Adventure Travel : Don't Miss Hanoi Vietnam

One of South East Asia's most bewitching cities, Hanoi's old world charm and scenic beauty has so far remained unchanged by Vietnam's dramatic economic upturn. See it now before its tiny streets, spectacular restaurants and cheap prices disappear

It's hard to write about Hanoi without getting sugary sweet with the superlatives. Romantic, charming, picturesque, beautiful - they're all words easily used to describe Vietnam's capital city, and they're all deserved. Crowded, frenetic and noisy could all equally apply too if you were being strictly accurate - but Hanoi has a distinct charisma that makes visitors tend to fall in love with the city despite its faults. It's become one of my favourite cities in South East Asia and led me to return there several times over the last 3 years.





The bridge to Ngoc Son Temple on Hoan Kiem Lake
[You can click for bigger versions of any of these photos].
Much of Hanoi's charm comes from the compactness of the city's central district. Hanoi is a great city for walking in because most of its main sights are all within the same area. The city radiates out from Hoan Kiem Lake, with the Old Quarter on one side and magnificent French colonial buildings on the other. The lake itself is the social focal point of the city - it's lined with trees, a wide pedestrian boulevard, benches and cafes all the way around, making for a glorious space to socialise and enjoy the day. Hundreds of Vietnamese gather at the lake at dawn each morning to do the day's tai chi exercises; hundreds more courting couples gather at the lake at night on the benches and on the back of their parked motorbikes to take in the city lights reflecting on calm lake water and the lit up temple in the lake's centre. Saigon may have been called the "Paris of the East", but in terms of romance, Hanoi wins hands down. If you're looking for an unusual honeymoon destination, this could well be it.





Breadseller on the street corner
For tourists, Hoan Kiem lake is unsurprisingly a great place to wander at different times a day for people watching - moreover, it also makes it easy to orientate yourself in the city depending on your position by the lake. It's not quite so easy to orientate yourself once you disappear into the historic narrow maze of roads above Hoan Kiem Lake known as the Old Quarter. This is the bustling heart of Hanoi, with each tiny street dedicated to a specific craft, like shoemaking or metalwork or even masonry for tombstones, for the last four hundred years. It might be a Communist country, but individual enterprise is alive and well on the streets of Hanoi.





Gravestone maker at work
In the Old Quarter, life takes place on the pavement - it's here that business is conducted, friends are greeted and families gather to eat together, sitting on the small plastic stools that are ubiquitous in Hanoi. It's here you'll see the vendors wearing the iconic conical hats and carrying impossibly large loads balanced on their shoulders, while scores of tiny shophouses compete for your attention with beautfully prepared displays of silk, lacquerware and paintings. Basic English is widely spoken in Hanoi, so haggling and bargaining is no problem. Same goes for ordering at restaurants and checking in at your hotel. Just remember to speak clearly and concisely, and to be polite and goodnatured. A smile helps things go a lot smoother.





Crafts shop interior

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Video: Walking the street in Hanoi
The return of tourists to Hanoi over the last decade since the stuttering advent of Doi Moi in 1986 (economic liberalisation, or literally, "renovations") has also meant a flourishing of Vietnamese arts and crafts for tourists to purchase too. Hand made suits, shirts and all manner of other clothes are also available at bargain prices, but make sure you leave time for plenty of fittings.
My own personal favourite shop in Hanoi is the propaganda poster shop on Hang Bac, where you can browse and buy thousands of posters from the American War, as it's known in Vietnam. It's a fascinating and sobering experience to see these original relics from the conflict. [You can read more about the propaganda poster shop in Hanoi in my separate article].





The Propaganda Poster Shop, Hanoi, Vietnam
Amongst the shops are some superb restaurants, although you might want to avoid eating at Cafe Dung. There are few Western brands readily available in Hanoi - there's no McDonalds or Starbucks, but you won't really need them. Vietnamese cuisine is possibly even more delicious than Thai food, and some restaurants retain the culinary influence from France's nearly century long colonisation of Vietnam, fused together with a Vietnamese twist. If you like good food, then Hanoi is an essential destination. Cha Ca La Vong is a Hanoi institution, serving only one dish - the Vietnamese speciality that is Cha Ca, an exquisite fish dish. Green Tangerine on Hang Be is in a palatial old building with its own courtyard, complete with spiral staircase, and serves excellent 2 course set lunch menus for an unbeatable $US 6. (See my list of Favourite Hanoi Restaurants for more suggestions). The French influence is also apparent in two of Hanoi's local brews, 333 and Halida, which are excellent, crisp beers, definitely more palatable than the dirt cheap but rough as guts Bia Ha Noi.





Green Tangerine, Hanoi
By Western standards, Hanoi is cheap. The amusingly named local currency, Vietnamese Dong, is used simultaneously with US Dollars in Vietnam. You can get a decent guesthouse room in the Old Quarter for around $10 a night or be cocooned in French colonial splendour at the Hanoi Sofitel Metropole for $250. In between these two ends of the spectrum, there are scores of other hotels. I've included some personal Hanoi hotel experiences and recommendations in my Hanoi Hotels article. Food and drink are similarly good value too, especially given the quality of cuisine available, and the low prices of the Vietnamese handicrafts mean that it's pretty hard to not go shopping in Hanoi.
Economic liberalisation has also brought a flood of new vehicles into Vietnam - Hanoi is the city of the motorscooter. There are literally thousands of little Honda Dreams on Hanoi's roads at any one time, and the sounds of their motors and the tooting of the horn to signal presence rather than alarm is a perpetual backdrop during any visit to the city. The traffic flows endlessly and constantly and you need to keep your attention on what's going on around you, especially when you are in the Old Quarter. With over 1.5 million motorbikes in Hanoi alone, crossing the road is not for the faint of heart. Bikes will pass within an inch of you as a matter of course as you stroll the narrow streets.






The trick is to remember that the traffic flows like water and so will move around you, provided you don't make any sudden moves. (That includes panicking). At first the traffic can be quite an assault on the senses, and adds a frenetic, noisy edge to the city, especially as the traffic treats Hoan Kiem Lake as one big roundabout around which it moves day and night - but it's surprising how quickly you become to used to it. You will also see some amazing sights of the stuff Vietnamese manage to load onto their bikes. On the way in from the airport, I saw a little Honda Dream loaded up with four full grown trussed up pigs, two slung on the side and two stacked on the back, riding pillion behind the driver. In the city itself you regularly see motorbikes and pushbikes impossibly loaded with wickerware, housebrushes, balloons and almost anything else you can imagine. Hans Kemp's brilliant photobook, Bikes Of Burden, is an awesome document of the different uses to which these bikes are put - it must have taken him months to get all these different snaps.





Bike festooned with hats for sale, Hanoi
Dodging the traffic, strolling around the Lake, exploring the Old Quarter, shopping and enjoying great food pretty much sums up my Hanoi experience. It's a great city to kick back in after travelling for a while - being in Hanoi is more about wandering around soaking up the atmosphere than ticking off the sights. If you want to go beyond the Lake and Old Quarter, Ho Chi Minh's mausoleum and the nearby museum are important stops if you're interested in Vietnam's history, and the Temple Of Literature which is a cyclo ride away from the Old Quarter is a stunningly beautiful Confucian shrine. Right by the Temple is the excellent restaurant Koto, which serves delicious Vietnamese food made and served by former street kids who've trained within the Koto program to become restauranteers. Therefore, by stuffing your face at Koto with as much food and booze as you can manage, you are actually giving to a good cause. Gluttony rarely has such a great justification.





Gateway to Temple of Literature
After visiting the city four times, a question I keep asking myself is, why do I like Hanoi so much? It's very pretty, to be sure, but there are many places in Asia and the world that are pretty. Partly it's because I don't get bored of seeing the Old Quarter - it's a genuine magical place that, while becoming undeniably touristy, is still very much part of the daily life of the local Vietnamese. There is something about the tall thin houses that make up the Quarter and the sunshine that usually bathes the city that I simply haven't seen anywhere else. (Yes, you can get different types of sunshine). But I think the main reason I keep going back to Hanoi is because I love the sense of optimism that pervades the city. It's hard to believe that only 20 years ago Hanoi was poverty stricken and in near-terminal decay thanks to the disasterous Soviet-era economic policies of the Communist government. Since the advent of Doi Moi, and despite the setbacks of the 1997 Asian economic crash, Hanoi has flourished, and it's also has a very young population - something like half the population is under 30, and that sense of optimism means there are a lot of kids being born too - or maybe it's just the romance of Hoan Kiem Lake causing the baby boom.
Either way, Hanoi is looking towards the future, and the only problem it has now is the same one facing so many Asian cities - how to get bigger and grow the wealth without destroying the uniqueness of the city itself? Already cars are beginning to appear more frequently on Hanoi's roads, utterly unsuited to the city's narrow streets but still a status symbol that needs to be paraded around. The centre of Hanoi was spared bombing by American forces and it hasn't fallen to the demolition ball either in the sprint to modernise - hopefully the attraction of the Old Quarter for tourists will mean it continues to be preserved, although it's far from certain.
Hanoi twenty years ago was in terrible decline while now it's on an inexorable rise that could wreak equally huge changes on the city. You only need to look at Beijing's eradication of its historic and picturesque old quarter in the run up to the 2008 Olympics to see there is sometimes little civic sentimentality about these old buildings. For now, however, Hanoi is a crucible of change that, while rapidly evolving, will probably still remain the city I've come to know for at least the next 5 years or so. Go see it now before it begins its next revolution.

Adventure Travel : Review of Soreda Hotel, Malta

We stayed at the 4 star Soreda Hotel in Qawra on our Malta trip in May 2011. We didn’t have great expectations of the Soreda Hotel, as it cost £18 per person per night on half board, booked through sunshine.co.uk and the guest reviews were mixed, many saying it was more like a 3 star hotel.

Exterior of the Soreda Hotel
We arrived at the hotel one hour before the official check in time of 2pm. I tested the hotel wifi, which is available in the lobby free of charge, on my mobile phone while waiting to check in and the signal was very good. We were allocated Room 105; although I had requested a room on the top floor when booking on sunshine.co.uk, it is made clear that requests can’t be guaranteed.

Lobby of the Soreda Hotel
We were happy with the room size, general condition and facilities. The wardrobe space was generous with plenty of hangers. There was a fridge and tea and coffee making facilities. It did seem a little mean that the tea bags and coffee sachets were only provided for the first day, then you had to either purchase from a shop or at reception. There were a few patches of mould in the tile grouting and some stains at the bottom of the bath under the shower.

Room 105 a the Soreda Hotel
Room 105 is at the back of the hotel facing into a courtyard which was good from the point of view that there was no traffic noise. However there was no privacy on the balcony, as there were no screens between the balconies. Many guests in neighbouring rooms were smoking on their balcony, so we had to keep the French doors shut to keep out the smell of cigarette smoke.
I had a swim at the hotel’s roof top pool on our first evening. We were pretty tired that evening as we had to get up at 3am to reach Edinburgh Airport for our 7am flight to Malta, so we planned an early night. However it was not to be, as we seemed to be directly above the entertainment stage. The music was so loud, we couldn’t talk or watch TV. Now the entertainment did finish at 11pm. Many guests were staying on an all-inclusive basis, so were down enjoying the entertainment at the bar.

Roof top pool at the Soreda Hotel
After the second night of loud entertainment we decided to request a transfer to a quieter room. Reception were very helpful and offered us a two bedroom apartment in a block across the street from the main hotel, at no extra charge. It was such a relief to be away from the evening noise. The apartment had a double and a single bedroom, a bathroom with shower over the bath and a separate toilet with wash basin. The cooking facilities were limited with a small electric oven with 2 rings on the top. That wasn’t as issue for us as we were staying on half board.

Kitchen area of apartment at Soreda Hotel
Some of the electrical wiring in the apartment looked a bit dodgy, as the wires were not embedded in the walls. The cleaning of the apartment could have been a bit more thorough.
The breakfast at the Soreda Hotel was fine with a selection of hot cooked items including omelette, fried, scrambled and boiled eggs, bacon, beans, fried bread and sausages. There was also a selection of cereals, fruit salad (which was fresh fruit some days and tinned others), fruit juice (which tasted like squash), yoghurt, croissants, cake and bread. The tea and coffee machines were a pain, as they dispensed such small servings, a cappuccino and a small white coffee just filled up one cup. On the whole the dinners were better with delicious soups, an extensive salad buffet, various pastas, a carvery meat, one fish dish and a couple of other meat dishes. There was a good choice of desserts.

Dinner salad buffet at the Soreda Hotel
We spent another two nights at the hotel after our return flight to Edinburgh with Ryanair was cancelled on 24 May due to the ash cloud. We were able to stay on in the same apartment at a cost of 32 Euro per night per person on half board. This was quite a bit more than the £18 a night we paid when booking in advance on the sunshine.co.uk site but still a very reasonable price for short notice. Again reception were very helpful in printing our Ryanair boarding passes for our re-booked flight; this was only possible during office hours but was free of charge.
In summary, we were very happy with our stay at the Soreda Hotel and would rate it as excellent value for money. I probably wouldn’t be saying that if we’d had to remain in Room 105 with that thumping music for the nine nights. However the hotel did allocate us another room very graciously. I’d agree that it’s more like a three star hotel than a four star. I was able to pick up an excellent signal on my netbook on the free wifi in the lobby. The food was pretty good overall.
You can see all my photos and videos of the Soreda Hotel on Flickr.

Adventure Travel : Spain Tours Sevilla

Sevilla: One of the most enchanting tourist cities in Spain

If you have to talk about one of the most charming cities for tourism in Spain we are with Sevilla, which shows just as the capital of the province of the same name in what becomes the autonomous community of Andalusia. With a land area of ??

4,900 square kilometers is home to over a million and a half, making it the fourth most important province in Spain in this respect (after Madrid, Barcelona and Valencia). After seeing this basic information on what is known Sevilla move on to what their most enchanting tourist spots.

Above all, the most notorious charm that comes to offering becomes Sevilla old town, which can be considered as one of the largest in Spain, thus saving a lot of monuments and architectural spaces to the current date are considered as World Heritage.

Among the destinations that you can not miss in Seville find the Cathedral of Seville, La Giralda, the Reales Alcazares, the Barrio de Santa Cruz, the Torre del Oro, Plaza de Toros, the Parque de María Luisa, Plaza Spain, the Rector of the University of Seville, the Puente de Triana, the Arco de la Macarena, the Parque del Alamillo, Universidad Pablo de Olavide, the Nervión, the Hotel Alfonso XIII, the Palace of the Countess of Lebrija and Flamenco Dance Museum.

Adventure Travel : Top Travel Destinations

Trying to boil down the top 10 travel destinations in the world is a daunting task - but there are definitely a handful of them that every intrepid adventurer should attempt to visit.
Morocco
This northern African country has widespread appeal due to more than just its generous exchange rate. Morocco runs the gamut of tourist attractions: from the endless souks and winding streets of Marrakesh, to the blue walls of Chefchaouen to the snowy peaks of the Rif Mountains to the outskirts of the Sahara, spread wide and intimidating from the casbah of Ouazarate - this country's wild landscape and stately people make Morocco one of the best travel destinations in the world.
Portugal
Just across the Atlantic is one of Europe's unsung gems. While many tourist flock to Europe every year, Portugal is often the odd man out in most tours of the continent; a shame, as Portugal is easily one of the best travel destinations throughout Europe. There's the colorful, lunging streets of Lisbon, one of the continent's most culturally significant capitals; the wineries of Porto, with their hundred year old brand sitting stately in enormous casks, just waiting to hit the palate of discerning visitors; and the sleepy surf towns of the Algarve coast, where English is just as prevalent as Portuguese, and just about everyone wants to buy you a drink.
Czech Republic
Another of Europe's best travel destinations, tourists often overrun the stoic walls of Charles Castle in Prague, but the rest of the country is what makes the Czech Republic so wonderful. Nearby Plzen is the birthplace of Pilsner beer (and has the bars to prove it), Cesky Krumlov has long been a backpacker's paradise, the city of Telc is a shimmering trip through time and, of course, there's Prague - quickly becoming one of the most visited cities in Europe, its beauty and extensive nightlife alone makes the Czech Republic one of the top travel destinations - not only in Europe, but all of the world.
Paris
But no trip to Europe is complete without a stop here. Paris is widely regarded in both legend and song, and for good reason: the entire city is like a swirling circus of famed sights - the Louvre and Eiffel Tower are the most obvious attractions here, but the rest of the city is just as grand.
Dubai
Camels walk the streets beneath enormous skyscrapers. You can venture into the desert, into boisterous nightclubs, into just about anything you want. Like the Vegas of the Middle East, Dubai is the playground for the world's rich and famous.
Fiji
Resting quietly in the South Pacific, Fiji is well known for its laid back atmosphere, dedication to luxury, and relatively cheap prices for the region. Whether you want to stay in all-inclusive resort or explore the nooks and crannies of the island, Fiji is guaranteed to be one of the world's top 10 travel destinations.
Machu Picchu
Regarded as one of the top tourist destinations in South America, it does not disappoint. Hike the fabled Incan ruins cast onto the mountaintops of the Peruvian frontier and you will see why millions descend on Machu Picchu each year.
South Africa
The most visited country in Africa, just talk to anyone lucky enough to see the fascinating wilderness here. Whether on safari or just backpacking through the hinterland, South Africa does more than just amaze with its natural beauty - it engulfs and rearranges you.
Cambodia
While anywhere in Southeast Asia could make its way onto the top 10 travel destinations, Cambodia does so by staying off the beaten path. Most tourists will head directly to Thailand, but smart travelers will discover Cambodia, whose highlights include Angkor Wat, one of the great man-made triumphs in the world and the dissolving French architecture of Phnom Penh, one of the fastest growing cities in the world.
Costa Rica
Monkeys hang in trees while you sip fruity drinks on the turquoise shores of the Caribbean. You are enveloped by wild rain forests, green beyond belief and full of exotic animals peering curiously at your presence. You dance until 3 am in a sweaty club blasting tropical beats that seem to mesmerize the crowds. Costa Rica is one of the best travel destinations in the world, and it's just south of the border - ready, waiting.

Adventure Travel : Stockholm, Sweden

I'm finally on the last stop of our cruise. Stockholm, Sweden. We chose a tour that goes to the Vasa Museum and to Sigtuna.
The Vasa Museum hosts the historic vessel the Vasa. It has more than 95 percent of the ship in its original form. This ship took over 2 years to build. They used a hull built of more than a thousand oak trees with 64 cannon masts over 50 meters high and contained hundreds of painted and gilded sculptures. It's crew contained over 450 men. In 1628 the ship sailed for less than 20 minutes (barely 1300 meters) when the wind caught her sails and toppled the warship. It was too thin for it's sails. The ship sank almost immediately and stayed in the mud of Stockholm harbor for over 300 years before she was raised in 1961. Over 12,000 artifacts were also recovered.

After the Vasa Museum we will visit Sigtuna. Sigtuna is a "quaint and idyllic little town" according to the brochure. It has colorful old wooden houses, tiny shops and narrow streets. It contains the oldest street in Sweden called the Stora Gatan

Swimming With Dolphins

Jumping in with blind pink river dolphins

Deep within the Bolivian Amazon, the four of us peered over the sides of our dugout canoe, trying to decide if we should take the leap into the deep brown waters of the Yacuma River. We wanted to swim with river dolphins but the piranha-filled, zero visibility water and the 10-foot long caimans eyeing us from the nearby shore kept us from jumping in. “It’s Okay,” said our guide Wilber, sensing our reticence, “the piranha are too small to hurt you and the caimans are scared of the dolphins.” Our kids weren’t going in unless Mom and Dad went first but we were clearly unsure ourselves. We’d been to a few swimming spots along the river but each time we found a reason not to get in and this would probably be our last opportunity.

Wilber rhythmically banged his open palm on the outside hull of the canoe to attract more dolphins. We had seen their pointy, toothy snouts rise out of the water as they surfaced high enough to expel water from their blow holes. The chance to swim with dolphins in the wild and not in some over-sized Florida swimming pool kept us from backing out. “Well,” said my wife, “We’re either going to do this or were not,” and she jumped in and disappeared into the muddy brown water. My son followed his mother and in a few seconds both were floating and grinning, relieved to not be feeling any nibbles from hungry piranha. The curious dolphins swam circles around them and nudged a basketball to my son. After taking a few photographs of them I jumped in. When I surfaced I was relieved to count the same number of caimans on the opposite river bank. Our daughter was still in the boat. She loves dolphins but she hates swimming in water where she can’t see the bottom. After about five minutes of reassurance and cajoling, she reluctantly eased into the water. While our son threw the basketball for the dolphins to retrieve, my daughter and I hung on the sides of the boat. I felt a nibble around my armpit but did my best to keep this information from her. Just as we were getting confident, there was a splash from a big tail and she screamed “What was that!” and quickly threw her arms around me. One of the dolphins, apparently in a playful mood, had made a big splash with its tail and extinguished her budding confidence. It was as if this river dolphin, with a brain 40% larger than a human’s, sensed her anxiety and was singling her out for teasing.

Flipper of the Amazon

For kids missing a lot of school, ours were getting quite an education on the flora and fauna of the Amazon basin. The stars of our afternoon outing, the river dolphins, were the science lesson of the day. These creatures were relatives of ocean-going dolphins but these river dwellers were very different. Fifteen million years ago sea levels retreated and sealed them off from the ocean and they were forced to adapt to their new environment or face extinction.

Like us, they were faced with adjusting to a new environment here in South America. As they evolved, they gained some things necessary for survival and they lost some things that weren’t essential. They gained long, pointed snouts to reach through branches to find river crabs and they developed unfused vertebrae to allow them to make sharper turns through underwater tree roots. They lost their dorsal fins to make navigating tight spots easier, they lost their eyesight because it was useless in the muddy water and their complexion turned pink due to a lack of sunlight penetrating the dark water.

Chasing the basketball

After about 10 minutes, the dolphins were suddenly gone and we climbed back in the boat. Wilber fired up the outboard motor and we sped back to our lodge, savoring both the breeze from the boat and another great day along Bolivia's Yacuma River.

Houses for Home Exchange in UK

Many home exchange members live in areas of special interest to history buffs. Indeed, many homes in such areas are of historical interest in their own right. A few samples from recent home swap offers in England:

Hythe, Kent - A medieval hall house (above) extended in 1910. Once home to Gerald duMaurier, Noel Coward was a frequent guest in the house and indeed rehearsed and wrote material here. Daphne du Maurier is also said to have written in the house. The hall has 15th century carvings and the pannelled dining room is beautiful. The long drawing room overlooks the garden and little stream.

Ludlow, Shropshire (photo to left) - Town centre, 17th century house "newly built in 1656 after burning in the Civil War". High-walled courtyard garden with workshop. Overlooks C12th Castle and gardens. Medieval market town with 500 listed buildings, C15th Church. Stands on river Teme with Mortimer Forest and Trails within walking distance. On the borders with Wales (Welsh Marches), Hereford and Worcester.

Fulbeck, Lincolnshire - Gorgeous traditional stone-built cottage, situated in a picturesque English village within a beautiful landscape and with a traditional village pub!, 30 minutes from the city of Lincoln, the historic city with a beautiful cathedral and castle. We live 10 minutes away from Belton House, a stately home of note and 15 minutes from Grantham, the birthplace and schools of Sir Isaac Newton and Margaret Thatcher.
The house was built over 200 years ago in 1770 and still has many of its original features, the village is soaked in history especially the 13th century church and the impressive Fulbeck Hall.

Worcester, Worcestershire - We live within 5 minutes walk of the centre of Worcester with its Cathedral, many shops, pubs and restaurants. This small ancient city is bounded by the River Severn and the Worcester to Birmingham canal. We overlook Fort Royal Hill park where Oliver Cromwell won the last battle of the English Civil War in the 1650s.
Our house is probably late Georgian and has been recently totally refurbished. The house is on three floors with two bedrooms and a bathroom on the first floor and a further bedroom on the top floor that overlooks the Malvern Hills and the Cathedral.
Glastonbury, Avon - Glastonbury is a beautiful pilgrim town steeped in Arthurian myth and legend with the Abbey, Chalice Well Gardens and Wearyall Hill only a fifteen minute walk from our house.
Our house is a three storey split level. We have the most fantastic panoramic views overlooking the Somerset Levels, Quantock and Mendip Hills and the sunsets are amazing. Visit Wookey Hole and Cheddar Gorge and the surrounding areas for fantastic walks and hikes.

Newcastle, Tyne and Wear - The house is a stone built villa over 250 years old, situated in the conservation area of Whickham village. It features in the history of Whickham, a small town on the outskirts of bustling, cultural, historic Newcastle. Because of its age the house has a quirky layout with many rooms leading off one another giving an "Alice in Wonderland" appeal. The village itself boasts a 900 year old church and is a frequent winner of Britain in Bloom.
We are within a 2.5 hour drive of Scotland, the Lake District, Yorkshire and 30 minutes away from the Northumberland Coast with the castles of Alnwick, Bamburgh, Warkworth. Roman forts Chesters and Housesteads are also close by. We live in an area that is bursting with history, Newcastle itself boasts a Norman Keep and some well preserved town walls. The area is particularly rich in Roman remains and coastal walks.

Holiday Spirit - Pack Up

During summer holidays, take your family to western Himachal, an adventure playground. Travel to remote destinations in the Greater Himalayas such as Chamba, Dalhousie and Kangra or closer spots of the Shivalik range like Shimla, Chail and Morni Hills.

Fresh Mountain air, majestic mountains and peaceful valleys, this hilly retreat, situated at the lower reaches of the Shivalik range at an altitude of 1220metres, is literally just around the corner for those living in the plains of Chandigarh or Panchkula. Located in Haryana, Morni is a great spot of trekking across picturesque paths through cool pine forests, picnicking on lakeshores or hours of bird watching.

As you reach Morni, you will come across Mountain Quail, which provides accommodation and F&B. Explore the ruins of the Old Fort, which was recently renovated located near Mountain Quail and the Hindu temple on the lakeside that dates back to the 12^th century. Ten kilometers away is tourist hot spot Tikkar Taal, home to two lakes. A short distance from here is Hosh and Josh Thrills Adventure Park where you can enjoy river crossings, Tarzan swings, tree houses, a maze, a haunted house and restaurant.

Trek from Mountain Quail to Tikkar Taal (about a 10km trek) and take a relaxing stroll along the lake. Adventure seekers can trek to Ghaggar River, which flows past Morni. The fairytale pine forests are home to intriguting wildlife like langurs, jackals, hyenas, and sambar. Birdwatchers can spot kingfishers, tree creepers, quails and Himalayan bulbul.

Journey There

If you are traveling to Morni from Zirakpur or other parts of Punjab, you can take Naraingarh Road (where Gurudwara Nada Sahib is located). Morni Hills is just 30km from here and 45km from Chandigarh.

Overnight options

Mountain Quail, run by Haryana Tourism, provides accommodation from Rs. 1100 – 1800 a night. Morni also has a forest rest house called Lal Munia and a PWD rest house and hotels like Morni Resorts. At Tikkar Taal, Haryana Tourism provides a dormitory and tents at nominal prices. There is also a forest rest house besides other private hotels. Tourists looking for low budget options can opt for a homestay at Morni village.

Saltwater Fishing Reports

THE CABO SAN LUCAS FISHING REPORT FOR THE GAVIOTA SPORTFISHING FLEET
AND FISH CABO FLEET

It was a superb marlin action week from Cabo San Lucas for the "TUNA TIME" and "FISH CABO", as the billfish continued to chew on the bait and the artificials. While only two of the boats from Fish Cabo Fleet provided this report, the results were exciting and the anglers were rewarded. Captain Roberto Padilla, skipper of the "Tuna Time", released 12 stripers for four fishing days and rounded out his catches with 15 yellowfin tuna and a single dorado. The "Fish Cabo", skippered by Captain Gil Marquez, reported the release of 3 stripers for his 2 fishing days. The mainstay of the action remains close to Cabo San Lucas and continues to be the area from 2-6 miles or so outside the arch and around to Chileno Bay, (the old Cabo San Lucas Hotel area) just minutes from the Cabo San Lucas Harbor. (We have been unable to obtain the fish report from the Gaviota Fleet for the week at the time this information was compiled, but we may have a later-in-the-day update that will be forwarded if it does arrive).

Cabo Climate: Cooler & windier days in the early week that changed to warm, sunny & clear days as the week progressed, offering temps that ranged from 71 nights to 94 daytime highs & light, variable, surface breezes.

Sea Conditions: As the week progressed, the sea conditions became near perfect with water temps that ranged from 79 inshore to 74 offshore from Cristobal Point to Jaime Bank on the Pacific side. From Cabo Falso and around to the Gorda Banks, on the Sea of Cortez side, temps ranged from 76-80 degrees with a gradual change from Cabo. Above the Gorda Banks to Las Frailes, temps at 80-82 degrees. Lots of clean, blue water throughout the area.

Best Fishing Area: Just outside of Cabo, from Cabo Falso, 2-8 miles off and around to Chileno, 2-8 miles off.

Best Lure/Bait: Live bait was best when available and rigged baits working very well, too. Aritficials were also producing well in a myriad of colors, including the Petrolero and mackerel colors.

Bait Supply: Just mediocre at best. Lots of junk bait mixed in & not recommended unless nothing else. Rigged ballyhoo, when available, working very well.

THE MAZATLAN FISHING REPORT FOR THE ARIES SPORTFISHING FLEET
The sailfish are starting to move into the Mazatlan area a little better than the past few weeks and the dorado bite continues to offer continuous fast action that has provided limit fishing or the anglers. Also reported was a near 500 lb. blue marlin, taken aboard the private yacht, "Tourbillon", skippered by Captain mark Hanson, from California. The Aries Sportfishing Fleet reported in for 13 offshore fishing days that resulted in 8 sailfish, (7 released) limits of dorado and many dorado releases (the dorado remain in the 20-plus ranges) and a single yellowfin tuna. The inshore super pangas, reporting for 3 days fished, reflected limits of dorado for their anglers and many releases. According to Fleet/Marina Manager, Geronimo Cevallos, FAD (fish attracting device) buoys are all holding good amounts of dorado in the 20-plus pound ranges and they are now spaced from 7 to 20 miles offshore, making for excellent light tackle and fly fishing possibilities for the anglers.

Mazatlan Climate: Warm, a little humid, with scattered passing clouds and periods of intermittent sunshine. Temps from 66 nights to 89 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions: Warming up and cleaning up to near excellent conditions. Temps from 81-82 inshore and extending to the offshore with stability and deep blue color starting at about 12-14 miles or so.

Best Fsihing Areas: The outer buoys are holding the bigger dorado, but all of the buoys holding plenty of dorado action. The billfish are coming from the area south of Marina El Cid in the 20-30 miles zone.

Best Lure/Bait: Trolled ballyhoo best for the dorado and rigged mullet best for the sailfish. Best lure colors for the sails have been in the orange/yellows.

Bait Supply: Bait supply remains very good at Mazatlan and provides live bait, ballyhoo and mullet on a daily basis.

THE IXTAPA-ZPHUATANEJO FISHING REPORT FOR THE INDEPENDENT
SPORTFISHING FLEET

Captain Temo Verboonen, skipper of the "Secuestro De Amor", reported "very exciting fishing this past week along the coastline that produced good action on the jack cravalle and roosterfish. The fish were schooling and chasing the bait balls all over, from the Valentin River thru Guamilule Point, (near the White Rocks). It was especially good fishing for the spinning tackle enthusiasts and the fly fishing anglers". Still not very many boats getting out, but for those that do, the fishing has been terrific for both, inshore and offshore action. Anglers wishing to catch sailfish and marlin in the blue water, should consider being here this month for the fast action that continues to produce multiple billfish release opportunities each day.

IZ Climate: Partly cloudy days with intermittent periods of sunshine. Weather is warm and comfortable, ranging from 73 nights to 93 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions: Excellent from inshore to offshore and throughout the week with stability at 85-86 degrees and blue water at the 8-mile mark and beyond.

Best Fishing Areas: Inshore action best from Valentin River to Guamilule Point and the White Rocks area. Offshore starts at about 8-miles at the edge of the blue-blue water and continues outbound from there.

Best Lure/Baits: The pencil poppers continue to work very well as does the Luna Lures and live bait for the in-shore fishing on spinning tackle and 8-insh streamers for the fly fishing anglers. The rigged mullet for the billfish in the offshore areas.

Bait Supply: Continues to be readily available on a daily basis.

THE PUERTO MORELOS FISHING REPORT FOR THE MARINA EL CID SPORTFISHING
FLEET, (CANCUN TO COZUMEL AREA)

The weekly variety catch continues to pour in from Puerto Morelos, with the Marina El Cid Sportfishing Fleet and this week reflected 17 different fish species reported that included a new critter for the books, called a "cucha", which is a bottom fish that has a similar look to a cabezon or sculpin from the Pacific and generally is a smallish fish in the 1-4 lb. ranges. The fleet provided 25 offshore days that reflected 1 smaller blue marlin, 2 white marlin, 5 sailfish, 12 dorado, 4 king mackerel, 3 shark, 10 Atlantic barracuda, 14 bonito, 2 blackfin tuna, 2 snapper, 9 grouper, 2 jack cravalle, 1 soapfish, 1 amberjack, 8 triggerfish and 4 cuchas. Whether its surface fishing or bottom fishing, the opportunities for a different fish with each cast is ever present and adds to the daily fishing excitement for the anglers in this Caribbean fishing port. The angler can literally catch a billfish on one bait and a grouper on the next, fishing the same spot.

PM Climate: Mostly cloudy but warm days and nights with temps ranging from 74 nights to 92 daytime highs.

Sea Conditions: Overall, it's been a good week with most days very fishable and productive. Water temps stable at 83-85 degrees throughout this area and crystal clean.

Best Bait/Lure: The Ballyhoo, both skirt-rigged and non-rigged baits are working systematically perfect.

Fishing Report - Anglers Inn El Salto - May

This Mexico Bass Fishing report is from our friends at Lake El Salto and Anglers Inn. They have the most consistent bass fishing in Mexico and every client we have ever sent there has had a wonderful experience. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ON EL SALTO

May was incredible at Anglers Inn International and Lake El Salto, Mexico. Although this fishing season has been inconsistent due to the abundance of bait, there wasn’t a single angler that came off the water wishing he was sitting on his couch dreaming about the next day of work. Instead, glowing reviews and tales of giant fish flooded the banks of Lake El Salto. The good news for anglers sitting on the couch dreaming of big bass is June and July will be better than May.

Numbers were soaring all though the month, and the typical angler would boat 55-70 fish per day. A variety of baits would work, but crankbaits tend to rule the day.

Ryan Bostian, native of Southern California, threw a Rapala DT 10 crankbait to anchor several giants, including one 9-pound bass. “This place is amazing,” said Ryan. “We caught a bunch of 4-6 pound bass with shallow running crankbaits, and when that bite shut off we went to Rat-L-Traps when the wind started to whip. Make sure you bring the big hooks and a big appetite for big bass because this is epic.”

The hot baits for El Salto during the spring to summer months are 8-inch Zoom Lizards, 5-6 inch Senkos, black and blue Skinny Dipper-style swimbaits, crankbaits (Citrus Shad color) and Rat-L-Traps.

When June and July roll around we tend to see bass concentrated together around heavy cover. The ever-popular Black/Blue 10-inch worms are always working this time of year, and swim jigs begin to become a popular bite.

When it comes to technique and Lake El Salto anything goes, and it doesn’t matter if you are a seasoned angler or weekend angler. Everyone is at home with Anglers Inn International. The guides are tuned into the fish and can point anglers in the right direction.

Several patrons doted on the superb service of the staff, and more than we could count put their entire trust with our guides. “These guides are key to having success on the water here at Lake El Salto,” said Jimmy Webster. “You can trust they will put you in the best spots on the water. Our guide had us doing a medium retrieve on a citrus shad crankbait around 18-20 feet of water and we were just slaying the fish. Our big fish of the trip was a 9-pound, 4-ounce giant. This is not our last trip with Anglers Inn International.”

Anglers Inn International introduced the best guide boat on the water in April, which is an 18’6” aluminum hull bass boat. With more deck space (2 large casting decks), length, width, storage space, elevated fishing seats, front & rear trolling motors this fishing machine is in a class by itself. There have already been many 10 pounders caught out of these boats with more to come.

Lake El Salto in June and July will be something to behold folks. Joe Thomas and Dennis Braid each filmed in the heat of the summer and absolutely hammered big fish. Their videos and other lake report videos can be viewed at www.anglersinn.tv.

Anglers Inn International is introducing a few summer specials for any level angler. The Super Season Specials can save potential anglers $500 on a regular 4 nights/3.5 days of fishing when celebrating the holidays with Anglers Inn International. American Airlines will now be offering flights from Dallas directly to Mazatlan so anglers looking for a quick route now have another option.

Potential anglers that want information about season-long specials and Anglers Inn International can visit www.anglersinn.com to find out more about our exciting new offers.

Our staff is widely known to be the best and at Anglers Inn International we pride ourselves on our service. We want any angler or non-angler to come enjoy the great amenities that we have to offer. I guarantee that you will enjoy your stay with our famed staff, excellent accommodations and the greatest bass fishing on the planet.

We also have an Anglers Inn Sportsman's Club Family Vacation Specialist and a Travel Specialist to assist you in every aspect of your vacation. Give us one shot at your family vacation. For more info or for booking your next Anglers Inn International adventure at either Lake El Salto, Lake Mateos or a saltwater fishing trip contact me!

Adventure Travel : The Joys in Summer

For a while now I've been spying on garden activity. Officially summer is here and it has become a whole lot warmer. So warm that I can venture out without a coat and nothing can really beat that feeling. When I spy on my garden visitors its normally with a cup of tea in my hand , my mobile lying carelessly on the kitchen counter at which I gaze every now and then to make sure am doing okay on time. Of late my morning ritual has been super entertaining.
So the bird feeder is frequented by the likes of pigeons, magpies, sometimes even seagulls..
But I was pleasently surprsed when one day I found one of my furry friends stealthily make his way through the garden.

As I watched wondering what he was upto, he jumped across and got onto the bird feeder. :). You shouldn't be doing that Mr Squirril I though :).

My cheeky little friend then used his tail as a grasp and swung himself upside down getting hold of all the seeds he could :). It was wonderful to watch.

When he was done, I left with a little chuckle. Ahh... The joys of summer!

How To Make An Investment And Earn Profits

For Who May Like looking About Buying Land Real estate, See 50 Hectary On Sale. Smart Earn
Buy cheap Price and hold the value for Improvement, is the best way to earn profit when selling.
We in Exportadora Jeveteca S.A, do not recommend to invest in another country other from your mother land were you were born. Guessing why to say this, we feel that people should care about contributing on their countries development and enforcing citizens to do the same, what this does is providing a sense of security and a strong local economy.
How ever understanding the insides ins and out of international business, companies and individuals hungry for earning more every year, then sometimes it is an exception making an investment in others locations.
Our biggest concern is what for example an American ex retired school teacher knows about making bread at the new invested by him bread store and factory? nothing. Why a Hollywood actor Director for movies decides to buy a farm with 5000 hectare, 2 two ranch and huge mansion on the top of a hill with private entrance and hire 100 employees for the job of cooking and cleaning amenities, maintenance of his investment abroad in Guanacaste Costa Rica? We guess it happened because someone like a Realtor real estate specialist " adviser provider of real estate advice ", friend of his told him it was the biggest ever deal "bbd", and of course, he wanted to stay away from his wife, from who later around divorced, leaving a broken family.
These are not the cases, small countries need investors, but investing business men and women who happen with experience to know about how to produce products and services and benefit local community surrounding their secure assets. Small countries are calling for real investing adventurers with enough economical sorceress and well financing back up to improve the style of life of their citizens, meantime these countries are offering all local and international laws support to those with courage individuals or corporations, Business Corp Enterprise.
Between experience and money all can be possible to achieve together.
So, considering all options of serious investing, we strongly recommend that tourism be a tourist and forget the other, enjoy vacations, and do not listen to irresponsible actors about getting a cheap home and staying to live the sooner as possible, because that doesn't work for everyone and chances are if you sell your home property in New York, South Florida apartments and condo, all your cars, take the money out of the local bank account and do the move, again, the chance is a lost 100%. Simple and clear, after a few month of suffering changes of style of life, missing friends, family, yearly seasons like Super Ball Winter Snow, Fall November Thanks Giving, Spring Flowers and Smells of Trees, Summer Time Good all times etc. In addition the delicious foods and chocolates, the cheap shoes sneakers adidas, nike, designers footwear and designer clothing, ingredients for a good dish cooking and so on, things that are only available in your homeland and not in the place where you have moved. Think how important is to be living near the kids school, the teenagers high-school, near your son and doughtier college, so they can receive teaching classes and what is critical, in their own English language, and not a crappy school or University in other far away language that they must start from learning it before and then anything else.
Again, two things very different are, travel for fun and travel for business, please make the differences and comparisons, compare with the pillow, think that some changes in life are critical and it is hard to recover from a failure about money and style of life.
as an unique case, some people have enough to afford loosing a portion of it and then why not to buy a small land close the beach, or an apartment in the city for a getaway one in a while, buying a brand new family or spot car for fun, or investing in the stock market new York and risking to win o lose it all, That's some people only.
have you ever though that the country's economy works against us if we don't make it work for us from the beginning with, love your country and flag, good luck.

Producing Answers For Better Website Content Online

Today we are happy to announce that you can post any decent questions in our local forum as a visitor to our website. Where Can I Buy Clothing Shoes Electronics And Baby Items Online? The Reviews From The Smaller Guys To Big Products, The Women's Men's and Baby Clothes Shopping Cart Checkout, Great Savings Online.
Please feel complete free to go through the normal requirements for registration and try to find the right suggest or make a brand new posting for a travel hotel prices, directions and locally country information.
as you can notice our site talks about many different ways to reach a store online, and what this means is that we love you to go shopping with our secure system alliance online, taking opportunity to purchase a variety of affordable items. these items are in many cases great deals offered fresh everyday and they can be even for satisfying the taste for kids and women or men who love their trade marks or mostly know as " Major Brands in the United sates Of America". Cheapest Prices Online Stores, Shopping Affordable Forum.
Importantly for our publishers is visitors to consider buying books that they usually read and enjoy from many famous book authors bestsellers in the worldwide.
We still creating a personal brand for our company, that's the reason why we are relying on affiliate programs while building credibility and an establishing name brand for international business. With honesty we have chosen the best stores that are present with fun widgets on many of our web pages, as you can see their representation is eminent.
This is because big companies are already serious and established about assisting their customers the best while delivering to homes and offices their reliable products and we understood that point of business.
On the very near future our company will sell online fresh coffee on packs with the highest quality and it will be deliver worldwide, these process of registration and preparation takes sometime and paperwork, so soon we make the final announcement.
Once again participate in our forums with your questions and soon we will answer.
Thank You For Your Visit, Please Keep In Touch/

Finding the Cheapest Car Rental

With the price search above you can be pretty confident that you'll have an unbeatable offer on your car hire in France. Want to be sure you are getting the best possible deal for your car rental? Check with other leading hire companies first then check our prices!
The France car hire companies selected above all offer great prices (they search all the major car rental companies for best prices) and have full online booking and reservation systems. We are confident that if you get online car rental quotes from these the price you pay will not be bettered elsewhere.
For your convenience the above car rental links will open in a new tab/window so you can return to this page after you have got your car hire quotes.
Car Hire France Advice
The general advice below applies to car hire in all countries, not just France!
We have a separate article about driving in France.
Apart from the obvious advice to shop around for the best quote there are a few other considerations when you are hiring a car that will affect both your comfort and enjoyment - the cheapest car hire isn't necessarily the ideal rental for your visit! To compare quotes accurately make sure you have specified your needs carefully, and that you understand what the price quoted actually includes.
Be sure that you are renting a big enough car for travelling around France. The legroom in the back seats of a small car can often be very restricted, so if more than two adults are travelling together consider who will be in the back seat and whether they will be comfortable. Likewise, be sure that there is a large enough boot space to carry all the luggage you will have. Cheap car hire is good. Too cheap is not necessarily better!
Additional charges are often levied by car rental companies for:

• additional insurances, such as collision damage waiver are often charged - typically optional, but most people would accept them for the extra peace of mind during their holiday
• listing additional drivers as able to drive the car may incur a surcharge on the cost of your rental
• Basic extras include child seats and roof rack will usually incur an additional daily charge. Over a long stay this can be a significant cost
• Other options available. Options might include air-conditioning (called climatisation or 'clim' in French, sometimes standard but not always); a CD or DVD player; a GPS navigation system etc. Your need for each of these will depend on your situation, but it might well be worth paying a little extra for in car entertainment or to help with direction finding if this will reduce family friction on long journeys
• Car cleaning charges may be imposed - so if baby is sick on the back seat while junior sprinkles crisps around, that might cost you dearly

Read the terms and conditions in your car rental agreement. There might be restrictions on how much mileage you can cover, how much petrol should be in the tank when you return the car, what kind of roads you are allowed to drive on (e.g. 'no off-road driving is included in the insurance' might include that car park where a tree falls on the car!) and others. Just be sure you understand any risks you are taking on.
In France it is important to follow the correct procedures if there will be a subsequent insurance claim, mostly relating to filling in an accident report form.
When you arrive to pick up your France rental car be sure you have checked it for every little dent, scratch or missing hubcap so that there is no dispute when you return the vehicle.

Adventure Travel : Mantova is Beautiful Place

Beautiful Mantova

Mantova, quiet and beautiful city in Lombardy, hides behind an elegant facade its treasures.
The city was the center of the noble Gonzaga family power, the most important of the Middle Ages in Italy until 700. The Dukes, in order to show their power and their wealth, embellished Mantova and enriched it with palaces and monuments, giving the city its refined taste.
In particular, Palazzo Te and Palazzo Ducale are not to be missed, recognized in 2008 as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

The Gonzaga made their official residence in 1300, bringing together into a single unit a collection of buildings, gardens and courtyards, known today as the Palazzo Ducale. Inside there is one of the masterpieces of the Renaissance, the bedroom of the couple, the camera picta frescoed by Mantegna.

It dates back to 1525, Palazzo Te, built on an island within a lake, now dried up for the vices and amusements of Duke Ferdinand. Giulio Romano was the architect and the author of some of the wonderful frescoes as the famous hall of the giants, the romantic hall of Cupid and Psyche and the hall of the horses.
Since spring 2011 it has also been open to the public the clock tower of Palazzo della Ragione. The astrological-astronomical clock of the sixteenth century is still working, and from the top of the tower it is possible to admire the entire city.

Biggest Los Angelest Suites: Presidential Bungalows

If you are going to Los Angeles for some summer fun and you need a good amount of space where you can relax and indulge in luxury, you might want to check out the Presidential Bungalows being opened by the Beverly Hills Hotel which is said to be the biggest suites in the Los Angeles area. This Los Angeles hotel suites, bigger than the usual homes of people, will be ready this month.
The luxury pad offers 5,000 square feet of space which can be compared to the fancy homes in the famous Beverly Hills. It has functional spaces both indoor and outdoor. It is perfect if you want to treat a partner with all the best luxury living can give.
The two bungalows follow the classic theme of the hotel in pink. Privacy is one of its utmost quality and each luxury suite has its own entrance. It also boasts of a Great Room with living and dining area, a study, a porch, a well equipped kitchen, and customized furniture. Those who can afford that rates will have access to the three bedrooms, bath tubs, vanities, and steam showers. Each bungalow also has 5 fire places fashioned from limestone.

The interiors are amazing but the outside of the bungalows are even more jaw dropping. The Presidential Bungalows have their own garden and swimming pool. In case you want some music while you lounge in the pool, it even has underwater speakers. The lounge area has a large table that is good for a company of ten with classy lighting in case you have guests for dinner. They also boasts of alfresco showers just outside the master bathroom.
All these of course comes for a price. A big, big price of around $14,000 to $15,000 a night.

Attack Of The Bolivian Monkeys

Bolivian Squirrel Monkey

We sped through the chocolaty brown waters of Bolivia’s Yacuma River, the breeze giving us respite from the moist and muggy Amazon air. We’d seen a lot in one morning – capybaras, caimans, river turtles, river dolphins – and we settled in for a 45 minute ride back to our lodge for some lunch and a nap in a hammock. Wilbur steered us swiftly in the 20-foot long dugout canoe and then slowed us down, killed the engine and we slowly drifted towards the far bank. We were tiny white specks in a tri-color landscape of green trees, blue sky and brown water in the heart of the Bolivian Amazon.

With no breeze we started sweating and we wondered what Wilbur was up to. Suddenly, the branches of the largest tree from the approaching bank started moving and shaking. A closer look revealed that the tree was filled with about two dozen small Bolivian squirrel monkeys and they were coming our way as our boat now drifted under the branches. The monkeys let their weight bring the branches down to the boat and one boarded near the bow.

Squirrel monkeys live in the tropical rain forests of Central and South America in the canopy layer. They have short fur, olive colored shoulders and yellowish-orange coloring on their backs and extremities. The grow to about 25 to 35 centimeters and their brain mass to body mass ratio is a remarkable 1:17, the largest brain, proportionately, of all the primates. To put this in perspective, you have about a 1:35 ratio.

Our kids were by now anxious and I calmly told them “Don’t move. All they want are the oranges.” My voice was fatherly and authoritarian, laced with a hint of nervousness. I envisioned a worst case scenario of the kids being bitten by the monkeys and having to make the long 5 hour trek back to the closest town. By now, eight of them were on our boat looking for food. My wife was snapping photos and videos and one jumped in her lap. My son moved to the edge of his seat and another monkey jumped on the spot he vacated.

They quickly grabbed the oranges and peels from the bottom of the canoe and started leaving and we were relieved that everyone was safe and no one had been bitten. While I had sweated and worried about the kids safety, I felt that my wife -- who had filmed almost the entire episode -- was more concerned about missing any footage of the event.