“Star light, star bright, first stay I see tonight”… but what if you couldn’t see that star the next night? In this International Year of Astronomy there is a rally to recognise the wonder of stars. New Zealand is a mecca for stargazers and if you’ve travelled on our South Island Explorer and stayed in the heart of MacKenzie Country you’ll understand why. Intrepid’s Kim Bowden is amongst the many who are making a wish to protect our stars…
“We used to call it ‘Onemana Sky’ - we would lie on the scratchy grass outside our caravan and look at a starry night that curved dome-like right down to the horizon. We could follow the ghost-like trail of the Milky Way, spot the Southern Cross and the Pot (which is actually an upside-down Orion’s Belt), then trace together our own imagined constellations.
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If there was an award for being on the most Seven Wonders lists, then Galapagos Islands could get that gong! Natural travel wonders, underwater world and a New Seven Wonders of Nature finalist, Intrepid’s Daniela Palacios gives this amazing archipelago her seal of approval…
“Having recently spent time in the Galapagos Islands, I must say that I was fascinated by pretty much all the wildlife there, but one of my favourite things was to watch the sea lions in action.
First of all, in the Galapagos you find fantastic beaches where the sea lions relax after the excitement of fishing. A white sand beach in Espanola Island, called Gardner Bay, is a great place to see a sea lion colony. The dominant males are around with their harems and you can always see lovely sea lion pups.
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Intrepid has loved going with the flow in Thailand for twenty amazing years. Around every bend in the river there are more real life experiences to enjoy, even if they do take a turn for the wet, like Jennifer Mossman’s Thailand Hike, Bike and Raft adventure…
“We were expecting at least some of our group to get wet, because the bamboo rafts are a little wobbly and two people have to stand up to steer. What we didn’t anticipate was that the three-day water fights that take place in villages and cities to celebrate Songkran, Thai New Year, take place on rivers too!
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On the full moon of the eleventh lunar month, a magical phenomenon occurs in Laos and Thailand. From the murky waters of the Mekong incredible fireballs rise high into the night, then suddenly vanish. You can witness the spectacle for yourself on 04 October this year, and as Intrepid’s Nicola Gibson’s explains, the Mekong and this enigmatic event shouldn’t be missed…
“Travelling down the mighty Mekong River (Mae Nam Khong) between Thailand and Laos on a traditional wooden longboat, it’s very easy to truly relax and lose yourself in the surrounding scenery of towering mountains, lush green flora and fauna as birds fly over head.
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Loryne Atoui is embarking on a fantastic adventure in Europe and here’s a snippet from her blogging about the real life experiences she’s enjoying in Spain…
“The highlight of day two in Barcelona has to be the four-hour bike tour. The meeting place was two blocks away from my hotel and I got there with plenty of time to spare. I’d have to wait a little before we’d leave, so I wandered around the quaint neighborhood.
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Bruce McPhie has just commenced his 197th trip as an Intrepid group leader. His experience is remarkable, his care of his travellers is second to none, and his compassion and respect for the people of Indochina is immediately obvious. Bruce’s recent return to Cambodia prompted this frank and thought-provoking blog…
“Cambodia is a fascinating country to visit, with a long and turbulent history, friendly people, and delicious food. It has a striking natural beauty, with the mighty Mekong River, the unique Tonle Sap Lake, and a landscape of sugar palms, white cattle and green rice fields among rural villages where time seems to have stood still. Against this stunning backdrop are the encouraging signs of progress and development out of poverty that is most evident in the major cities.
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You can travel on Intrepid’s Great Indochina Loop for probably less cash than you think, but group leader Dara Leonard wonders, “how do you put a price on real life experiences in a world beyond your own?”…
“We are so far from home right now”, was one of the excited comments from my group on our journey through South East Asia. We had set off that morning on what the locals call a “slow boat”, which takes two days to ply the Mekong River from Huay Xai, in northern Laos, to the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Luang Prabang, Laos.
We stopped mid-day at a Laos village on the river bank to see a snapshot of what local life is like for many Lao people. This was quite a large village with approximately a thousand residents and as it was summer school holidays the children were there to greet our boat upon arrival. The kids were just as curious about us as we were about them and quickly it was broad smiles all round for the children and our group.
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Extraordinary travel experiences in Vietnam don’t cost a fortune, but as one-time Intrepid leader Trish Shaw discovered, getting to know the people is worth its weight in gold…
“If a picture can tell a thousand words, then this is a face that can tell many thousands of stories, and fortunes. Hidden away in a small farming community, just outside of the former imperial capital of Hue in central Vietnam, lives a lady who was once a laundry worker for the American soldiers stationed in the area during the war.
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