An inverted lotus flower hangs over Amritsar’s famous Golden Temple. It’s believed that the symbolic golden dome is gilded with 750kg (1163lb) of pure gold and as Nari Blackett discovered, appreciating the spiritual atmosphere of the temple is worth more than its weight in gold…
“From my first glimpse of the Golden Temple I was captivated. Eerie, melodic singing and drumming filtered through the night air as I saw the temple lit up from all sides with its reflection shimmering in the surrounding water. We had arrived in Amritsar in the evening and headed straight to the holiest Sikh temple for the ‘passing of the book’ ceremony. Every night from 9pm, hundreds of Sikhs turn out to pray, show their respects and put their sacred book to bed.
(more…)
You’re probably thinking, “London by bike? Are you mad?” Not quite, but to explain why this is a golden travel experience, perhaps we should clarify. Fortunately for cycling enthusiasts who don’t have time to muster up the courage to tear through the streets on two wheels, London has some superb cycling opportunities if you’re willing to go just a little further than the downtown core.
A quick 20-minute train jaunt will take you further down the Thames to the London Borough of Richmond, home to some truly lovely cycling trails in Richmond Park and along the Thames to Hampton Court Palace. The former residence of King Henry VIII, Hampton Court Palace is a magnificent place to visit, and even more enchanting when arriving by bicycle.
(more…)
Last week Intrepid had an extremely loud and fun night for its long term staff – 20 people who each have over 10 years of service gathered in Melbourne, Australia, for an unbelievably noisy dinner (this lot can talk!). Co-founders, Darrell Wade and Geoff ‘Manch’ Manchester, also made the second induction into the Intrepid Hall of Fame, recognising Sally Goldstraw for her valuable contribution.
(more…)
There is something about eating a dish at home, and then getting to enjoy it in its country of origin that is truly delicious. Having the golden opportunity to dine with locals was what made Mirra Fine’s food experiences special and that led to an incredible short film, A Taste of Vietnam…
“I first tried Vietnamese food while living in New York City a few years back. There was a modest Pho shop around the corner from my apartment, and I would stop in twice a week to get my fill of the delicious beef broth, long rice noodles and fresh basil. The dish is beautiful in its simple complexity. On the surface, it appears to be noodle soup, but the herbs create a freshness that offsets the richness of the liquid on which it is floating. The squeeze of a ripe lime adds a subtle sweetness, and the bottles of brown and red sauces lining the table next to you, are the secrets behind the depth and color.
(more…)
When you take a trip around Indochina, it doesn’t mean that you need to let your fitness slip. Nicola Gibson is an avid runner and explains how you can easily jog around Thailand, Laos, Vietnam and Cambodia and join the locals in their daily exercise regimes…
“My first tip is to either head out early just before dawn, or at dusk when the sun takes its final rest. Early morning or late in the day the temperatures are often more bearable, plus it’s a more peaceful hour to pound the pavement.
(more…)
Even if you’re not competitive by nature, when you are egged on by a cheeky sea lion in the Galapagos Islands Summer Davis discovers that you have no choice but to take up the challenge and be thankful that you’ve put in the hard yards in the pool…
“Swirling under a cyclone of bubbles, a spirited sea lion stares sweetly into your snorkel mask, its puppy dog eyes pleading to play with you. Almost twice your size, you freeze with fear, then realise this hefty mammal means no harm as it dives down in circles below you. Let the games begin!
(more…)
For centuries a popular mode of transport in China has been the trusty bike. It’s estimated that in a country of over 1 billion people there are approximately 800,000,000 bicycles, so Intrepid’s Boris ‘Bob’ Golodets decided that was how he wanted to explore the capital city…
“Riding the streets of bike-friendly Beijing is the best way to explore. You get the sights, the sounds and the smells as you peddle along dedicated bike lanes, through parks, past local markets and via back alleys. There are bike lanes on the main roads and in some places, such as near Tiananmen Square, the broad bikeway takes up almost half of the road.
(more…)
In late January, when the 19th Egyptian Marathon took place in Luxor, one special entrant caused some surprise and consternation. In fact the policeman at the car park said that young Felix wasn’t allowed.
After much negotiation by Felix’s companion, Kim, he was able to proceed and win hearts along the way. You see Felix is an orphan and resident of Animal Care in Egypt (ACE). That’s right, Felix is a donkey!
(more…)
Whoever said “no pain, no gain” could have been talking about trying to spot the elusive mountain gorillas of Rwanda. There was no way that Roberta Leung was going to let the rugged conditions get the better of her, and thankfully she was rewarded ten times over for her efforts…
“I had been climbing the steep slopes of the Rwandan jungle for over 3 hours in damp, slippery and muddy conditions when word came that my group was only another 30 minutes away from the gorilla family. It was the hardest trek I had undertaken in my life, yet none of that mattered when I caught my first sighting of these majestic creatures.
(more…)
