The jungle is thick, green and steamy and you will be caked in sweat. It will run rivers down your arms and chin. No need to despair though, there is a heavenly aqua pool surrounded by limestone rock at the base ofthe waterfall where you don’t even have to change into your swimmers to enjoy. It’s laidback and pretty casual here on Malekula Island, Vanuatu, everything is done with a laugh and a smile.
There’s not a man-made structure in sight. It’s all just green and lush. There are butterflies, bird song, splashing and laughter. This is what you want when you come to the pacific – nature at its most magnificent.
Vanuatu may not be on the tourist radar yet, and that’s exactly the attraction. There’s no luxury resorts on Malekula Island. Outside the capital city, there’s no electricity and very little infrastructure. The roads are a bumpy adventure in themselves.
A visit to Losinwei waterfall is easy to organise once you’re on Malekula Island especially if you’re in the north near Norsup airport and Lakatoro, the capital city of this province. Just ask your host to arrange a guide and bus to the base of the short walk. You don’t need to book ahead. Things here work at their own pace and everything is done with a smile.
While you’re lazing in the pool you can devour freshly cut pawpaw and banana and wash it down with green coconut juice straight from the coconut. If this sounds like heaven to you…it’s because it is. After a dip, there’s tons of time for relaxing and taking in the bush and beautiful falls.
The Losinwei Jungle Waterfall trip includes cultural dances, a 3 day bush walk, some visits to an old cannibal site and viewing traditional canoes that Malekula Island is famous for. There’s tons to do…you can either lay on your back and let the soothing falls wash away your worries or you can explore deep into the jungle.
We promise you there’s no music festival in the world that is as unique and awe inspiring as the water-drumming, singing ladies of the sea at Gaua Island, Vanuatu.
The Ëtëtung or water music is a soothing, sonic and visual experience where ladies in hand woven costumes adorned with tropical flowers and beat a calming, hypnotic rhythm with their arms and bodies by lashing, splashing, scooping, slapping, skimming, swirling at the water while singing traditional song.
Each song is not only a deep water beat that you can feel and hear but also a whimsical song sung by the ladies in their local language. Stories and tales are shared. While you may not understand it all, you sure will feel it. The women’s eyes are alive with joy and participation is encouraged, so if you’re brave enough you’ll be invited to join in the dance.
If you’re looking for a truly unique cultural experience, this one is hard to beat. So is Gaua Island. It’s remote, wild and full of adventure.
If visiting an authentic tribe in their forest and flowered environment isn’t awe inspiring enough, the energy hits another level once the male warriors stomp dust, begin to sing their throaty chants and start to dance.
While not every dance is a war dance, let’s be honest…with a history of cannibalism, chiefs with multiple wives and alternative beliefs, the people of Malekula Island in the Vanuatu archipelago certainly have some pretty wild and wonderful stories to share. You are in for a real treat because telling a tale, which is known locally as ‘storian’, is one of the national pass times.
Malekula is one of Vanuatu’s 14 main islands and the second largest in the archipelago. It lies between the popular tourist destination of Espiritu Santo and the island of Efate where the capital Port Vila is located but Malekula is still quite remote and is shrouded in mystery.
Nothing in this tour is overtly commercial or touristy. As you sit in the ancient Malekula tribal forested homelands you will notice that there may not be any wifi but the air will be charged with spirit and energy. And best of all, the locals are known for being the friendliest people on earth. There will always be a laugh and genuine kindness.
It can be a sweltering 45°C outside, but at Ski Dubai the temperature is a constant, perfect minus two. It’s all part of the snowy mirage created at the Mall of Emirates. There are five runs, as well as freestyle zones for perfecting your tricks. And if you think there’s no chance for high adventure, perhaps you want to try the world’s first indoor black diamond run, at 400-metres long with a 60-metre drop.
For those more into chillin’ than thrillin’, there’s the chance to get up close and personal with the resident king and gentoo penguins. There’s a swag of packages available, visitors can meet the penguins, take part in a range of training sessions and even swimming with these adorable, fury delights.
It’s one of the most stunning music venues you’ll ever see, and fans from all around the world come here to take in the surrounding landscape and catch some of their favourite acts in every genre.
During the day, Red Rocks Park & Amphitheatre, located a 30-minute drive from downtown Denver, is a free city park with a number of trails – the shortest is 2.2 kilometres but there are longer ones, too – that are extremely popular with hikers and joggers. Also on site is the Colorado Music Hall of Fame, showcasing the state’s diverse musical talent, from John Denver to Phillip Bailey (of groove sensations Earth, Wind & Fire).
Some legendary musicians, including the Beatles (1964) and U2 (1983), have played shows at the amphitheatre, which is formed by two sandstone monoliths that create acoustic perfection. The world-famous venue saw its first performers way back in 1941, and today the summer concert series, from May through October, presents the best artists in jazz, rock, pop, bluegrass and more. Seeing a concert under the stars is a magical experience.
This could well be the best backdrop for a music festival you’ve ever experienced. Set at the base of the majestic San Juan Mountains, yet with an intimate format to bring you close to the musicians, it’s no surprise Telluride Jazz Festival ranks among the world’s most memorable musical get-togethers.
It’s taken place each August since 1977, and during three days and nights Telluride Jazz Festival continues to celebrate the art, soul, history and future of the jazz genre. Festival-goers can experience world-class jazz, funk, soul, folk and gospel performances, intimate late-night shows, interactive jams and a lively New Orleans second line parade, with colourful floats, costumes and beads, through the town of Telluride.
Beyond the typical music festival, there are free morning yoga sessions, a historical walking tour, and VIP culinary and cocktail experiences. There’s also the opportunity to explore the historical mining town, as well as the many trails and adventures among the nearby 4,000-metre Rocky Mountain peaks. If Telluride’s gold rush history has you wanting to see more, try a guided 4WD jeep tour with Telluride Outside that takes you onto old mining roads that were carved into the San Juan Mountains more than a century ago, visiting what remains of ghost towns that were once home to booming mining communities.
There’s a range of ticket options available to customise your experience, with full three-day tickets, Jazz After Dark performances or one-day options if the location has you wanting to explore beyond. Following the Jazz After Dark shows, the late-night Liberty Sessions take place at The Liberty Bar & Lounge from 11.30pm, free of charge.
Huskies adore running, and their incredible power and skill has been utilised for centuries to transport goods and people in some of the world’s most remote, snow-bound communities. They’re a joy to watch, but it’s even more fun to let them take you on a wild sled ride through the snow and ice. Especially when that snow and ice is located in the idyllic setting of Finland.
As part of Hurtigruten’s Follow the Lights 18-day small group escorted tour, you’ll visit a husky farm in northern Finland to learn all about these amazing creatures. There’s also the unique opportunity to experience a sled ride through a landscape of frozen lakes, fairy-tale forests and snowy plateaus.
What’s a husky sled ride like? It’s exhilarating to say the least. Imagine being pulled along by up to 60 huskies across the snowy Finnish terrain at speeds of up to 50 kilometres an hour. Imagine if you fail to follow rule number one of sled club: don’t let go of the sled! That’s not a whole lot of fun, but you’ll receive proper training and safety tips before you set off. But seriously, don’t let go of the the sled.
The stunning landscape of southeast Alaska, also known as the Alaska Panhandle, is where you’ll find Kalgaya Point, a lookout taking in the small township of Haines and the northern part of the famous Inside Passage.
Despite the rugged landscape, the trail from Haines to Kalgaya Point is well-maintained and moderately trafficked so you won’t be jostling other travellers out of the way for a decent view. The potential for wildlife sightings is huge and you might see eagles, waterfowls, porcupines, whales, seals, winter wrens and moose.
Take a guided hike and learn more about the area and the Indigenous people’s uses for the various plants encountered along the trail. As the trail slowly rises, the sensational panorama of snow-capped mountains and coastal Haines comes into view. From this vantage point you can see Chilkat Inlet to the south and Chilkoot Inlet to the north. Soak it up – you’re far enough from civilisation that the only sounds you’ll hear are the occasional bird call or squirrel chirp.
The rocky forest trail, broken with dense tree roots, leads down to a pebbled beach. Stand on the beach and watch for seals, sea lions and the tell-tale blows or flukes of humpback whales, before heading back along the same trail to your Hurtigruten ship.
Located in the heart of the Kashmir Valley is India’s top hill station, Srinagar, and its number-one drawcard, the spectacular Dal Lake.
Cradled high in the Himalayas and often referred to as the Switzerland of India – without the chocolate, of course – Srinigar is the summer capital of Jammu and Kashmir and is surrounded by mountain peaks, lush green valleys, Mughal-era gardens, glistening lakes and temples galore.
While Srinigar is crisscrossed by tree-lined roads and is is home to bustling bazaars, Sufi shrines and historic forts, it’s best known for Dal Lake. Spread over an impressive 26 square kilometres, it’s the second largest lake in the territory and is aptly named the Lake of Flowers.
Travellers know Dal Lake best for two things: the stationary houseboats moored at its edges and the colourful shikararas (gondola-type rowboats) that ferry people across the water. You can rent a room on one of the ornately carved houseboats or, if you just want to experience the beauty of the lake without committing to a staying on the water, take a shikarara to the floating vegetable market or the ancient temple of Shankaracharya.
Sea legs not all that flash? Visit some of the stunning UNESCO World Heritagelisted gardens. Choose from Nishat Bagh, Shalimar Bagh and Chashme Shahi, all of which are filled with fountains, chinar and pine trees and flowering exotic plants. Shalimar Bash even has a sound and light show every evening between May to October.
Did you know there is more than one type of udon noodle made in Japan? On the Goto Islands, in Nagasaki Prefecture, udon masters have been carefully crafting the light, silken, chewy texture of Goto udon for more than a millennia. As the westernmost point of Kyushu, the Goto Islands also played a part in the Japanese missions to Tang China, where explorers learned of the continent’s civilisation and culture. Over 200 years, 36 missions were sent, with the Goto Islands being the first stop on their way home. Goto udon is one of the things they brought back, and how it is made here has remained unchanged for a thousand years.
Mitsuaki Ota is the fourth-generation owner of the Ota Udon Shop, located on Nakadori Island, and he uses the same ingredients, processes and even tools as his predecessors. The key ingredients defining Goto udon are spring water, oil from the camellia that grows wild across the Goto Islands, and locally produced salt. When it comes to production, Goto udon is stretched rather than cut into their noodle form. The stretching process is lots of fun to try, and it’s surprising how long the noodles can become. The best thing, however, is how they taste.
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