http://www.travelblog.org/Bloggers/around_the_world/ Travel adventures in journals and photos from around_the_world en-us Sat, 02 Jan 2010 11:14:47 +0000 Sat, 02 Jan 2010 11:14:47 +0000 Visiting lots of new places lately but felt like Annecy truly deserve a blog so here it is Annecy famous for its stunning lake set on a mountain background and charming village has somehow managed to get the best out of its Geneva heritage and French location. Located only 35 km south of Geneva it is the perfect week end destination for nature sport lover This week end was full of laugh and http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/blog-437159.html French Rivierahellipalso referred to as the Cote drsquoAzur in French has everything one can dream of when it comes to sea sun culture art. From the mythical village of St Tropez to Menton the lemon capital located at the Franco Italian border this trip with my two great friends from Shanghai Jessica Elena simply could not have been better Great memories and precious friendship St http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Provence-Alpes-C-te-d-Azur/blog-427797.html Back in France just on time to cross two adventures from my wish list Although my family lives only a few hours from the Pyrenees mountain range I never got the chance to be in France in June since they moved there...which is precisely the best time of the year to go rafting and trekking in the area Actually as far as the rafting on the Gave d'Ossau class III IV is concerned it is only http://www.travelblog.org/Europe/France/Aquitaine/Pau/blog-422559.html What about we go on another trip together in the next few days It took me about 2 seconds to say yes and slightly less to start chatting about the ldquowhere tordquo. We settled on Yuanyuang on the south part of the Yunnan province next to the Vietnamese border. It is said to be THE paradise for photographers from all around the world while somehow not being yet on the main tourist route. http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Yuanyang/blog-413407.html Here we go...back on travelblog and way too many blogs to key in which I guess is somehow a good thinghellip More UNESCO world heritage sites with the discovery of the Fujian and its famous Tulou Chinese rammed earth buildingsThose unique work of art had initially been misinterpreted as being ldquomissile launch baserdquo by the American in the 60rsquos and although it is today a goo http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Fujian/Yongding/blog-411392.html Heading East again across the Taklamakan desert which in the Uyghur language Takla Makan means go in and you'll never come outhellipmmmhellipsounds like fun but decided to opt for the ldquosafestrdquo way to cross the desert No motor hand gliding this time but a 29 hours train ride along the Tian Shan mountain range and a stopover in Kuche a lively oasis located half way between Kash http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Xinjiang/blog-407146.html Hitting the road again...but not any road THE Karakoram highway also known as the highest paved international road in the world an adventure in itself This road built by Pakistan and China connects Kashgar to Islamabad reaching the altitude of 4600 meters and goes through the border area where Pakistan Tajikistan China Afghanistan are all within 250 km from each others. Sceneries...well http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Xinjiang/Kashgar/blog-401618.html 10am Kashgar wakes uphellipVibrant colorful multicultural Kashgar well deserved its reputation of ldquogate to Central Asiardquo. The name of the city had somehow always brought up a sense of adventure mysterious journey where nomads traders stop in this oasis before heading to the Taklamakan desert in the east or down west toward Pakistan and Afghanistan.Nowadays Kashgar still plays http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Xinjiang/Kashgar/blog-400445.html ldquoTurpan a fertile oasis along the northern route of the Silk Roadhelliprdquosounds like a good start and after all Xinjiang is about contrasts so after the snow capped mountains of the Urumuqi Southern Pastures lots of sun desert as far as you can see and ancients cities ruins were exactly what we neededAbout 3 hours drive from Urumuqi Santunbei bus station 150KM SE Turpan is a me http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Xinjiang/Turpan/blog-399107.html Welcome to Xinjiang Although officially part of Mainland China located on the far North West part border with Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Tajikistan Pakistan it is one of the most diverse exotic province I got to visit in China so far LOVE IT All the ingredients were there to make this trip unforgettable from the snow covered mountain to the desert and breathtaking red mountain sand dune http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Xinjiang/Urumqi/blog-398075.html Last leg of the costarican experience and well...kept the best for the end Ever wondered what it felt like to spend time in ldquothe most biologically intense place on earthrdquo National Geographic Exploring one of the tallest rainforests in the world hoping not to run into some of the most dangerous snakes frogs spiders the world has to offer or go diving with 4 meters Manta Rays http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Puntarenas/Osa-Peninsula/blog-366061.html 3.30am wake up timehellipAfter a crazy Costa Rican style new year eve and some great diving in Playa del Coco a short stop in La Fortuna my next stop was Turrialba a tiny town located at about two hours drive from San Jose a good 5 hours from La Fortuna.Turrialba is slightly off the main touristic area and this actually does come as a relief especially after my very short stay in La Fort http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Cartago/Turrialba/blog-362884.html First stop in Costa Rica Playa del Coco in Guanacaste for a 3 days diving fiesta adventure Costa Rican styleActually the fun started when I took my first Sansa flight local 10 passengersrsquo plane from San Jose to Liberia The bird view of the inland with his volcanoes rain forest and mountains was absolutely breathtaking and so were the frequent ldquodroprdquo as our tiny plane enc http://www.travelblog.org/Central-America-Caribbean/Costa-Rica/Guanacaste/Playas-del-Coco/blog-361653.html Part 2 of our road trip around central California Replace the snow with the sea and keep the colorful and dramatic feel and you got Big Sur Hard to resist to the charm natural beauty of the area ...Pacific Ocean on one side and Santa Lucia Mountains rising on the other...add to this a twisting highway 1 and cone peaks and it makes the sceneries absolutely fantasticSpent two days in the area b http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Big-Sur/blog-358838.html Shanghai San Franciscohellip across the ocean one more time ready for my first true American Christmas discovery of the Yosemite National Park and California coast line.And what an amazing trip Thanks so much Stephen for those few days spent together and see you on the 9thChristmas celebrations Absolutely love the time difference between China and the West coast left early on the 24th an http://www.travelblog.org/North-America/United-States/California/Yosemite-National-Park/Yosemite-Valley/blog-358652.html Through their eyeshelliptook me a little while to decide whether to write this blog or nothellipWhile in Sabah I have been quite surprised by the number of children wherever you go might they be Malaysian or stateless kids often offspring of Philippino migrants. Sabah has been attracting a major migrant population estimated between 600000 and 1.7 million from Philippine and Indonesia and http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Sabah/Mabul/blog-315576.html Last part of our adventure in Xishuangbanna Driving through truly remote villages where time seems to have stop up to Mandian and its stunning rain forest and waterfalls... Mud therapy anyone What felt like the longest drive ever...Bulangshan Menghai JinHongSo here we were. After a well deserved rest in a tiny hotel in Bulangshan we were ready to hit the road againAs we head toward the http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Jinghong/blog-335694.html Not exactly getting lazyhellipletrsquos just say it is been quite busy recently So here is part two of our trekking adventure in Xishuangbannahellip more pictures and more funAfter nearly got our backpack leaving without us getting lost in the jungle meeting our new traveling companion Yako the dog and spending the night at Ms Shu house we were ready for more adventures A few tips http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Jinghong/blog-330999.html Pick a place ... since my last trip in Guizhou China completely last minute and unplanned I had only one thing in mind do it againChina national holidays gave the perfect excuse and three days prior we indeed picked a place Xishuangbanna here we comeAn exotic name for a destination described as A tropical and minority area far away from the rest of China. Guess the word tropical and far http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/China/Yunnan/Jinghong/blog-330382.html Life is full of experiences...and diving well...has a lot to offer Diving in Sipadan was truly magical colorful and full of life...but has as well something else to offer for the one who are looking for a 'slightly' different experience Cave diving Welcome to a pitch black underworld where ones life holds to a tiny lifeline...Ready for some high adrenaline sensations....Guess it took me half http://www.travelblog.org/Asia/Malaysia/Sabah/Sipadan/blog-317877.html