Anurak Community Lodge beside Khao Sok national park near Phuket and Krabi in southern Thailand has completed renovations and improvements to its guest rooms and bathrooms, the main restaurant, public areas and water supply. The award winning 19-key ecolodge has also added nine new mountain bikes bringing the total available in a range of sizes to 15. The ecolodge’s main Hornbill restaurant, known for its spectacular jungle views, has been refurbished and its opening hours extended. Jungle-style dinners are now prepared in a specially created open-sided bamboo sala which has been relocated deeper into the lodge’s six hectares of wild flower gardens, which have been enhanced by a veteran local landscape gardener. A newly drilled 120-metre well now provides high quality pure...
Read MoreYear: 2024
Renowned sportsman Paul Guschlbauer has once again pushed the boundaries of adventure by conquering Augustine Volcano, one of the most active volcanoes in Alaska. Known for his exceptional performances in the Red Bull X-Alps and his unparalleled ability to uncover extraordinary locations, Guschlbauer’s latest achievement sets a new standard in the world of paragliding. Here is all you need to know: Augustine Volcano, an imposing peak 284 kilometres from Anchorage, is situated on an uninhabited island off Alaska’s southern coast in Cook Inlet. The island is part of the Aleutian volcanic arc, a chain of volcanoes formed by the subduction of the Pacific Plate beneath the North American Plate. Paul Guschlbauer seen during his photoshooting for the project "Volcano Flight" in Alaska, Uni...
Read MoreModels of boats donated for answered prayers hang in basilica in Marseille Little model boats hang from the ceiling and maritime paintings adorn the walls of the basilica of Notre Dame de la Garde, which from the city’s highest hill overlooks the bay of Marseille, where sailing regattas are being held for the 2024 Olympics. They’re votive offerings — some more than 200 years old — that residents of this Mediterranean port city continue to bring in gratitude to the Virgin Mary for everything from avoiding shipwrecks to successful rescues of migrants trying to make it to Europe on unseaworthy boats. “Since its origins, Notre Dame de la Garde has been venerated by all seafarers,” said Jean-Michel Sanchez, the head conservator of the basilica’s museum. “Marseille was born of the ...
Read MoreTourists visiting Copenhagen this summer are encouraged to participate in unusual kinds of vacation fun, including plucking floating trash from the Danish capital’s waterways, cycling to museums instead of going by car, or volunteering at an urban garden. All these activities are part of a new, four-week pilot project called CopenPay that rewards tourists for “climate-friendly actions.” “We must turn tourism from being an environmental burden into a force for positive change,” said Mikkel Aarø-Hansen, the CEO of tourist board Wonderful Copenhagen, which runs the scheme. “We want visitors to make conscious, green choices and hopefully end up getting even better experiences while they visit,” Aarø-Hansen said in a statement earlier this month. Among the over 20 attractions p...
Read MoreIt’s a fish, it’s a boat? Amphibious vehicles glide through Amsterdam’s canals
A colourful parade of amphibious cars glided through Amsterdam's canals on Thursday, but it was the last time the event will be held in the city, at least until batteries become lighter. Starting in 2025, access to the city's waterways will be restricted to emission-free vessels and vehicles, a standard too high for amphibious cars due to the weight of electric batteries. "This year is the last time because Amsterdam will (introduce) some new rules," said Dutchman Roy Bolks, organizer of the annual amphibious cars parade that moves countries every year. A parade of amphibious vehicles cruise canals in Amsterdam, Netherlands, August 1, 2024. Reuters TV via REUTERS The multi-day event started on Monday in Amsterdam and took the amphibious cars to the cities of Monnickendam and U...
Read MoreRecent glacier retreat across the Andes is unprecedented in the history of human civilization, according to a new study published in the Science journal on Thursday. The discovery shocked scientists, who initially planned to study the current state of glaciers and how they had varied throughout human civilization. FILE PHOTO: A view shows the Iver glacier close to the El Plomo mountain summit, in the Andes mountain range, in the Santiago Metropolitan Region, Chile, April 4, 2024. REUTERS/Ivan Alvarado "We thought this result was decades away," said Andrew Gorin, lead author of the study, who first believed the initial results were a fluke, but were confirmed by later samples. "It goes to show you that this is happening faster than even those of us that think about this the mos...
Read MoreIt is a startling image from ancient Egypt - a mummy discovered during a 1935 archaeological expedition at Deir el-Bahari near Luxor of a woman with her mouth wide open in what looks like an anguished shriek. Scientists now have an explanation for the "Screaming Woman" mummy after using CT scans to perform a "virtual dissection." It turns out she may have died in agony and experienced a rare form of muscular stiffening, called a cadaveric spasm, that occurs at the moment of death. The examination indicated that the woman was about 48 years old when she died, had lived with mild arthritis of the spine and had lost some teeth, said Cairo University radiology professor Sahar Saleem, who led the study published on Friday in the journal Frontiers in Medicine, opens new tab. The "Screa...
Read MoreVenetians and visitors alike welcomed new rules introduced on Thursday to limit the size of tourist groups in the latest effort to reduce overcrowding. Tourist parties will be capped at 25 people and guides will be barred from using loudspeakers to help the flow of pedestrians and make it more peaceful for residents. "I think it's right," said 81-year-old local Edie Rubert. "It would be better to reduce it more. Because you can't walk along the narrow canalside streets when these groups are there," she added, saying it was even worse when she needed to use her shopping trolley. Local police fines a tour guide on the day Venice municipality introduces a limit for tourist groups to 25 people to protect the fragile lagoon city and reduce the pressure of mass tourism in Venice, It...
Read MoreTourists are flocking to Japan to scoop up high-end clothes and handbags at a discount thanks to the weak yen currency. Luxury goods companies like Louis Vuitton parent LVMH would rather they stayed home and shopped. The yen's sell-off - it hit a 38-year low against the dollar last month before recovering ground - has sparked an unprecedented tourist boom, drawing savvy shoppers from Asia and elsewhere. Global luxury brands aren't cheering, because their goods, ranging from designer sneakers to whisky, now tend to be cheaper in dollar terms in Japan than elsewhere, denting profits. Some tourists, especially Chinese, are holding off on buying designer goods at home and splurging in Japan. The yen's volatility means companies can't easily hike prices to accurately reflect the curre...
Read MoreHolidaymakers should always check the small print before booking any last-minute trips. Travel insurance comparison experts at Quotezone have suggested jet-setters check the Ts and Cs for eight important points before entering any payment information. Checking the terms and conditions (Ts and Cs) before booking any trips is crucial to avoid potential pitfalls and ensure a smooth travel experience, but this is particularly important for last-minute bookings, where flexibility may be limited. The Ts and Cs outline the rules and policies that govern your booking, providing clarity on crucial aspects such as cancellation and refund policies, payment terms, and what is included in the package. Understanding these details can help families make informed decisions, such as knowing if t...
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