The planet is still alive, according to Marie-France Grenouillet, a French wildlife photographer. She has travelled around the world since 1979 taking photos. As Marie-France says about her mission: I want my photos to make people dream and then help to protect the wonderful wildlife in the world.
Soon time to do it again. Last Christmas (2010) I jumped on a sledge and experienced the high speed and exhilaration of a husky drive in Finland`s wilderness. I was highly inspired by the novel The Call of the Wild, written by the American author Jack London. Dog sledging is really something for they who like to have fun on snow.
Husky driving has become a popular winter recreation and sport in northern Finland. There are two main qualities that are expected of sled dogs: endurance and speed. The dogs are trained for different purposes. Racing sled dogs will travel up to an average 20 mph (32 km/h) over distances up to 25 mi (40 km). That`s what I call real fun on snow!
Quotes and proverbs of wisdom from explorers have guided me on my journeys around the world. Some of them are from Norwegian Vikings, and other are from great travellers as Captain James Cook, Thor Heyerdahl and Rudard Kipling. First of all I will say these quotes are for wisdom, but also for inspiration, motivation, attitude, behaviour and humour.
The Santa Claus Village has a unique meeting place where hundreds of thousands of visitors from all over the world come to meet Santa Claus on every day of the year. You can enjoy reindeer sledging, snowmobile for children, sliding on snowracers, eating delicious smoked salmon and of course meet the Santa Claus himself. Rovaniemi is the place where the fairytale becomes true.
Yes, it`s really true, there are pyramids in Europe too, not only in Egypt, Peru, Mexico and Guatemala. The highly visible evidence could be admired at Guimar on the Canarian island Tenerife in Spain. This secret has been kept for a long time, but after the Norwegian adventurer Thor Heyerdahl started explorations of the mysterious stone structures in 1991, the interest about them has spreaden far outside Europe.
Guided by mysterious figures in the forest, I found my way to the reconstructed Stone Age village in Kierikki Stone Age Centre, Yli-Ii, in Finland. Here I got a fascinated insight in the Stone Age life. People who lived at that time used symbols and rituals to strengthen their existence. They were also in contact with forest spirits. Something for the X-files?
The tour operator Coex Amazon, Lima, Peru, offers trekking in the Maranon valley to the lost but very idyllic mountain town of Chachapoyas. Here you can admire one of Peru`s biggest ancient wonders, the 2000 year old town fortress of Kuelap. On the way you will get in touch with Indians living in their traditional way. This tour is for genuine adventurers who want to experience something special. Are you ready for the off beaten tracks in Peru?
Members of one of the world's last uncontacted tribes have been observed and photographed from the air near the border between Brazil and Peru. According to the organisation Survival International, the photos were taken during several flights over one of the remotest parts of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil's Acre state.
Polè, polè! About 20,000 climbers attempt to reach the top of Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania each year, the highest peak in Africa. Around 70 % of them succeed. Climbing high peaks can make people famous and admired. They get their names and photo in media. It also make them admired among friends and colleagues. After climbing Kilimanjaro in July 2003 one thing stands clear for me: the porters are the real heroes of Kilimanjaro.
Stories are an important part of the Bedouins culture. They are the majority of Jordan's population. Their great hospitality is something you never forget. Over all, I and my guide Ibrahim become invited by local people in tents for tea and resting in the shadow. I enjoyed being with Bedouins to picnics, joining Bedouin Whiskey parties, participating in Bedouin traditional dances, and drinking tea with people in the tents. Especially I become fascinated by all the stories I heard. You shall hear many things before your ears fell off.
I was in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, city of 1000-year-old temples adorned with all the erotic positions of the Kama Sutra. The temples were rediscovered by a British explorer in the early 19th century after languishing forgotten in the jungle for centuries, and now tourists flock here.
Tatar palaces, Turkish fortresses, magic stalactite caves, lush sub-tropical mountains, miles and miles of beaches, mellow coastal climate Sounds like Russia?
