In the heart of central Turkey lies the beautiful troglodyte village of Goreme. Many people still live in carved rock houses that date back hundreds of years, but with natural erosion and the region’s rapid development Goreme is at risk.
The Old Goreme Restoration Fund was created in 2007 to protect the wonders of Cappadocia and this year The Intrepid Foundation proudly contributed AUD20,000 towards projects that will help preserve the architectural and cultural heritage of the village and surrounds.
As you can imagine The Intrepid Foundation’s donation was very welcome and on behalf of Old Goreme Restoration Fund (OGRF) we heard from Pat Yale about the exciting work that has been undertaken by this passionate organisation.
(more…)
Would you like to try life as a nomad out in the wild landscapes of Mongolia? Intrepid travellers get to overnight in a traditional ger, and on a recent trip Tina Gerets’ group enjoyed Mongolian real life experiences that made them feel right at home…
“On the way back to Mongolia’s capital of Ulaanbaatar from our stay at the ger camp in Terelj National Park, we stopped at the summer camp of Lotus Children’s Centre.
During the warm months the kids stay in a ger camp, not unlike our previous night’s accommodation. About forty kids were staying there at the time, ranging from two to sixteen years old. The kids were excited to see us and we were invited to their little singing and dancing show. The girls dressed in adorable costumes and visibly enjoyed their dance routines. Two boys talked about their trip to Japan as part of cultural exchange. After the show, everyone was so excited that music kept playing and a spontaneous open-air dancing session broke out! Several hours were enjoyed playing and talking with those wonderful kids.
(more…)
Originally the Canal du Midi was a shortcut between the Atlantic Ocean and the Mediterranean Sea, plus a way to steer clear of hostile pirates on the high seas. Now, over three hundred years after its construction, you can still cruise this World Heritage-listed canal and like Intrepid Express reader Barbara Llayton, enjoy watching France glide by…
“One of my most memorable travel experiences was on board a canal boat in the
South of France. We hopped onto our transport (a.k.a. our accommodation and
our kitchen) and were shown the ropes about how to manoeuvre, start, stop
and navigate the canal boat through the narrow waterways on the Canal du
Midi. It was easy - just point in the right direction, avoid all other boats and watch the world glide by.
(more…)
How exciting to experience the colourful mayhem of Chichicastenango markets. It took Intrepid’s Rachel Harvey a little time to get her tongue around the name, but in no time she was enjoying haggling to her hearts content in Guatemala…
“The incredible colours and smells hit me before I found my way off the bus and I knew I was in for an interesting day. I’m not really a shopper and was only a few months into a year-long trip, so I wasn’t expecting to buy up big, but it was oh so tempting! The concentration of colours brightened this little market town to give it a larger-than-life personality.
(more…)
Swimming with playful sea lions and seeing giant tortoises in slow motion have to be right up there for amazing real life experiences! In the astounding Galapagos Islands Intrepid’s Summer Davis discovers that the underwater world is equally as colourful and exotic as the fantastic sights above ground…
“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 realize this hefty mammal means no harm as it dives down in circles below you.
Unthreatened by man, the animals of the Galapagos Islands don’t fear human interaction. Hammerhead sharks cruise carelessly around scuba divers, proud frigate birds pose for photographers and marine and land iguanas lie motionless on the warm rocks and paths of the islands’ explorers.
(more…)
There’s no greater satisfaction than conquering the Inca Trail, especially by the power of your happily exhausted legs. Reaching remarkable Machu Picchu is only part of the incredible journey, and as Express reader Sean Kennaway discovered there’s more than one way up in Peru…
“In October I travelled around Peru with Intrepid and as part of the trip our group was to complete the Inca Trail, the last section of the track that ends directly at Machu Picchu. The Inca Trail is limited to 500 trekkers per day and I had booked the trip too late to get a permit, so I was offered the alternative Lares Trek.
After doing some research it seemed that the two treks were quite different, with the terrain and scenery varying considerably. The Lares goes through local villages so there’s the chance to interact with indigenous Quechuan people, living almost as they have done for the last few hundred years. The trek is rated by some as more difficult than the Inca Trail, so it was with a little trepidation that I decided to do Lares, and hoped I wasn’t overestimating my training, or lack thereof.
(more…)
Real life experiences shouldn’t be rushed. Especially in Egypt, where you can take time out and experience life as an old-world explorer. Sailing down the Nile to the traditional tunes of the Nubian crew, Intrepid’s Sameh Tawfik loves watching Egyptian life glide by…
“JJ is waiting for us, smiling and laughing as always. He greets us like old friends and welcomes us on board our home for the next couple of days. I help the Nubian crew store our packs under the deck and give my group final instructions about travelling by felucca. We cast off, and with the wind in our sails we immediately feel part of another world, where villages and farms along the banks have gone unchanged for centuries.
(more…)
Do you think you could throw spears and dance like a true Masai warrior? Meeting the proud Masai people and appreciating their traditional village life in Kenya was all part of the amazing Africa experience for Intrepid’s Dyan Mckie…
“I can understand why most travellers are inspired to visit Africa to see the unbelievable animals. I too was extremely excited to see white and black rhinos, giraffe running across the road in front of our truck and the Masai Mara lion who decided to check us out from only two feet away. Plus I will never forget the cheetah who stalked a gazelle, but made a last-minute decision to leave it alone only yards from our 4WD! The animals are why people go to Africa, but with some surprise my Africa was more about the people.
(more…)
If you’re feeling a little blue, then travelling to Bolivia could be the cure. Intrepid’s Jacqueline Donaldson discovered a drink made from corn that’s a curious colour but a great local treat…
“Maize is a food with endless permutations; fresh, popped, ground into flour for bread, as a syrup, or an oil. Travelling through Latin America you will find so many delicious foods with maize as the main ingredient. Travelling in Bolivia you will find something extra special. A blue maize drink called api.
(more…)
