Five Iconic Ramblers
March 31, 2009 | Leave a Comment
Some of the greatest figures in history have been wanderers and travellers, content only when on journeys of discovery. In tribute to some of these iconic figures, and to provide something to muse upon on your next trekking holiday, the following is a guide to five of these outstanding individuals.
Five Iconic Ramblers
5. William Wordsworth
Average time spent on a trekking holiday?: A Sabbatical Year
If ever there were a peculiarly English dedication to rambling, it was embodied in the life of William Wordsworth. Famously living in Grasmere in the heart of the Lake District, he would compose poetry and prose while hiking the north of England alongside intimate contemporary S.T.Coleridge. He famously spent his twentieth year on a grand European holiday, walking extensively throughout the alpine regions and crossing the Simplon Pass.
4. Bilbo Baggins
Average time spent on a trekking holiday?: One Adventurous Year
Though an extremely unwilling rambler, Bilbo can be said to be one of the most accomplished in literature. Despite his diminutive size, mild manner and perennial hunger for home comforts he travels far from his verdant homeland to the dark forest of Mirkwood, the land of the Elves and on to the Lonely Mountain; spending much of this time separated from his companions. A tremendous achievement for any Hobbit, and an adventure that lays the foundation for the trials of his adopted ward Frodo in The Lord of the Rings.
3. Grendel
Average time spent on a trekking holiday?: Unknown
“…from the moorland, by misty crags, with God’s wrath laden, Grendel came”… Though very little is revealed of Grendel in the classic Beowulf, we are told that both he and his mother are descendents of Cain, who himself was cursed to wander the world in repentance for the murder of his brother Abel. Presumably the monstrous Grendel shares the same fate, and so who could put a figure on the extent of his travels? What we can be certain of is that he would make an extremely poor partner for a walking holiday.
2. Charles Darwin
Average time spent on a trekking holiday?: Five Revelatory Years
The voyage of the Beagle, immortalised in the text of the same name, lasted five years from 1831 to 1836. While Captain Fitzroy and the vessel spent the majority of that period mapping coastlines, Darwin, who was serving as a naturalist to the expedition, spent much of his time on land observing and categorising creatures from all across the Southern Hemisphere. As one might expect this was far from a holiday, walking great distances being a daily task. From these years of diligent labour was born the theory of evolution and a sea change in the philosophical history of Man.
1. Ranulph Fiennes
Average time spent on a trekking holiday?: One Week to Three Years
Among this remarkable man’s achievements are; travelling up the length of the white Nile by hovercraft, running seven marathons in seven days on seven continents, and travelling from one pole of the earth to the other by land. He has also taken part in various expeditions to climb Everest and several solo and unsupported attempts to reach the poles. Familiar with every one of the harshest environments on the planet, there can be few people in history that have seen so much or travelled so far.
Tony Maniscalco is the Sales and Marketing Manager for Ramblers Worldwide Holidays. A long-established and highly respected company, they have been operating since 1946 and now offer over 250 holidays in more than 70 different countries. They are dedicated to providing the very finest walking holidays at the best value prices.
Scuba Diving in Fethiye
March 31, 2009 | Leave a Comment
A holiday in Turkey provides the visitor with a feast of activities to enjoy. The expansive Mediterranean coastline is the perfect environment for all kinds of watersports, scuba diving amongst them. We look at some of the sites that surround the handsome resort of Fethiye.
Scuba Diving in Fethiye
If you choose to take your holiday in Fethiye, you’ll find a town that exudes a peaceful and easy-going charm. Unlike many other Mediterranean resorts, this is an established and historical community that can’t fail to make an impression upon you as you wander through its narrow streets and alleys, perhaps stumbling upon the central market or sampling the cuisine at one of the local restaurants. But whether by day or by night a natural highlight of a holiday in Fethiye is to be found beneath the waves. For the novice and seasoned diver alike, here is a guide to some of the sites you’ll want to visit as soon as you’ve squeezed into your wetsuit…
1. Red Island (max. depth: 25m)
Starting at a depth of 6m and following the natural slope of the seabed, you’ll reach a beautiful marine amphitheatre that curves round at a depth of 15-20m. To really appreciate the vibrant colours of the sea sponges and groupers that inhabit this area you should bring along an underwater light.
2. Sariyarlar bay (max. depth 30m)
In this bay is found a selection of stunning catacombs of tunnels and caverns, all naturally lit from above through the plethora of gaps and cracks in the rock. There are 8 tunnels in total and, to take full advantage of the sights we’d recommend bringing along an underwater light. You’re likely to discover some of the strangest finds of your holiday in Fethiye here as Brittle stars, anemones, sea cucumbers, damselfish and shrimp are to be seen in abundance.
3. Coral Cavern and Turkish Bath (max. depth 40m)
If you’re after great photos and curious creatures then this is the best dive in Fethiye. The regular inhabitants of this site include: Trumpet anemones, gem anemones, daisy strawberry, soft coral, anemones, lettuce coral, sea aubergine and many forms of lace corals. If you only have time for one dive on your holiday in Turkey, make it this one.
5. Shrimp’s Hole (max. depth 28m)
Lying at 26m depth, ‘Shrimp’s Hole’ is large enough to let 5 – 6 divers enter at one time. Though it’s important to be careful where you put your fins, so as not to disturb the silty bottom, this is a particularly exciting dive with a wealth of creatures to observe. A tall archway which makes a good exit point can also provide some fantastic ascent photos.
6. Mexican Hat (max. depth 30m)
Named ‘Mexican Hat’ as it resembles the shape of a sombrero, this underwater rift lies at 20m and is large enough to accommodate 6-8 drivers at any given time. Some of the sights to be seen include mullet, shrimp, soft coral displays and groupers. The ‘Mexican Hat’ is also home to Moray Eels, which can be seen swaying in the current from their rocky retreats. As with ‘Shrimp’s Hole’, there is a beautiful archway which makes for great photos in the right light.
Shereena Lingiah is the Marketing Manager for Anatolian Sky, a company offering comprehensive advice and accommodation options for your holiday in Fethiye. They provide holidays to North Cyprus and Turkey, including the entire Anatolian region.
Five Gadgets You Probably Don’t Need on an Everest Base Camp Trek
March 31, 2009 | Leave a Comment
It’s your first Everest Base Camp Trek and you’ve packed your clothing, bedding, food, emergency supplies and sundries. But you’ve still got at least a litre of space left in your backpack. What do you really need? What indulgence do you deserve? What will baffle and irritate your trekking mates even as they burn with jealousy…?
Five Gadgets You Probably Don’t Need on an Everest Base Camp Trek
1. A Rotary Airer
What is it?:
A lightweight, four-armed, miniature, portable version of the heavy steel clothes-airer that graces your back garden.
Uselessness on an Everest Base Camp Trek?:
Pretty high. Though lightweight it’s still yet another item to strap to your backback. And, though it may be amusing to stalk around as it sits outside your tent, perhaps imagining that you’ve woken up in the land of Lilliput, there’s little you can do with it that you can’t achieve with a line of string or nylon cord.
2. Tent Speakers
What are they?:
A flexible, compact speaker set that can fill your tent with the sweet sounds of your MP3 collection wherever you may be.
Uselessness on an Everest Base Camp Trek?:
Not overt. Music may be the perfect solitary escape from the intimacy of trekking life, but imagine rousing Everest base camp to the stirring chords of Beethoven’s glorious Ninth… or heralding the onset of a storm with Wagner’s Ride of the Valkyries. Who could object?
3. Pen Fishing Rod
What is it?:
A slick little tube about the size of a marker pen that thrillingly extends into a 4ft fishing rod at a moment’s notice.
Uselessness on an Everest Base Camp Trek?:
It’d be a miracle if you found fish living at altitudes above Everest base camp… but wow! It’s only the size of a pen! What if you did stumble upon a lake filled with trout at 5,600m? You’d look quite the plum if you were caught without your fishing rod! Thankfully, those fears are now a thing of the past.
4. Earmuff Headphones
What are they?:
Fluffy headphones that make you look like a Panda bear.
Uselessness on an Everest Base Camp Trek?:
Fair. If you’re any kind of hiker you’ll want to drink in the beauty of the Himalaya in silence, and if listening to your music by night your snug woollen nightcap will make their warmth-preserving properties redundant. Still, if you want to bring a bit of 80’s kitsch back to Everest base camp, trekking with these wrapped around your grinning mug could be just the ticket.
5. Handpresso Kit
What is it?:
A quite astonishing bit of kit that looks like a mixture between a 24th century bicycle pump and a water filter. By pumping up the internal pressure to 16 bar, adding some water from your thermos and a dash of coffee, you and up to 3 friends can enjoy impeccable espresso whether you’re 20,000 leagues under the sea or approaching the outer limits of the Earth’s atmosphere.
Uselessness on an Everest Base Camp Trek?:
Legendary. Firstly this would involved eschewing the traditional refreshment of tea during your adventure in the Himalaya, secondly the kit comes with specially designed espresso mugs and a set of napkins, none of which will amuse your trekking partners who have had to carry the extra tins of tuna that you ‘simply didn’t have space for’. On the other hand, think of the publicity when you stand upon the roof of the world, not haggard and exhausted like your predecessors, but buzzing from the high of history’s most high-altitude caffeine hit! We may have hit upon the new ‘Extreme Ironing’ here.
Jude Limburn Turner is the Marketing Manager for Mountain Kingdoms, an adventure tour company who for over 20 years have been the premier choice for the superlative Everest base camp trek. They now offer tours worldwide, including destinations in North and South America, Europe, Africa, and Central and South East Asia.