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.
Scuba diving WWII wrecks in Indonesia - Bali is known for world-class surf spots but there’s another way to get stoked in Indo, get under the waves. Just a across the channel lie the Gili Islands of Lombok. Smaller and less developed these serene isles host some serious adrenaline pumps for the underwater inclined. Blue Marlin Dive Center on Gili Trawangan caters to Tech divers with deep wrecks all over the Bali channel. Sounds great but 200 foot descents leave most of us recreational divers out of the fun. Here’s the fix. After a brief 2 hour Nitrox introduction course a recreational certified diver can descend 145 feet upon a Japanese patrol boat that was sunk in combat during WWII. This carefully planned and guided dive from Blue Marlin lets you experience the thrill of technical diving without serious risk and is an absolute blast. Scorpion fish and neon soft coral cover the 40 foot vessel and the shell hole that sunk her is still quite visible. So even if you can’t go big on a board you can go deep in Indo, very deep.
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