan 2016 02:00 AM PST It’s been nearly two years since we were last in Australia. It was February, 2014 and we spent two glorious weeks in Queensland’s tropical North doing everything from diving the Great Barrier Reef, hanging out at Surfers Paradise, and exploring the Daintree Rainforest. Australia by Air New Zealand This trip to Australia is taking us to places we have yet to visit and we are very excited to explore more of one of our favourite countries. When planning our trip, we had our choice of visiting two of the seven hubs that Air New Zealand flies to. It was a tough choice because all hubs are awesome, but since we have already explored the beauty and adventure of South Australia, the spectacular Gold Coast, Noth Queensland and extraordinary Sydney we went for Brisbane and Melbourne. Spectacular South Australia The last time in Oz, while hanging out on the Gold Coast, Dave and I talked about how we could live in this magical land of sunshine and sand. Our dream of living in Australia has yet to come true, but we are lucky enough to be able to go back for another visit. Enjoy our photos of The Best of Kangaroo Island.  Excited to be back Australia by Air New Zealand As you read this, we’re flying to Brisbane with Air New Zealand trying out their premium economy class on the way there and their Skycouch service on the way back. Air New Zealand is one of the funnest airlines. I can’t wait to see what their new safety video will be. The last time we flew to New Zealand,  Richard Simmons told us how to act in case of an unlikely emergency. There have been several epic safety videos by AirNZ since that time. What will they offer us this time? Check out all the AirNZ Safety Videos at their YouTube channel Read all about our adventures in New Zealand Air New Zealand Safety Video Air New Zealand is part of our favourite airline network; Star Alliance. We’re very interested to see what the AirNZ premium economy class is compared to the Air Canada premium economy and I’m doubly interested in seeing what the Skycouch is like. The Skycouch is a row of three economy seat where the footrest comes out from under each of the seats to create a flat, flexible space to enjoy however you like. Now that sounds cozy. If Johnny Jet loves Skycouch, I know we will too! Johnny Jet loves SkyCouch Read Johnny Jet’s review of Skycouch.  So, After we arrive refreshed and relaxed thanks to the affordable and easy ways Air New Zealand allows passengers to enjoy long haul flights, what are we going to do in Australia? We love Australia Wildlife Enjoy our photos of the wildlife of Kangaroo Island.  Well, we have a jam packed schedule of fun end excitement. We’ll be visiting both Queensland and Victoria during our visit. These two very different states are going to offer us some great adventures. Australia Adventueres We cannot wait to do the four day 12 Apostles Walk. This lodge to lodge walk is going to be a challenge, but it’s also filled with luxury and gourmet meals at the stunning eco-lodges run by the TwelveApostlesWalk.com Australia has gorgeous eco-lodges See our stay at an eco-lodge in the Daintree Rainforest We can’t wait to do the Story Bridge Adventure Climb in Brisbane, take a hot air balloon ride over Melbourne, go paddle boarding in Noosa and our four wheel drive experience on Fraser Island. Oh Yeah, this is going to be fun. Hot Air Balloon Queensland Read about our Hot Air Balloon Adventure in Queensland It’s only just begun, so make sure to follow along to see what shennanigans Dave and I get into this time. We have 15 days in the Land Down Under and we aren’t going to waste a second. So join us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter as we share our adventures in real time at the hashtag #AussiebyAirNZ. See you tomorrow! Our trip to Australia is in partnership with Australia Tourism and Air New Zealand.  Read Next: 13 Mind Blowing Photos that will Make you Fall in Love with Queensland Read the original post It’s Aussie by Air New Zealand Time! on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

Our Most Memorable Moments from Wales in Photos Posted: 14 Jan 2016 02:00 AM PST Have you ever had an OMG Moment? While visiting Wales last autumn, we had many. It makes sense that Great Britain has taken the abbreviation OMG to the next level and it’s now #OMGB. (Oh My Great Britain!) While visiting Wales, we said “Oh my” so many times and to celebrate the launch of #OMGB Home of Amazing moments, we thought we’d share our favourite OMGB moments from Wales in photos. Looking over Snowdonia #OMGB You’ll love the new website OMGB.com, it’s filled with amazing moments from all around Great Britain including a few from yours truly. It’s an inspiring way to explore a country. A picture says a thousand words and these moments truly capture experiences all around England, Scotland and Wales.  So, I really don’t need to write much more to showcase the amazing time we had in Wales, I can just show your pictures!  But before we go on, we want you to have your own OMGB moment with a vacation in Britain! Read on….. Deb hiking in Snowdonia Win a Trip to Great Britain Oh My Great Britain! #OMGB We are very excited to announce that Visit Britain is giving one lucky winner a trip for two to Bath and Edinburgh to enjoy their very own #OMGB moments. All you have to do is visit OMGB.com and complete the entry form either with your email address or your Twitter or Facebook accounts. You can gain additional entries by sharing your entry via Twitter with the hashtage #OMGB. See full terms and conditions here.    Need inspiration to enter? Enjoy our favourite moments from Wales in photos. Exploring Carreg Cennen Castle Carreg Cennen Castle Wales is filled with Castles and having Carreg Cennen Castle all to ourselves on our way to Llandeilo was a highlight. A wedding was going on that day and as we were walking down, the bride and groom were walking up. Priceless. Coasteering in Pembrokeshire Coasteering: A Major #OMGB moment Coasteering was invented in Wales and one of the first operations was Preseliventure. They are still going strong and if you want to explore the coast by traversing along the sea, jumping into the water and swimming into caves and waves, this is for you. See: Coasteering in Wales, it’s not as scary as you think! Seeing Snowdonia Taking the train to spectacular Snowdon Mountain Snowdon Mountain in Northern Wales is the highest mountain in Wales. You can hike up to the top in a few hours, but if you have limited time you can take the train. When you reach the top, you have the option to look around for about an hour, or you can take your time and hike down at your own pace. Bouncing Around at Bounce Below Bounce Below One of the most unique tourist attractions we’ve ever been to was Bounce Below in Blaenau Ffestiniog. It is a giant underground cavern filled with trampolines, ziplines and a via feratta. This part of Wales is fast becoming the adventure capital of the country. See our video and read about Bounce Below at our post: The Ultimate Playground for the Kid in You! Discovering Portmeiron Walking around Portmeiron Portmeiron is a cute little village modelled after Riomaggiore in the Five Villages of Italy. There are hotels, shops and artists studios in the village located on a picturesque lake. We stayed at the Portmeiron Hotel which was like stepping back in time. Lobster Safari A unique safari experience is going out to catch lobster with North Wales Sea Fishing Trips. Read all about our Lobster Safari at Catch of the Day, A Lobster Safari in Wales Admire the Coast Wales Coast line Wales has a beautiful coast and you must hike along the many coastal trails, get out on the water either kayaking or on a boat tour and admire its beauty. Serene Moments When travelling it’s easy to get caught up in running from place to place, but taking the time to enjoy the stillness at sunrise or sunset can help to put your travels into perspective. When we sit quietly on the beach, we realize just how beautiful this world is and how lucky we are to be able to explore it. Go for a Walk Going for a walk through any village in Wales will probably lead you to a castle somewhere. If you want your fill of castles, Wales is the place to be! Quiet Moments How could we not end with a sunset? One of the glorious things about travel is the opportunity to see the sun set from a different part of the world. The skies were on fire during our time in Wales and this evening was a beautiful moment snapped from our hotel room window. One of our favourite parts of travelling is remembering moments. It’s the little moments that often stand out. Sure the adventures make for great stories, but it’s often the quiet moments that we remember most. Travel lets you connect to each other, make new friends and find peace and stillness within yourself. It’s about finding moments that will occupy your memory forever and that is what Wales will do for us. We’ll remember each moment there for the rest of our lives. Our trip to Wales was in partnership with VisitWales and Visit Britain. For more information on #OMGB and how you could win a trip to Britain visit the OMGB Website.  Read Next: The Best Things to do in Northern Ireland Read the original post Our Most Memorable Moments from Wales in Photos on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

10 of the Most Unforgettable Winter Things to do in Banff Posted: 12 Jan 2016 08:43 AM PST Okay, so you normally book a flight to the Caribbean for the winter. But this year, you want something different right? Something that will make you feel alive, change your life and give you memories, that will last a lifetime. Anyone can sit on a beach drinking Mai Tais, but not everyone can brag that they’ve soared through the Rocky Mountains, plunged down a massive peek or glided through and ancient forest before a night on the town. These are just some of the unforgettable winter things to do in Banff if you turn north instead of south for your next vacation. You’ll have an unforgettable time in Banff Winter vacations aren’t just for the hearty anymore, Banff and Lake Louise have made winter trips comfortable, glamorous, elegant and exciting for everyone. If you dress the part, take advantage of the hot pools, spas, fine dining and elegant hotels, you’ll have a well-rounded trip that will blow away anything on the beach. So try something new this year and see all the great things to do in Banff. I bet you change your mind about winter. Before you go any further, check out our latest video: We round up the best things to do in Banff – Winter Edition Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for weekly videos in your inbox.  Unforgettable Winter Things to do in Banff Learn how to pack for winter travel by reading our Packing tips for Winter Adventures and Layering Tips to survive Winter Travel  Heli-Snowshoe Tour over Banff Helicopter over Banff – Like Nowhere else on earth If there is one helicopter tour that you do in your life, do it over the Rocky Mountains. Dave and I have had the privilege of taking scenic flights on 6 continents, but our flight over Banff National Park was the most breathtaking tour we’ve ever taken. I believe flying over Banff in winter is what made it special. The peaks covered in snow made you feel as if you were staring at heaven itself. The helicopters that RockiesHeli uses are state of the art with bubble windows and plenty of space to give everyone the best possible views. Add the opportunity to go snowshoeing in the mountains and you’ve got yourself the most unforgettable experience of your life. Just one of many things to do in Banff Read more about our heli-snowshoe tour here.  Snowboarding and Skiing Nothing like snowboarding in powder A person cannot round up a winter vacation without mentioning snowboarding or skiing. Banff has some of the best ski conditions in North America. Located in the heart of the Rocky Mountains, you can count on a long ski season, with lots of fresh powder, world class runs and fun for all levels and ages. There are three ski resorts located directly in Banff National Park – Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Norquay. You will never tire of trying out all the backcountry bowls, trails through the glades or gentler runs on the main hills. See our video and check out our snowboarding adventure at Lake Louise Take Photo Tour Checking out the shot with Rocky Mountain Adventures Banff is one of the most scenic destinations on earth. Bring home your own memories on a photo tour with Rocky Mountain Adventures. You will be taken to the hottest photography spots for photographers, but you can also have the option of learning how to process your photos and optimizing them for print where you can hang your memories on your own walls. Love Alberta? Check out our Alberta Summer Road Trip Like this! Photo captured on our photography tour in banff There’s great travel to Southern Alberta too: Enjoy seeing the Hoodoos of the Badlands Dog Sled to British Columbia Unforgettable Dog Sledding in Banff There’s only one place you can go dogsledding in Banff National Park and that is with KingMik Dog Sled Tours. Their team of dogs are fast and filled with pep and zip as they run through the Great Divide Trail all the way to the border of British Columbia. As you are snuggled up inside a warm sleeping bag and zipped into the windproof canvas, you glide through the forest looking for lynx tracks while your guide tells you about the area, the dogs and the scenery. On the way back, it’s your turn to drive the sled and you’ll feel like a true explorer as you mush through the old Trans Canada trail. Read all about Dogsledding in Banff: There’s video and pictures too! Hot Springs and Spas At the Banff Hot Springs I told you that it wasn’t all about being outside in the cold, there are a lot of things to do in Banff that don’t have to take you through a snowy wonderland. (although who wouldn’t want to?) Banff is home to thermal pools where you can bask outside in a tub while taking in the views. The Banff Hot Springs are the most famous hot pools in Banff, and you can even rent an old timers bathing suit to feel like you are in a bath house of the roaring twenties. Get a hot tub in your room like this one at Sunshine Mountain Lodge Most hotels have outdoor hot tubs and our favourite was the views at the Juniper Hotel and Deer Lodge. But Sunshine Mountain Lodge at Sunshine Village has Banff’s largest hotel hot tub located right on the side of the ski hill where after a day on the boards, you can soothe your aching muscles in the tub. Enjoy the outdoor spas with a view! – Juniper Hotel Want recommendations for the best accommodation in Banff – Read our post: Hotels in Banff: 8 Great Stays in the Rockies. Couple’s Massage Banff is filled with spas and luxury hotels. You can book many a spa through your own accommodation, but we tried the downtown spa Cedar and Sage. As many of you already know, Dave and I have a lot of massages around the world. Our massage at Cedar and Sage worked all the knots out of our backs in a tranquil setting with certified massage therapists. With it’s downtown location, we could stroll the shops and enjoy a coffee afterwards to truly get that sense of peace that one is looking for after a week of so many adventures. Johnston Canyon Ice Walk Johnston Canyon Ice Walk Want to see frozen ice like you’ve never seen before? Take a hike through Johnston Canyon. It’s an easy walk on a well maintained steel walkway where you’ll see frozen waterfalls all around you. Make sure to go to the very end to see the most beautiful of them It’s only a two and a half mile walk taking you to six different frozen waterfalls and a deep pool of swirling water that is reached by walking through a stone arch. You may spy some ice climbers there as well, or you may want to give it a try yourself! See our Ice climbing Adventure in Canmore, Alberta.  Skate on Lake Louise Enjoy a couple’s skate on Lake Louise It’s the most scenic ice rink in the world. Just out front of the Fairmont Lake Louise is the world’s prettiest hockey rink complete with zambonies, hockey benches, and figure skating. It’s free to skate on Lake Louise and the ice is ready and waiting as professionals maintain it with state of the art equipment. You can rent your hockey gear at Wilson Mountain Sports located about 5 minutes away on your way into the lake or you can bring your own. There’s spots for figure skating and hockey so don’t be shy, enjoy some hot chocolate and have either a romantic date with your loved one or join a game of pick up hockey! Pond Hockey Anyone? Order a Flight of Spirits A flight of Spirits It’s the only distillery in all of Banff National Park. As a matter a fact, it’s the only distillery in a national park in North America. Park Distillery makes smooth vodka and rye right on sight. Direct from the glacial waters of the Rocky Mountains you can be sure that they use the purest water on earth. They offer distillery tours where they’ll tell you most of their secrets and you can sit down and sample all their spirits in one tasting. Be prepared, they go down so well, you’ll be feeling it when you stand up. But you know what they say about great booze, no hangover! The tasting has a mix of pure vodka and rye as well as spiced, and coffee flavour. Everyone in your party will have a different favourite. I’m a purest and loved their straight, silky vodka! Go to the Back Country Sundance Lodge – 16 km from anywhere If you ever make it to the Rocky Mountains, you must make sure to go to a back country lodge. This is the epitome of things to do in Banff. Why? Because it is where you completely get away from it all. Don’t fret too much about bears or cougars in the winter. For the most part they’re hibernating and if you are a party of two or three, they’ll be more afraid of you than you are of them. Imagine sitting in a log cabin heated by a wood burning stove as the snow falls around you outside. That is pure heaven. Sundance lodge has an executive chef, hot water for showers, solar power and cozy bedrooms. This is where luxury meets rustic living and if you go home and tell everyone that you trekked 16km into the Rocky Mountains to stay at a lodge, you will be the hero of all your friends. You can get to the Banff Alberta Back Country by snowshoeing or cross country skiing. Relax with the One you Love Sitting by the fire each and every night After being outside all day, there is nothing more romantic and calming than sitting by a fire. I don’t know about you, but we could stare at a fire forever. There’s no need to make small talk, just relax, watch the wood burn and contemplate the amazing time you had in Banff National Park. Making a fire each night in our hotel or lodge was a ritual we looked forward to. We would sip wine or tea and do nothing but let the flames lull us to a slumbering state where we were ready to climb into our beds and dream about the next day in Banff. Read Next: Hotels in Banff – Where to Stay for your Next Vacation Our trip to Banff is in partnership with Banff and Lake Louise Tourism. All opinions are our own, all activities and lodges were chosen through lengthy discussions to make sure that they suit our travel style and likes. We planned our trips the way anyone would, through research and information tailoring it to ThePlanetD Read the original post 10 of the Most Unforgettable Winter Things to do in Banff on The Planet D: Adventure Travel Blog.

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