Lisa Niver's Blog: We Said Go Travel, page 427
January 27, 2014
Share Your Story: First Prize: $1,000usd
WINTER 2014INSPIRATION TRAVEL WRITING CONTEST
$1,750usd in CASH PRIZES, Free Entry
Enter by February 14, 2014 at midnight PST.
We are looking for an article about a place that inspires you to spend your time with no regrets. In Arnold Bennett’s book, How to Live on 24 Hours a Day, he writes about how time is the ideal democracy. “No one can take [time] from you. It is unstealable. And no one receives either more or less than you receive.” Every morning we have a new day, as he says, “The supply of time is truly a daily miracle.” Where and how do you wish to spend your time?
THEME: Inspiration: A place that inspires you to spend your time wisely with no regrets.
PRIZES:
1st Prize - $1,000 usd cash
2nd Prize - $500 usd cash
3rd Prize - $250 usd cash
Winners will be selected by our judges, Richard Bangs, Amy Friedman and the We Said Go Travel Team. Cash prizes will be paid through PayPal in United States Dollars. All winning entries will be promoted on We Said Go Travel.
RULES: Publication is dependent on proper use of English language and grammar, appropriateness of theme topic, and being family friendly (G rated). If your post is written in a language other than English, please also send an English translation. Travelers of all ages and from all countries are encouraged to participate. Each individual may send up to 5 entries that are 500-800 words with 1 photo. Your article must be an original and previously unpublished piece. All posts, which meet the requirements, will appear on WeSaidGoTravel.com.
DEADLINE: Enter by midnight PST on February 14, 2014.
JUDGING: Richard Bangs, Amy Friedman and the We Said Go Travel Team
TO ENTER: Click here!
Richard Bangs, the father of modern adventure travel, is a pioneer in travel that makes a difference, travel with a purpose. He has spent 30 years as an explorer and communicator, and along the way led first descents of 35 rivers around the globe, he is currently producing and hosting the new PBS series, Richard Bangs: Adventure Without End
Amy Friedman, an award-winning author, has published three memoirs, several children’s books and audiobooks, and thousands of essays, stories, and articles. She works as an editor and ghostwriter teaches memoir and personal essay in southern California. Amy’s recent books: Desperado’s Wife: A Memoir
, and her co-authored memoir with Anne Willan, One Souffle at a Time.
Thank you for your participation in creating a growing global community of engaged travelers and concerned citizens. Writers of all ages and from all countries are encouraged to enter and share stories from any part of our planet.
Other Contests, Courses and Books about Travel Writing
For complete rules, to enter and judging information CLICK HERE
Traveling in Sin is a TOP TEN Hot New Release! from Lisa Niver Rajna
The post Share Your Story: First Prize: $1,000usd appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
Philippines: Breathtaking Batanes
Batanes is an island province comprising ten islands that are located in the Luzon Strait between the islands of Luzon and Taiwan. It is the northernmost part of the Philippines and is also the smallest province, both in terms of population and land area.
Early year of 2012, a thought of visiting Batanes came to the picture. Planning and researching were done in preparation for the exploration. Spots to visit, where to stay and contact persons were planned. What is missing??? BUDGET!!! That is the reason why piggy bank was activated. Save, save, save for Batanes!
May 8, 2013, the day that Jho, Berlyn and I have been waiting for. We will be stepping in the breathtaking islands of Batanes. We are all excited to personally see the places where a year ago was just a picture, a research, and paperwork. Now, this is it, we will unveil the beauty of Batanes in 6 days/5 nights.
Observation plus picture taking started when we arrived at Basco Airport. Like what we read on blogs “Every corner of Batanes is picture perfect!”. Thus, the ordinary view became extraordinary.
Our first day of itinerary: North and South Batan Tour. We visited the famous honesty coffee shop, song-song ruins, stone houses, beach, lighthouse, old churches plus we got a chance to feel how to own a ranch for an hour when we visited Vayang Rolling Hills and Racuh a Payaman. A stay in Batanes Resort after non-stoppable picture taking and exploration of beautiful North and South Batan ended our first day.
Itbayat is our next stop; a 4 hours boat rides in an amazing uplifted coral reefs. The place does not have a shoreline and their normal rock is corals. ☺ We visited Mt. Karoboban, Torongan Hills, Torongan Cave – where we have a majestic view of the ocean from inside the cave. The Batanes experience would not be complete without trying their delicacies like tatus – coconut crabs, vunes – dried gabi stalks, fried flying fish, yellow rice – rice with turmeric (yellow ginger) and picture taking wearing vakul – the headdress of Ivatan. The day ended with a sleepover at Cano’s humble homestay.
Third day is a light day for us. We arrived in port and headed immediately to lavish Dive Batanes. Sabtang is a place to visit on fourth day; one of the three inhabited island of Batanes and a 1-hour boat drive. We visited Nakabuang Beach, old churches, stone houses and had a chance to experience their fiesta and eat delicious foods in kabaya – breadfruit leaf. Exploration of Dive Batanes and feel our last day stay in our extravagant room.
Biking around the city is our early morning activity on fifth day. The healthy living activity started in Dive Batanes going to the city to lighthouse. It was an experience biking around spots in Batanes. After biking we moved to Amboy’s Hometel where we will be spending our last night and had a chance to eat tamiduk – fern salad. Wait, that does not end our Batanes adventure, we also experience the luxurious Cruise offered by Dive Batanes where in a 2 hours trip which started from Shelter Port roving around Mahatao, to mention fishing while sailing.
Batanes is a magnificent place. It is like you are not in the Philippines; it is like you are in Batanes!
Like what Saint Augustine said “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page“.
About the Author: I am Licelyn Labrador, a sporty chic, who has passion for exploration and loves sharing my experiences through writing to inspire other people.
Share your Place of Inspiration in our Travel Writing Contest. First Prize $1000usd cash, free entry!
The post Philippines: Breathtaking Batanes appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
January 26, 2014
The Legacy of Juan Diego
I didn’t expect to see God when I got off the bus, but I definitely felt something supernatural in the air. The tour group was mostly white Americans, though a few of us were Hispanic and black.
As the tour guide led us through the throng of worshipers in the plaza to the front door of the Basilica, I gazed in awe at the architectural beauty of both, the modern church and the older one across the street. We later learned that even the older building was not the original as it too, had replaced the first church, the initial home for the serape worn by Juan Diego when he was visited by the Virgin of Guadalupe in 1531.
The Old Basilica of Guadalupe. Image courtesy of Google Images
We were led like sheep through the crowd, but I didn’t mind it so much as we received preferential treatment in entering the holy sanctuary. I was first struck by the immensity of the structure, high ceilings over two stories tall, massive columns supporting the roof. The inside air was scented with incense and burning candles. As we approached a moving sidewalk, I saw a thin veil of smoke snake upward.
My camera was at the ready when I stepped on the moving platform. As the group passed in front of the sacred robe with the image of the Virgin before us, I began snapping photos. A bullet-proof plate of glass protected the robe, but the uniqueness of the image was still evident, with bright colors and striking clarity even after 500 years of exposure to the elements.
I probably wasn’t alone when I stood directly in front of the Virgin and felt a sudden rush of adrenaline shoot through my veins. If it hadn’t been for the moving sidewalk, I may have stood there for a much longer time.
As our group exited the air-conditioned building, the searing Mexican heat slapped us in the face. The heat didn’t bother me. What I had just witnessed was reputed to be a product created by something other than human hands.
A woman with no legs tugged on my tropical shirt. She spoke a few words, which I didn’t understand. I reached for my wallet which I had put in my rear pocket, but to my dismay, it was not there. I tried to mentally retrace my steps to determine where and when I might have dropped it. But nothing came to mind.
As we boarded the bus, the driver greeted at me with a smile. “How was it, Senor?”
“Just like the brochure said, ‘Amazing’ except for one little thing,” I answered.
“So why the sad face?”
“I lost my wallet and all my money and identification was in there.”
The driver reached around to a small cubicle in the dashboard of the bus, then held out his hand. “Is this your wallet?”
To my surprise, my wallet was intact and all my vacation money was still there.
“Where did you find it?”
The driver merely shrugged. “I didn’t. An old woman with no legs brought it to me while you were in the Basilica.”
Immediately I knew who the mystery woman had been. It was the woman who had tugged on my shirt. I tapped the driver on the shoulder. “I’ll be right back. Don’t leave without me, okay?”
He nodded as I climbed off the bus. I searched and searched but never found the woman to give her my thanks. To this day, I wonder who that woman was and whether I will ever get the opportunity to give her my thanks.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Michael M. Pacheco
I am an aspiring writer polishing my fourth work of fiction. My most recent release is a collection of short stories titled OF ANGELS, DEMONS AND CHOPPED CHORIZO. In January 2014, I was short-listed for the JF Powers Prize in Short Fiction.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter our next Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
The post The Legacy of Juan Diego appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
Ukraine, Tustan: “Stand Here”
“Tustan!” he yelled out in the melodic tone only locals use. The wind carried the word into the woods and valleys below us. “Tustan!” I echoed him but the sound of my own voice was not as soft and deep as his; he belonged here. Tustan, literally translated, the name of the place means “Stand Here.” I listened to that simple invitation. “Here” was the top of the highest mountain. Made of pure sandstone, it overlooks three other peaks rising into the sky. “Here” was a haven for falcons, tired from their long flight toward the sun, where they sought rest. “Here” was where the great fortress was raised to tower over the rocks and mountains many centuries ago. As I climbed higher and higher I solemnly touched the deep gouges cut into the stone, like old battle scars carved into the face of the mountain. They were the only remains of the ancient construction of the castle; the only signs left of human attempts to interfere with the overpowering forces of nature.
Rocks of Tustan Fortress. Image courtesy of Google Images
Later, I sat in the sun on one of the warm rocks enjoying the broad vista afforded by my lofty seat. I immediately knew why the kings of old had decided to make this place their fortress and shelter. The view was breathtaking. I was grateful to be “Here” in that moment and to experience this place with no regrets. I discovered the existence of this place several months prior to my trip while studying old manuscripts written by a famous Polish chronicler named Jan Dlugosz, at the Jagiellonian Library in Krakow. I also found an old photograph of this place and it seemed that Tustan was calling me.
Suddenly, I heard raised voices. “Maybe we are not supposed to be here,” I whispered to myself. My guide was already up and explaining something to another man standing down below the rock upon which we had been sitting. They talked until the man’s angry gesture of a raised fist changed into a friendly wave of his open palm. “Tustan is my home,” my guide quietly responded when I looked at him with surprise. “I spent the last five years here working on an excavation site near by. The locals are used to me having the same rights as the falcons here,” he added with a crooked smile.
I had never seriously considered a journey like this one. Then suddenly one day, I began to think about going out into what we in Poland call “unbridled” country which is inhabited by free spirits whose languages I did not understand. Against my better judgment and despite my research on the internet that uncovered stories of bad roads and government corruption, I wanted to discover Ukraine with its melody of limitless fields, woods, and voices which are constantly present in Polish literature. I decided to take my Yamaha XT and for weeks I trained to ride my motorcycle in the worst conditions, in mud, along rough roads, and under the scorching sun in order to prepare for my long journey. I trained until my muscles burned but I was determined to take this chance. After extensive practice, I knew that I would be able to get through the worst of the off road sections of my journey.
The motorcycle ride was like having wings. The wind around me brought the scent of the blooming fields I passed. I felt what was described by Polish author, Adam Mickiewicz”
“I entered the dry waters of an open sea;
My carriage like a canoe plunges in the green
Deep of flowery meadows and passes between
The coral isles of brier and laburnum tree.”
It was not until I was crossing the border, fighting against a hail storm that I started to doubt myself. However, I kept my goal in mind and rode ahead deep into Ukraine in the pouring rain. It seemed like the actual asphalt road ended just a couple miles after I crossed the border and both road and weather conditions worsened. I completed the final part of my journey with great difficulty. Finally the clouds cleared and the castle in Tustan welcomed me with the sun as I approached it. This is the way I will remember it. A place without rain, without boundaries, and without limits.
I sat on the top of the mountain in the company of my guide, a young archeologist, who explained the history of this place to me. As I listened I started to dangle my feet like a small child who cannot reach the ground while sitting on a bench in the park. His voice washed over me as and I sat back, dangling my feet in their muddy motorcycle boots, taking in the view and feeling the warmth of the sun. Tustan!
About the Author:
Klaudyna Szewczyk is a graduate student at the Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Poland. She holds Master Degree in Polish Literature and Linguistics. Her body of work include editing of books and scholarly works and original pieces of poetry published in Polish magazines: Today I am a Poet (Dzis bede poeta), Melanz and Spectrum Magazine in the United States.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter our next Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
The post Ukraine, Tustan: “Stand Here” appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
How could I choose between Paris and London?
Paris or London?
How could I choose between two cities which attract millions of visitors annually ? London is four times as large as Paris and has 4 UNESCO World Heritage Sites. London has London Eye, Paris has Eiffel Tower, London has pub food, Paris has croissants – ok, I have to admit this one goes to Paris -, London has British Museum, Paris has Louvre…
But let’s not allow emotions get the best of me and get down to the numbers.
Getting there
I am working with two scenarios:
return trip from New York to both cities
return trip from Budapest to both cities
Time frame? April 5-12, 2014, a totally random week. Valentine’s won’t mess with the prices and nor would Easter. I didn’t do any check to find the cheapest days to fly on, just a random dates search.
The flight search engine I use spit out these results*:
New York – Paris – New York 621 euros/ adult on Aeroflot
New York – London – New York 653 euros/ adult on Kuwait Airways
Budapest – Paris – Budapest 167 euros/ adult on Air France
Budapest – London – Budapest 110 euros/ adult on WizzAir
Staying there
Let’s take a look at Hotel Direct for hotels in London and Paris for the dates, as well. We have to sleep somewhere, right?
Another internet search and here’s the data (2 adults in one room):*
Paris: economy double 336 euros / 2 adults / 7 nights (19th arr)
London: double room 474 euros / 2 adults / 7 nights (breakfast included; Central London)
What to do
Just run a search and you’ll easily find that London has plenty more things to do for free than Paris. My favorites are the museums, of course, with British Museum leading the list. Art galleries, festivals , British Library are also on the free to visit list.
While Paris scores with a cemeteries, churches , a history museum (Musée Carnavalet) and places to walk. Forgive me , but London takes this one. Louvre is Paris’s pride but it cannot be visited for free.
The food
We all know that London is not exactly famous for any mouth-watering dish. However, there are a lot of ethnic restaurants available so if you crave , for same, some Greek salad, you are bound to find it.
On the other hand, Paris is the home of baquets, croissants and dishes which make your mouth water. So, yes, Paris wins the food duel.
A conclusion?
A city can be as “expensive” or as “cheap” as you want it to be. Everything depends on your travel style. You may be comfortable in a double room in a hostel at the outskirts of the city, or you won’t mind eating cheap street food every day while you visit. You may love to explore the free things to do, but you might also have other things planned.
It is hard to choose between the two cities. It is very hard. I chose once. I chose London. Now, every time I want to plan a new trip, I always add both of them to do list of possible destinations.
*valid at the time the article was written on January 24, 2014.
The post How could I choose between Paris and London? appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
South Africa: The Place Where I Found Hope
Africa.
There are countless images and ideas you can conjure in your head when you hear that word, stories of war and genocide, starvation and disease, suffering beyond what western minds can even imagine.
Most of us don’t want to imagine it, we open our morning paper and read about the violence in the Congo, or get an email from World Vision telling us about the thousands of displaced people in Sudan that need our help. We read these things and feel a brief sense of depression, some regret that we can’t really help that much, and wonder which African country will be ‘troubled’ next. And then we flip the page, finish our coffee, and get on with our day. That is what most of us think about when we hear the word ‘Africa.’
I’ve been to Africa, I was only there for two weeks, which seems like next to nothing, but it was long enough to change my life.
When I hear the word ‘Africa’ I think of the Zulu drums that pounded through my soul while the dancers kicked and whirled, and the small hands that clung around my neck as we piggy-backed the children around the half-finished playground under the hot sun.
I’ve heard people say that volunteer trips to the Global South are useless, and the impoverished countries would be far better off just receiving the money that young people like myself have raised for the chance to volunteer abroad. I disagree.
The African Savannah. Image courtesy of Google Images.
A large sum of money donated through a computer screen doesn’t mean anything, it’s easily forgotten and lost, teaching no lessons along the way.
Money doesn’t do what volunteering can, it doesn’t give you the sound of the kids laughing or the smell of the African dirt or the sight of the school that you just helped to build. Money doesn’t give you that feeling that you just did what you were put on this earth to do, volunteering does.
Africa doesn’t need endless amounts of money flowing in from big companies and guilty adults who will think they’ve done their part. It needs more people to go there and see what a beautiful country it is, to see that beneath the wars and hunger there is something left that shines through in the fierce determination in the children’s eyes as they kick around a flat soccer ball. Hope.
From the first moment I saw it stretched out brown and dusty below me from the airplane to my last night there under the endless night sky holding stars I’d never seen before, I fell in love with Africa. Those two weeks I spent there were the most important two weeks of my life so far because they showed me what I could never have seen from my safe and predictable life as a university student in Canada.
Through the rising and setting of the big red sun, from the earnest handshakes of the locals, to the elephant brushing his trunk against my hand, Africa taught me many lessons, and the most valuable one was hope. That is what I think of when I hear the word ‘Africa’.
About the Author
My name is Etta Degnan, and I am a second year student at the University of Victoria in Canada. I am passionate about outdoor adventuring and travelling, and I can’t wait for the chance to go back to Africa. I hope it comes soon.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter our next Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
The post South Africa: The Place Where I Found Hope appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
January 25, 2014
California Reality
Do you like water or mountains?
Snow or surf?
Shopping or relaxing?
Yeah, I like all of them all too. Now, you’re probably thinking that California is a pretty big place and not really a very specific topic. You’re right. It’s huge and that why it inspired me. Some parts of the gorgeous Golden State are falling into the ocean whilst others are seeing less and less snowfall every winter. California inspires me because I don’t want to see it ruined as a result of what we’re doing to the planet.
San Francisco is my favourite city in the world and I don’t even really like cities. On the 4th of July, the fireworks over the bay are visible from every rooftop. Back in 2010, I watched from Telegraph Hill as the fog rolled in and blocked out half of them. The micro-climate that holds San Francisco tightly in its grasp is difficult to predict. Some days you can go out and get too hot in shorts and a T-shirt, then two days later you’ll need to take a sweater. Its the unpredictability of the city which always moves me. Whether it’s the weather, the people, the politics or the food, San Francisco never fails to show all of its visitors a good time.
Now, if you’re into your hippy chic and 80′s cult movies, you need to hit up Santa Cruz. Famed as the filming locations for The Lost Boys, Santa Cruz abides by the plot line and has remained strange for what seems like forever. The towering Giant Dipper Roller Coaster has been in the same place on the boardwalk since 1924 and has played host to over 60 millions visitors. Or if rides aren’t your thing, take a hike amongst the redwoods or surf the famed Steamer Lane instead. The nights in Santa Cruz are dedicated to great seafood, live music and sporting your excellent new thrift shop bargain. Everyone is welcome and the stranger the better.
Perhaps surfers, hippies, the whole alternative lifestyle isn’t really your thing. Perhaps you like glamour, glitz and name dropping. If this is you, then you need to get to Los Angeles. This sprawling country encompasses eighty-eight cities including popular tourist and celebrity hot spots like the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard, Venice Beach and Santa Monica, for all your shopping and celeb-spotting needs. The last time I was in LA, I accidentally stumbled across the Gumball 3000 Ralley on Hollywood Boulevard. It’s a pretty surreal experience, all these amazing cars all lined up, their owners chilling outside the Kodak Theatre. Los Angeles is great for thrills. With every turn you’ll be faced with something being created for your entertainment. It’s not every city that goes out of its way to make sure it’s inhabitants are never left bored.
Finally, my favourite place in California is a little off the beaten track. It’s usually forgotten in the mix of huge cities and famous little towns that surround it to the north and south. When I stumbled across it, I realised that California is always out to surprise its visitors and its locals.
Morro Bay. Image courtesy of Google Images.
Situated on the central coast in San Luis Obispo county, Morro Bay is home to barely 10,000 inhabitants. I first visited in 2008 with my parents. Within about two hours of being there I met people I still speak to almost every day. It’s small, quiet but so full of character and personality that simply passing through isn’t enough for me.
Morro Bay is my home away from home. I decided to do my geography degree, get into journalism and start my company as a direct result of wanting to be able to start my life there. I can’t quite pin point the exact moment I knew this. I could have been when a cute guy behind the counter at the Top Dog Coffee shop gave me an extra half hour of internet for free. Then again it could have been when I ate my first shredded beef taco in Taco Temple.
I think it was probably the first time I watched the sun set over the rock. It was a beautiful evening, I’d had a wonderful day at the beach with some locals I’d met the day before and I felt a peace within myself I’d never felt before or since. It was my soul realising that this was the one place on the planet that I wanted to wake up every morning, have my children and give my contribution to the future sustainability of the planet.
Wherever you go in California you’ll find somewhere tailored to your needs. I hope you find it. I hope you’re all as lucky as I was to find that one place you never want to leave. I hope you all of your California Dreams become a reality.
About the Author: Kay Smythe – I’m a geography student at Plymouth University with an aim to do a masters in journalism after graduating. In my spare time I run the website GreenGen where we promote sustainable living. I also host M.A.D Nights to raise money for sustainability projects all over the globe.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter our next Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
The post California Reality appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
Day Hiking at Mt. Pico de Loro, Philippines
This may not be the only reason but, I climbed Mt. Pico de Loro because someone (let’s name him Tsadiktus) requested me to take a picture of him atop the mountain’s summit. And so we invited Ronn, the friend that we met during our Talamitam-Batulao twin hike last December 2012, to be our guide for this hike. And Ronn invited five other friends and Chad invited two more, so we were ten.
Pico-de-Loro Mountain. Image courtesy of Google Images
It was September–that time of the year when the Philippines is frequently visited by typhoons. And as expected, the weather wasn’t that great for camping, so we opted for a day hike.
The trail is rocky–that’s a given. However, the downpour made it more challenging because the trail got muddy and slippery. It took us about 2.5 hours before we reached the campsite, where we had our lunch and some refreshments, and yeah, where we did a lot of camwhoring! Because while we were at the campsite, just before ascending to the Parrot’s Beak and the Monolith, the weather cooperated and it was suddenly so full of sunshine!
After the photo session, ‘twas time to ascend to the Parrot’s Beak—where the trail was steeper than the ones that we passed along before getting to the campsite. It took us about fifteen minutes of exhausting trek to reach the Parrot’s Beak, where we had a view of the Monolith!
We met some other groups at this spot; exchanged ‘hi’s’ and ‘hello’s’ and ‘take care’s’. It made me realize that the hiking trail is one of those places where you could meet pretty interesting (and I would like to assume, kind) people!
And then we waited for our turn to climb the monolith. We waited until it was time for some real adrenaline rush! We split into two groups, just so we could get photos of each group while on top of the monolith–which was a good idea! And so we had our fair share of monolith moments.
That moment at the Monolith was all worth the scare and nervousness that I felt while climbing to be on top of it! It was an accomplishment, I believe. And as usual, being on top gave me a sense of fulfillment—that kind of feeling that I can’t explain to my mom everytime she asks me what I get when I travel, especially when I climb the mountains… that I always end up saying “happiness!” (full stop!).
After a couple of minutes at the Monolith, we had to start descending as the sky was slowly turning to grey. The descent was more difficult than the ascent, but I’m glad we all got by safely. It started to get a little foggy during our descent back to the campsite.
And then it drizzled. It rained. And our feet were full of mud again.
And we ran out of daylight just before we were back at the jump off point. We were tired, but we were happy; I assume so. We were inspired; I hope so—whether it was our first time, our second time, or our nth time to climb mountains.
“The experienced mountain climber is not intimidated by a mountain — he is inspired by it.” — William Artur Ward
—-
About the Author: I am Simercita “Psymer” Cabasag, 29 years old. I was born and raised in the Philippines, but currently residing in Reading, United Kingdom. I am an auditor by profession but traveller by heart. Please click here for my blog’s link.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter our next Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
The post Day Hiking at Mt. Pico de Loro, Philippines appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
Motorbiking Vietnam: Losing Myself
I’m zooming around on my rented motorbike, observing the mountains outside of Bac Ha, a tiny town in northern Vietnam. The rice paddies stretch around me like layers of a cake. The contrast between the bright blue clear sky and the endless expanse of green makes me take a deep breath of gratitude.
Behind me, another motorbike zips round the curves of the mountainside. My friend Niko is driving, with Tessa on the back. Tessa is a dear friend from childhood who is doing a Southeast Asia loop with me. We just met Niko The Crazy German at a hostel in Hoi An and have been traveling with him for a few weeks. In the mornings, Niko and I head to the roof of our cheap hotel for exercise: he is teaching me boxing, and I am showing him yoga. All three of us are artists and musicians, and we often sing and draw together.
Over the din of my motorbike I can just barely hear Niko from his scooter belting out our favorite song, a catchy hip-hop song perfect for easy harmonies. Despite the breeze, it’s excruciatingly hot, and my sweaty shirt sticks to me.
We steer the scooters on the winding roads, stopping whenever we feel like it. I try to let my spontaneity take over, sometimes heading off the main road to see where the potholed dirt trails lead. On one of these diversions, we find a tiny village made of a few wooden shacks. We park our bikes and sit by the river, watching the water buffalo cool off. Niko starts beatboxing, and we laugh and laugh as we take turns narrating the water buffalo’s banal life in story and song. The villagers stare and smile at us like we are friendly space aliens. A man sells us popsicles from a decrepit looking cart and gives us a huge grin.
A few minutes later we are back on the road, and I see some women bent over in a rice field, wearing those triangular Vietnamese hats. Spontaneously I decide to stop and see if I can join them. When else will I have a chance like this?
I pull over, and Niko and Tessa stop behind me. I explain my intention, and they wish me luck. Tessa takes my camera to document my efforts.
Smiling and waving, I approach the women. I ask by gesturing if I can help them pick the rice. Giggling, they invite me to come try. I take off my shoes and step into the brown water. The squishy mud between my toes is an instant shock, and the water feels HOT!
The women show me how to gently but firmly pull up the green stalks, shake off the water and mud, and place them in a small bundle in the basket. For a few minutes I try to keep up with them, but they are at least 10 times faster than me! They don’t stop giggling, and I can’t stop smiling.
Zooming back down the road, a woman waves us over from the porch of her small house. She has a cup and kettle, it looks like she wants to offer us some tea. Niko and Tessa are in front this time, and Niko decides to pull over.
We soon discover it is not tea that she is serving. She is excited to share her hard liquor with us – I think it was rice whisky? – and very persuasively gets us each to take a shot.
Driving back slightly buzzed was perhaps not the safest idea, but it is a feeling that is forever entrenched in my memory. Up ahead I see my friends slowing down to avoid a small herd of water buffalo. A woman and two small kids ride on the back of one; they smile and wave at me.
I take a deep breath, look around, and see the world and its infinite possibilities stretch out around me. My mind feels fuzzy but alive. The world is in vivid colors, bright greens and blues.
Here I am on a motorbike in Vietnam, completely free, at a time in my life with no mortgage or kids or responsibilities… I am free, totally and completely, and am in the perfect place.
Now that I am home again in the USA, I close my eyes, and imagine the feeling of the wind on my face in the hot sticky day. I soul travel to a time when I was not thinking.
The post Motorbiking Vietnam: Losing Myself appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
One Horned Rhinos and Kaziranga N.P., India
‘Kaziranga National Park’, as soon as these three words are heard, people start visualizing the picture of the Great One Horned Rhinoceros. This imagination is very valid, as Kaziranga is the only place where you can find the Indian Rhinos swaggering. The relation of One Horned Rhinoceros and Kaziranga is not a new phenomenon, rather it has been more than a century; it has been 108 years that the two are associated with each other.
Flipping the pages of history
The conservation of the large mammal in Kaziranga started in the early 90s. It was 1904, when Baroness Mary Victoria Leiter Curzon, wife of Lord Curzon (the Viceroy of India during that time) visited Kaziranga. The pathetic state of the place made her worried, and she asked her husband to take some concrete steps for the conservation of the wild beings, especially the One Horned Rhinos in Kaziranga area. Thus, finally in June 1905, the Viceroy declared the place as a ‘Forest Reserve’.
The journey then started, never stopped. Later in 1916, it got the title of a game sanctuary. Irrespective of the fact that by 1926 shooting was banned in the sanctuary, cases of massive hunting of the rhinos were being recorded. Therefore in 1950 Kaziranga was crowned as a ‘Wildlife Sanctuary’. All this was done with the sole motive of conserving the large mammal, the One Horned Rhinos.
The First National Park of Assam
The One Horned Rhino in Kaziranga National Park. Image Courtesy of Wikipedia.org
24 years down the line in 1974, Kaziranga was declared as a ‘National Park’. It was the first national park established in the state of Assam.
Making it to the UNESCO’s list of World Heritage Sites
Making a place in the coveted list of UNESCO’s World Heritage Sites is certainly not as easy as falling off a log. UNESCO has 10 very stringent criteria on the basis of which it selects a particular site to be included in its list. It is mandatory to stand clear on any of the one criterion out of the 10.
In 1985, (within 9 years after being declared as a national park), Kaziranga stood among the World Heritage Sites of UNESCO on the basis of two criteria, ix and x:
ix. To be outstanding examples representing significant on-going ecological and biological processes in the evolution and development of terrestrial, fresh water, coastal and marine ecosystems and communities of plants and animals.
x. To contain the most important and significant natural habitats for in-situ conservation of biological diversity, including those containing threatened species of outstanding universal value from the point of view of science or conservation.
The Conservation Efforts
The Kaziranga National Park cossets one of the most beautiful and exotic fauna species, known as the One Horned Rhinoceros. Their protection is the first aim of the park authorities. The rhinos are being poached, because their body parts are sold at a very high price in the black market of wildlife. There is a myth that the horn of the rhino possesses various medicinal properties and thus, people galore can pay anything to get it. Similarly, there are many aristocrats who are ready to pay any price for getting a rhino’s skin. Considering this threat to the respective species, the authorities working for wildlife conservation took various actions. Some of them are mentioned below:
• Stringent patrolling via armed forest rangers.
• Charging high penalty on the poachers.
• The introduction of ‘Drone, the unmanned aircraft’, for keeping an eye on the poachers.
In a Nutshell
All this makes it clear that right from the journey of being next to nothing, to a reserve forest, to a national park and finally to a World Heritage Site, Kaziranga was honored because of the presence of this Great One Horned Rhinoceros. In return the respective area provided this large mammal a fine and widespread space as a habitat, wherein it can live and prosper.
About the Author - Anshul Srivastava is a wildlife enthusiast and travelogue. He has traveled so many popular Indian wildlife destinations. He loves to explore Indian wildlife, culture and tradition. Follow him on Google+ for more information about him.
Thank you for reading and commenting. Please enter our next Travel Writing competition and tell your story.
The post One Horned Rhinos and Kaziranga N.P., India appeared first on We Said Go Travel.
We Said Go Travel
- Lisa Niver's profile
- 57 followers
