Flying to Phoenix today.
Phoenix has an arid climate, and its average annual maximum temperature is the highest of any major US city. …
Phoenix averages 85% of possible sunshine and receives scant rainfall …
Category: travel
When Animals Attack — and Defend
In case you haven’t seen the astonishing 8min battle between lions, crocodile and water buffalo filmed by Dave Budzinski while he was on a guided safari at Kruger National Park, South Africa.
Click PLAY or watch it on YouTube.
Comments from a couple of the millions who watched this clip:
“Mess with one bean, you get the whole burrito,” one posted.
“This is a disgrace for the lion family! Beaten by a cow!” said another. …
World’s only spotted lake?
Have you heard of this?
Located in Osoyoos, British Columbia, “Kliluk, The Spotted Lake” consists of a very high concentration of minerals that includes among others magnesium sulphate, calcium and sodium sulphate. As the ambient temperature rises, the water in the lake evaporates, leaving the minerals to crystalize, which in turn forms numerous yellow pools.
Covering 38 acres, The Spotted Lake is privately owned, but is visible from Highway 3, 5.5 miles (8.8 kms) from Osoyoos.
more photos – The world’s only spotted lake? » Uncooped
Smithsonian Magazine 28 Must See Sights
I read Kraig’s Adventure Blog every day.
He linked to yet another life list:
Smithsonian Magazine has put together another interesting list for us, this time it’s their 28 Must See Sights from around the World. They call it their version of the Life List and their eclectic group of travelers came up with some really great places to visit on your journeys abroad. …
The Adventure Blog: Smithsonian Magazine‘s 28 Must See Sights
I have 10 left to visit:
Feats of Engineering
The world’s surviving architectural wonders hewed from stone and mortar beckon as ever
– Easter IslandA Matter of Timing
Choosing the right year, month or even moment can make all the difference
– Serengeti
– Iguazu FallsTriumphs of Vision
Come face to face with history’s finest works of art and design
– FallingwaterScale New Heights
Don’t just see nature’s most spectacular sites—experience them
– Yangtze River
– Antarctica
– Mount KilimanjaroIn the Presence of Gods
Encounter temples so magnificent then could only have been built by divine inspiration
– EphesusHere Today, Gone Tomorrow?
Visit these deteriorating or threatened destinations before they disappear
– Great Barrier Reef
– Galápagos Islands
The only one not well known of those is Falling Water. It’s a house.
Frank Lloyd Wright completed Fallingwater in 1937, and months later Time magazine put the house on its cover, proclaiming it the architect’s “most beautiful job.” Ayn Rand based much of her 1943 classic, The Fountainhead, on Wright and the house he had wrought.
Schmap – Dynamic Travel Guides
Peter Long was asked if Schmap could use one of his flickr photos on their Paris page.
What is Schmap?
Exploring a Schmap Guide is a uniquely interactive experience: maps and guide content are dynamically integrated, allowing intuitive, real-time access to reviews and photo slideshows for places of interest.
Schmap has 200 cities available already, including Calgary.
It looks pretty cool. (The placement of the Google ads is particularly interesting to me.)
Check it out: Schmap – Dynamic Travel Guides
Christmas year in review – Joyce and Peter
Peter Long down in Florida has a nice format for their annual holiday update:
If you click on any of the underlined words it will take you to a photo album on flickr where I dump my mostly unedited pictures. Each album may have a handful or a few hundred photos. The small photos below will enlarge if you click on them.
screenshot
check it out: Long’s Year in Review
Air Canada Aeroplan Program Info
Though I hate Air Canada and avoid them when possible, I’m still a Prestige Something Something member.
How should I spend my 63,000+ air miles?
Save up for 75,000 for Asia, Australia or New Zealand?
whoever plays in Vegas, stays in Vegas
Vegas is hot.
National Geographic says …
Las Vegas – National Geographic Adventure Magazine
Downside?
You MUST have your own vehicle to get to the good stuff. The traffic is horrendous. Locals avoid the “strip” … unless they work there.
Banff Mountain Film Festival WORLD TOUR
I love this event.
The Banff Mountain Film Festival is on the road across North America and around the world. Whether you are an experienced mountaineer or an armchair adventurer, this event is for everyone. Don’t miss the excitement!
The Tour Schedule is linked from the home page – World Tour: Mountain Culture at The Banff Centre
The event sponsors are prominently mentioned — OK, it’s a commercial — in the second half of the video. But it’s still worth watching. This is the kind of TV commercial I like.
Click PLAY or watch the promo trailer on YouTube.
Calgary: January 15 – 20, 2008 and April 5 & 6, 2008
(via besthike.com)
Sandos Caracol resort – Playa del Carmen
My parents, brother Rob and partner Yvonne are off today to a 5 star all-inclusive resort. Almost 1000 rooms.
Sandos Caracol: Beach and spa hotels, all inclusive services for family in ours hotels.
Me, … I much prefer to stay in snowy Calgary walking Pete the Jack Russell.
Rick McCharles 