The thought of traveling to Africa can conjure a wide and varied array of images, a romanticized ideal of the perfect exotic getaway across a diverse and wild landscape. From an adventurous safari on the grassy plains of the Serengeti, to the stunningly grand antiquities of ancient Egypt, to the verdant banks of the Nile and everything in between there is no end to the sort of magic this continent can inspire in the imagination of the ready and willing traveler. No doubt, all of these places with their sites, their sounds and their people can make a journey to Africa one of the most memorable travel experiences, and maybe even the trip of a lifetime. But no matter what your reason for traveling to any of the many countries of Africa, the reality is that across these landscapes, behind these tourist attractions and within these cities millions upon millions of people struggle daily.
continue reading "Volunteering in Africa"

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One of the main news items in the Bosnian blogosphere this week has been the addition of the ViÅ¡egrad stone bridge to UNESCO’s World Heritage List. The bridge, named after Mehmed PaÅ¡a Sokolović, one of the most famous Grand Viziers of the Ottoman Empire, born in ViÅ¡egrad in 1505, connects the two banks of the Drina River, which forms most of the border between Bosnia and Serbia. Bosnian writer Ivo Andrić, who received the Nobel Prize for literature in 1961, wrote a book called The Bridge over the Drina River, which described the building of the bridge and life in Bosnia under the Ottoman Empire.

Day and Night, who posted a couple photos of the bridge, describes it as a masterpiece:

Characteristic of the apogee of Ottoman monumental architecture and civil engineering, the bridge has 11 masonry arches with spans of 11m to 15m, and an access ramp at right angles with four arches on the left bank of the river. The 179.5 m long bridge is a representative masterpiece of Sinan, one of the greatest architects and engineers of the classical Ottoman period and a contemporary of the Italian Renaissance, with which his work may be compared. The unique elegance of proportion and monumental nobility of the whole site bear witness to the greatness of this style of architecture.
continue reading "Bosnia & Herzegovina: New UNESCO Heritage Site; New Cross Memorial"

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This summer, many people are flocking to the pools, beaches and lakes to enjoy the sun and heat that summer brings. But for some, the summer’s heat is not desired. This is why many people flock to the other half of the world to have winter again in the Northern Hemisphere’s summer. New Zealand offers winter wonderland activities in the summer months of June, July and August. In these winter months, the tourists go away, leaving many of the off-the-mountain sights to see virtually tourist-free.

Last summer, RealTravelers V&Rob took advantage of this low season, trekking through the New Zealand countryside making several stops, the first of which in Arrowtown, just twenty kilometers outside of Queenstown:

“Coronet Peak: The skifield nearest to Queenstown, this area has a fairly unscary access road for NZ and the 2 chairs and t-bar offer a reasonably good variety of terrain access. A good terrain park (including some girl sized jumps) meant a few days fun was had here. Great view of Queenstown from the top of the mountain.
continue reading "New Zealand Travel Ideas"

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While traveling solo for six months around the world things can sometimes get a little boring. One museum blurs into the next after a while. Solution? Scare yourself silly. Adventure travel is on the rise and I made my way through six continents seeking out the fun. I’m talking real no-theme-park-ride excitement, but also activities that allow you to enjoy the beautiful and diverse environments that surround the action. Here are some of the best.

Serengeti Safari, Tanzania - There is absolutely no better way to get the blood pumping than to tick off a napping lion. My camera’s clicks really got on the nerves of the grumpy King until he finally made a commanding roar and short leap at the Land Rover’s pop-up roof that still has my neck hairs standing at attention. Earlier we saw a Cheetah take down a Gazelle to feed her young so it was definitely a purrfect day. Even if you don’t actually experience the threat of being mauled a Serengeti safari will be one of the greatest thrills of your life. Guaranteed.

Abseiling the mystic limestone formations of Yangshou, China - All along the Li River valley jut the remains of an ancient sea. Jagged and surreal pinnacles dot the landscape like hundred meter high quills off a porcupine. The X-Climber guides know a short cut up one rock that only involved two feet and the occasional hand hold so up I went. Rock climbing requires a bit of skill but falling, I mean abseiling down needs only a stout heart and a strong rope. The key is to just swallow hard and take that first step off. After that the belay tool allows you to descend at whatever pace you are comfortable. Before long you’re bouncing yards at a time. Falling off a cliff was never this fun, unless of course you mastered that whole Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon flying thing.
continue reading "Adventure travel around the world"

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Angkor Wat (literally “capital city temple”) is a towering collection of awe-inspiring ruins located just outside of Siem Reap in Cambodia. Designated as a World Heritage site by UNESCO in 1992, Angkor Wat sees countless visitors every day and for good reason.

The ruins themselves consist of stone bas reliefs and ornately carved towers and sculptures depicting the asparas (female divinities) and the varied stories of the gods. The ruins date as far back as the ninth century and were the stage for countless battles and raids until they were eventually abandoned in the fifteenth century. Today, the ruins are covered in moss, and overrun with vegetation, giving the site an incredibly ancient, mythic quality. The stone pillars are intertwined with the giant roots of trees, and in some places it’s hard to tell that a civilization ever could have thrived in this wild environment.

This past month, one of our own Realtravelers, Shaun’s Dakine, stopped in Angkor Wat while visiting Siem Reap and spent the day enjoying the rich cultural history of the temple, and at one point, even found himself the star of a cultural show,
continue reading "Angkor Wat"

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