Photo Of The Day: Maldives Fishmonger

by Meg Nesterov on


Not sure who is scarier in this photo: the enormous fish or the intimidating fishmonger. The deep saturated colors and sparse backdrop add to the intense scene. Remove the fish and it could be a set from a “Hostel“ horror movie. Today’s Photo Of The Day was taken by Flickr user Mark Fischer in Male, Maldives. Although it may not be thought of as a major urban center, Male is one of the most densely populated islands of the world, even greater than Manhattan or Hong Kong. The island nation has been in the news frequently in the past year for environment and political issues, as well as a short-lived (but much hyped) spa ban. Luxury resorts without massages? Now that could be really terrifying to some travelers.

Have a scary travel photo you want to share? Add it to the Gadling Flickr pool for another Photo Of The Day.

The Best Island Photos From Instagram

by Melanie Renzulli on

Instagram frequently leaves me with a serious case of travel envy, particularly when my dashboard is filled with photos of islands. There they are: fringed with palms, festooned with colorful fishing fleets and bathed in the gold-pink light of sunset. Then come the rocky, overgrown and uninhabited islands, which poke out of the sea just for a photo op. Do they go back to sleep underwater when no humans are around? Perhaps my favorite island photo porn is the aerial shot so you can see every line, curve and undulation of the isle or isles below.

Following are some of the most awesome photos of islands that have popped up on Instagram recently. For more island inspiration, explore the #islands hashtag within the app or browse searchinstagram.com, which makes use of Instagram’s API so that users can browse photos on their computer.



Kauai, Hawaii



Koh Phi Phi, Thailand


Zakynthos, Greece


Whitsunday Islands, Australia


Maldives


Key West, Florida

10 Extraordinary Islands To Visit On Your Next Vacation

by Justin Delaney on

Summer is the time of island vacations. It is time to put as much distance between you and the real world as possible. It is time to stand outside of your everyday life and to see how it all looks from a paradise perspective. Here is a collection of islands for escape – places to recharge, gain perspective and explore. From an island in the land of the gods to a tropical Amsterdam at the edge of an ocean trench, each of these ten destinations provides something extraordinary.

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Santorini (Greece)
Abstract: As legends change hands, the stories transform. Storytellers take liberties, moving to impress wide-eyed audiences with tales of glorious antiquity. With each telling, they speak of monsters that grow stronger, of men who grow bolder, of explosions that tear apart the earth and take along with them civilizations that grow greater. These stories come from places like Santorini – a Greek paradise perched on the thin edge of a circular archipelago where the earth once swallowed a city whole.

Maybe that city was Plato’s Atlantis and maybe it was not, but what it is today is one of the most stunningly gorgeous and unique places on earth. Whitewashed villas adorned with oceanic blue domes cling to volcanic rock mountainsides in the most romantic of settings. Greece is the land of old gods, and Santorini is where those gods likely vacationed.

Highlights: Sailing to Volcano Island, hiking from Fira to Oia, and visiting Red Beach
High end lodging: Oia Castle Hotel
Mid-range lodging: Zorzis Hotel
Get there: Fly to Santorini for cheap on Easyjet from London or Milan. Flying from Athens is also a simple and inexpensive way to reach Santorini.


Gili Trawanagan (Indonesia)
Abstract: Gili T feels like the last party at the edge of the world. And it could be so, perched on the precipice of a trench that tears over 5 miles into the ocean floor, the Gilis are an outpost at the edge of a tectonic plate that tore away from Asia eons ago.

Gili Trawanagan is one of three islands in the Gili island chain. Gili T is known for dawdling sea turtles, plush white sand beaches, reggae jams, and mushroom shakes. Reached by just a short boat ride from the eastern coast of Bali, each island is governed by village elders substituting for a proper Indonesian Police force. An Amsterdamian party scene has developed and thrived in the absence of these formal police forces. The Tropical Amsterdam is like an upstart Ibiza with all-night parties and hung-over beach rehab. After partying all night, catch a ride home via horse taxi as no motorized vehicles are allowed on the islands.

High end lodging: Luce d’Alma or Marta’s
Mid-range lodging: Rumah Kundun
Get there: Take a boat from the eastern coast of Bali over across the Lombok strait with Gili Cat or one of the other transfer services.

Borneo
Abstract: Borneo is an ancient land of wild beasts and peculiar flora. It is one of the largest islands in the world and stocked with mysteries hidden deep within its ancient rain forests. It covers three countries: Malaysia, Indonesia and tiny Brunei. There are mysterious cultures like the ex-headhunting Dayak, massive orangutans and some of the best dive sites in the world. It is also one of Asia’s top budget destinations.

Beyond dusk boat rides in search of Proboscis monkeys or long jeep safaris into the heart of the lost world, Borneo also has some unexpectedly nice beaches. Off the coast of Kota Kinabalu, several islands bask in tropical waters with great reefs and nice sandy shores. For orangutan sightings, head to Sepilok nature reserve near Sandakan. The orangutans in Borneo grow to much larger sizes than their Sumatran brethren. This is supposedly due to the evolutionary effect of an absence of tigers in Borneo. In Sumatra, the orangs must take to the trees to stay safe, but in Borneo, the “orange men of the forest” have no need for tree-dwelling. Sadly, nothing can protect them from encroaching humanity.

Highlights: Climbing Mt Kinabalu, diving Sipidan, exploring the lost world of Danum Valley
High end lodging: Bunga Raya Island Resort near Kota Kinabalu
Mid-range lodging: Hotel Eden 54 in Kota Kinabalu
Get there: Flights to Kota Kinabalu are cheap from Hong Kong, Singapore, or Kuala Lumpur on AirAsia.

Perhentian Islands (Malaysia)
Abstract: These sun soaked islands in Malaysia once served as a stopping off point for Malaysian traders bound for Thailand. Today, The Perhentians are a jewel in the crown of otherworldly Malaysian beaches. It is the kind of place where you could misplace an entire lifetime, bound to the gravity of simple island life.

The islands are surrounded by seas rich with biodiversity and corals, and it is one of the least expensive places to learn how to scuba dive. The snorkeling here is also top notch and some attest to its superiority over diving. Be sure to visit between April and October, when the monsoons are away. Accommodation is pretty inexpensive across the board, and it is easy to get a room for under $25 a night.

Highlights: Snorkeling with sharks, jungle trekking, and finding an appropriate stretch of white sand to waste a day or three
High end lodging: Perhentian Tuna Bay Island Resort
Mid-range lodging: Abdul’s Chalet (book early as they fill up way in advance)
Get there: Take a speed boat from Kuala Besut, which can be reached by bus from Kuala Lumpur


Tasmania (Australia)
Abstract: One of the last stops before Antarctica, Tassie is Australia’s wild frontier island. With about 40 percent of land being national parkland, Tasmania is a well-protected gem boasting fascinating wine regions, gigantic kelp forests and some of the most perfect beaches in the world.

While visiting, rent a car and explore the Tasmanian countryside. Be sure to spend a few days checking out the Bay of Fires on Tasmania’s northeastern coast. While it is winter down under from June to August, it is possible to enjoy off-season rates. But, if you really want to enjoy the beaches, wait until winter hits the northern hemisphere. After all, the Bay of Fires sandy curves have recently been named one of the best beaches in the world. The crystalline turquoise waters and pillow-soft sand beaches welcome travelers with their unencumbered magnificence and laid back vibe. Inland, waterfalls, mountains and Tasmanian devils await intrepid travelers.

Highlights: Bay of Fires, Tasmanian Devils, and road trips through old forests
High end lodging: Islington Hotel (Hobart) or Saffire Freycinet (Wineglass bay)
Mid-range lodging: Fountainside Hotel (Hobart)
Get there: Fly to Hobart non-stop from Melbourne, Sydney, or Brisbane


The Maldives
Abstract: An ethereal water-nation where the highest point is less than 8 feet, the Maldives defy imagination, budgets and reality with their perfect islands and hyper-luxury resorts equipped with private yachts and planes. The islands are the kind of place where work seems unimaginable, and the “real world” feels as though it must, too, be on hold somewhere out there thousands of miles from these sun-bathed atolls.

Few places deserve a distinguished “The” prior to their name, and the Maldives are almost never uttered without the obligatory distinction. This is because they are a place unlike anywhere else. They are THE Maldives.

Highlights: Snorkeling with sea turtles, diving with Manta Rays, exploring Maldivian villages and finding the perfect beach
High end lodging: Cocoa Island Resort
Mid-range lodging: Kurumba Maldives
Get there: Flights are possible from Dubai, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur and London (Gatwick)

Galapagos (Ecuador)
Abstract: Great thinkers and artists throughout time have all had their muses. Darwin had these islands in the Pacific Ocean. Filled with giant tortoises, swimming iguanas and warm weather penguins, the Galapagos are a last bastion of wilderness smack dab in the middle of nowhere.

With new restrictions year after year, the Galapagos will continue to become less accessible and more expensive. As one of the top eco-locations globally, these wild islands hold natural treasures that can be found nowhere else on earth.

Highlights: Cruising around the islands, swimming with sea lions and bird watching
High end lodging: Red Mangrove Aventura Lodge or book a live-aboard tour with Cheeseman’s
Mid-range lodging: Book a cheap live-aboard cruise by arranging a tour locally, though the available boats are generally sub par. Organizing a trip through tour companies in Quito is a good middle ground for value.
Get there: Flights can be arranged from Quito or Guayaquil

Corsica (France)
Abstract: This French island is Europe’s sleeper destination. With snow-capped mountains, white sand beaches, old world citadels and the legendary GR 20 hiking trail, Corsica does many things at once and does them all incredibly well. Known as the island of beauty, it holds up this moniker with particular strength from its sandy shores to the almost 9,000-foot-high Monte Cinto.

The GR 20 hiking trail is a 15-day-long distance trail that takes travelers through some of Europe’s most stunning vistas. Walk through clouds along the backbone of Corsica, passing small refuges and bonding with other travelers. At the seaside, Corsica’s aquamarine waters do not disappoint and boast some of the best shores in Europe, including the beaches of Plage de Saleccia, Palombaggia and Santa Giulia.

Highlights: Calanche Cliffs, the perfect little island of Iles Lavezzi, trekking the island’s interior, and beaches – lots of beaches
High end lodging: Demeure Loredana
Mid-range lodging: Rocca Rossa
Get there: Take a ferry from Nice or Marseilles. In the air, Easyjet flies to Corsica from Geneva, London and Paris.

Palau
Abstract: With more than 250 islands and roughly 20,000 inhabitants, Palau is a sparsely populated gem of an island chain. While places like Bora Bora and Fiji get all the airtime, Palau idles by humbly, welcoming well-informed travelers to its cerulean waters and sandy beaches perched under dark limestone outcroppings.

Thousands of years ago, a bay on the island of Eil Malk slowly closed off to the surrounding ocean. As a result, the jellyfish in the lake changed. Due to a lack of natural predators in their paradisiacal enclave, the golden and moon Jellyfish of the “fifth lake” abandoned millennia of evolutionary adaptation. The translucent beings lost their ability to sting and as a result, you can swim through armies of bobbing jellyfish as though you just ate an invincibility star.

Highlights: Swimming with friendly jellyfish in Jellyfish Lake, basking on a sun soaked beach, and buying ornately carved wooden storyboards
High end lodging: Palau Pacific Resort
Mid-range lodging: Caroline’s Resort
Get there: Reach Koror, Palau by plane from Tokyo, Manila, Seoul and Guam

St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands
Abstract: The largest of the Virgin Islands, St. Croix beckons travelers with tales of swashbucklers, golden beaches and old, Dutch charms. Since St. Croix is part of the United States, there is no need for a U.S. passport, and getting in is as simple as flying into Christiansted and finding the nearest beach, in which there are plenty. Beaches along Cane Bay and Buck Island are prototypes for paradise.

St. Croix has a number of old world Dutch Forts and much of the Christiansted area is stocked with preserved colonial gems and abandoned sugar mills. At dusk, take to Salt River Bay in clear kayaks not far from where the Columbus expedition ran ashore in 1493. Due to bioluminescent sea creatures, the clear kayaks become fringed with color as the water glows beneath. It feels like rowing through a microgalaxy. Dive into the dark waters and your entire body glows in the dark.

Highlights: Night swimming in the Bioluminescence of Salt River, visiting Buck Island, and exploring abandoned Dutch forts
High end lodging: Palms at Pelican Cove and The Buccaneer
Mid-range lodging: Hibiscus Beach Resort
Get there: Fly in from Puerto Rico, Miami and Atlanta

[All unattributed photos by the author]

8 Exclusive Private Islands

by Dan Morgridge on

Everyone wants to get away from it all for a while. Of course, whether that’s through your own private hideaway or a relaxing vacation, most people have to choose one or the other. But with a bit of money saved up, you can join the elite of the world in owning a solution to both. These islands aren’t necessarily the most remote or extravagant islands (although there’s plenty of both here). What they all share in common is unmatched exclusivity, where your company on the island can be the wealthiest of the wealthy…or perhaps just a family of turtles.

1. Ni’ihau

Ni’ihau is famously known as Hawaii’s “Forbidden Isle,” and for good reason — it’s private property. Bought by a private family in 1864, the island is home to fewer than 200 people, for whom Hawaiian is the primary language and English second. Although now home to a military base and some hunting tourism, Ni’ihau’s rules are still very strict in terms of visitors – even for the native’s relatives. A notable exception was made in 1992, when parts of the movie “Jurassic Park” were filmed on location. Historically, “The Ni’ihau Incident” — where a Japanese pilot crash-landed on the island returning from Pearl Harbor, was captured and then escaped with the help of Japanese locals — is considered to be a major factor in the eventual Japanese-American internment during the rest of World War II.2.Wakaya

Wakaya is one of the 332 gorgeous islands that make up what we know as Fiji. It is not the source of the controversial and popular Fiji Water (said to be drawn from an artesian aquifer on the main isle of Viti Levu). Instead, Wakaya is the island that company founder David Gilmour (no relation to Pink Floyd) bought in 1973. In addition to building a village, a marina, a gym and a school, Gilmour also built a 10-bungalow resort named Wakaya Club and Spa. A night at the resort will set you back a cool $7,600 plus taxes, but that hasn’t deterred Bill Gates, Tom Cruise, Spain’s Prince Felipe and others from making a visit.

3.Santo Stefano

For those who are looking to invest rather than visit, there are a couple options. If you’re in the mood for something Mediterranean, there are worse options than Santo Stefano — just under fifty miles from Naples, neighboring beautiful Ventotene island, and hosting a number of older rustic buildings. One in particular will probably catch your eye — an 18th century prison built to hold 600 inmates. While the prison is not currently included in the sale of the island, listing indicated it could be added in for the right price. As the asking price is a mere 20 million Euros, why not splurge a little?

4. Taprobane

If you’re picturing an island getaway, you think of relaxing first and foremost. But imagine your stay lasting a little longer, and all sorts of activities come into mind — sailing, making tropical cocktails and eventually writing/drawing/composing a magnum opus. Taprobane is one of the smallest islands on this list, but it has played host to a large number of artists — and many of them drew particular inspiration from their stay. Since being founded by the Count de Mournay, this Sri Lankan satellite has played host to author/composer Paul Bowles, painter Balthus and pop singer Kylie Minogue who immortalized the island in her song “Taprobane (Extraordinary Day).”

5. Moyenne

The glamour and wealth of owning a private island is made very apparent in some of these destinations. Yet Brendan Grimshaw’s private island is as far from lavish as humanly possible. While Grimshaw hosts walking tours on the island and offers a small restaurant for the tourists, much of the island was restored to natural habitat by his own hands. Despite rumors that the island holds buried pirate treasure, two digs have come up empty-handed. Grimshaw’s greatest treasure is much simpler — a population of more than 100 land tortoises. The eldest is in his seventies and is named Desmond, after Grimshaw’s godson.

6. Skorpios

If the name of Skorpios is not instantly known, its owner’s should be to anyone alive in the ’60s. Aristotle Onassis, in addition to being one of the wealthiest men on the planet, was also the second husband of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis who he married on the island in 1968. The couple lived there for a time and Aristotle, his son, and his daughter Christine are all buried on the island. A 2001 census revealed a population of two on the island — likely caretakers, as the current owner (and Onassis’s granddaughter) Athina lives in São Paolo and for years did not even have an active Greek passport.

7. Double Island

Off the coast of Australia and protected by the Great Barrier Reef, Double Island offers a serene southern Pacific getaway. In addition to being used in television shows like “The Mole,” the island has also been a resort for local gold miners and has been used as cattle grazing land. Of course, the island is probably most important to the Djabugay Aborigine people. In their religion, Double Island is the resting place of the great Rainbow Serpent Gudju Gudju, ancestor of all creation.

8. The World

Of all of Dubai’s ambitious projects, perhaps none have quite the lack of hubris that The World does. A series of artificial islands created from dredged sand, the man-made archipelago from Dubai’s state-owned Nakheel Properties was planned to have almost 300 islands laid out in simulation of a world map. Stars were rumored to be buying some for homes and investors bought various islands for commercial use — the “Ireland” isle was at one point in development to host villas, an Irish Pub and a recreation of the Giant’s Causeway. Unfortunately, the market’s collapse in 2008 resulted in an almost complete abandonment of the project with no development save for a show home on one of the islands. Nakheel has been building on the mainland while they restructure their billions in debt, and the islands themselves are reported to be slowly eroding back into the sea.

Faroe Islands photo set

by Elizabeth Seward on

The Faroe Islands is a country tucked away in the Norwegian Sea. Located about halfway between Scotland and Iceland, this country is beautiful, but small. With only 540 square miles and a population of nearly 50,000, this self-governing Danish destination is thick with history and easy on the eyes. I haven’t been to this country nor do I currently have plans to go–but I hope that changes soon. Let’s just say I have plans to make plans.

Flickr user Spumador (Andrea Ricordi), a clearly talented photographer, uploaded an eye-catching photo set from his summer 2011 trip to the Faroe Islands. These moving photos have now given me incentive enough to research this country further and travel there as soon as I possibly can. Perhaps this Faroe Islands photo set will offer similar inspiration to you.