Pair Travel Writing and Photography at a Yucatan Retreat

by Jamie Rhein on

Every once in awhile I hear about a trip that makes me think, sure, I can go. That is until reality sets in. If this trip was just a week later, I could probably talk myself into swinging it. The dates don’t work for me, but perhaps they might for you.

From December 4-11, 2007, there is the Travel Writing Workshop in the Yucatan lead by a husband and wife team, Judith Fein and Paul Ross. She’s a travel journalist; he’s a photographer. Their company, Global Adventure is one I wish I was running. With what time, I have no idea, but they look like they have a rip roaring good time traversing the world and taking people along with them on journeys geared towards learning and self-improvement. Plus, they live in Santa Fe, New Mexico when they are not on the road. What could be finer than that? Sorry, Columbus. Sorry, Ohio.

Judith has written articles galore for many major publicatations and had been a frequent guest on NPR’s, now defunct, Savvy Traveler. Paul’s vita is also extensive. While Judith captures their travels in words, he snaps the photos. Being that they are experts–and they pass on their know-how, going on a trip with them sounds like a blast.

The one in the Yucatan centers on little known archeological sites and Mayan villages during the days. Nights are spent at Rancho Encantado, an eco-tourism type resort that includes candlelight dinners and massages. Here’s a link to comments about Judith’s and Paul’s trips from people who have taken them. Now that I’ve read about this trip myself, it sounds like my perfect dream vacation, and I didn’t even know I had one.

World’s Scariest Shark Dives

by Catherine Bodry on

If diving with sharks no longer gets the adrenaline going, then maybe you’ve been hitting the wrong spots. Forbes Traveler assembled a panel of noted shark experts to compile a list of the world’s scariest shark dives, and here are the top three:
1. Dangerous Reef in the Neptune Islands off the southern coast of Australia.
2. Shark Alley near the Dyer Islands off the southern coast of South Africa.
3. Guadelupe Island off the coast of Mexico.

Accidents do happen — you don’t want blood in the water, or anyone fishing — but in general you’re more likely to be killed by a falling vending machine than a shark bite. But if the real thing is a little too much for you, you can check out the slide show from Forbes Traveler from the safety of your desk chair.

[via Msnbc.com]

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Top 10 “Worst Polluted Places” of 2007

by Justin Glow on

The Blacksmith Institute yesterday released a new list of the “Worst Polluted Places” in the world. This year the places spread out over 7 countries and effect over 12-million people. In Vapi, India, for instance, “Local produce has been found to contain up to 60 times more heavy metals (copper, chromium, cadmium, zinc, nickel, lead, iron) than non-contaminated produce in control groups,” according to the Blacksmith Institute. Appetizing. Here’s a list of the top 10 sites, along with a map containing the “dirty thirty.”

  • Sumgayit, Azerbaijan
  • Linfen, China
  • Tianying, China
  • Sukinda, India
  • Vapi, India
  • La Oroya, Peru
  • Dzerzhinsk, Russia
  • Norilsk, Russia
  • Chernobyl, Ukraine
  • Kabwe, Zambia.


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Libya: From “Rogue State” to “Must Visit”

by Brett Atkinson on

Despite being branded by George W as a “rogue state” in his 2002 addendum to the ridiculous “Axis Of Evil”, the North African country of Libya is on fast forward to become one of the Middle East’s prime destinations for curious and wordly travellers. And leading the way is a son of hardline Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

The 33-year old Saif al-Islam Gaddafi recently outlined a massive proposal to put Libya firmly on the tourist trail and in direct competition with burgeoning super cities like Dubai and Abu Dhabi. The focus of the development is the ancient city of Cyrene, reckoned by archeological whizzes to be one of the best preserved of ancient Greek and Roman sites. Attractions already include the Temple of Apollo and the partially excavated Temple of Zeus, and there are now plans for more than 20 luxury hotels and thousands of houses to surround the ruins on Libya’s northeast Mediterranean coast.

Apparently developers are striving for a clean, green image, but with so much development occuring it will be a fine balancing act.

Via Telegraph Group Ltd and thanks to h_savill on Flickr for the pic of the Temple of Zeus.

G is for Gnu, P is for..

by Brett Atkinson on

You’re probably still working out how to use your Garmin thingy or get the most out of your Navman, but the bushmen of the Kalahari in southern Africa are becoming adept at using PDA technology to keep track of endangered species.

Special software has been developed which displays more than 40 different plants and animals, and includes different icons to reflect a range of behaviour including feeding, sleeping and fighting. The GPS coordinates and behaviour of each animal is recorded via satellite and then downloaded onto a computer to give conservationists a concise picture of how each species is managing.

It’s part of a system called CyberTracker which developer Louis Liebenbreg hopes to have up and running in most of the world’s national parks within 50 years.

Thanks to Discovery for the headsup and CyberTracker for the pic.