In South Australia, there are many abandoned homesteads . Old Sheep Stations have long ago been left to ruin as farmers moved on to look for greener pastures. These decaying buildings can be found scattered throughout the country and even near city centres such as Adelaide and the wine region of the Barossa Valley. The Kingsford Homestead, on the western edge of the Barossa Valley is one of these old farm houses, but it is far from abandoned. Have you ever heard of McLeod’s Daughters? It was a huge Aussie series that ran for eight seasons in 117 countries. During that time the Homestead was known as as Drover’s Run and the world was watching. Although, I guess Canada wasn’t a part of the syndication list because neither of us knew of it before our stay at the homestead. .

Present Day

The Kingsford Homestead is now owned by a friendly couple named Stephan and Leanne Ahrens. This is a passion project for them. They wanted to buy the building years ago, and nearly had the deal sealed before it was scooped out from under them by the large production company who filmed McLeod’s Daughters. They waited patiently for the series to end and then tried again. Stephan grew up in the area, he’s fourth generation in the Barossa Valley so it is nice to keep this piece of history in the community.

The Barossa Valley

The Kingsford Homestead has now been turned into a luxurious 5-star retreat. If you are visiting the Barrosa Valley, the premier wine region in South Australia, this is a great home base. It’s 40 minutes from Adelaide and wineries are a mere 10 minutes away. The homestay offers all-inclusive packages and it makes for the perfect romantic getaway. There was a couple on their honeymoon while we were staying at the Kingsford and I know they were enjoying the pampering.

A private chef will prepare an exclusive five course tasting menu in the wine cellar using local produce and pouring local wine, you take an outdoor bath in the bush where you have no fear of anyone coming upon you except for the possible kangaroo, and you can spend hours exploring the 250 acres of this old sheep station.

It only opened in 2009 and not all of the amenities are finished yet, but The Kingsford Homestead has already been added to the Top 100 Hotel Awards of 2012 by Fodors. It’s pure luxury. It’s the love and passion that go into your stay that make it memorable. With canapés served in the library at sunset, fresh organic breakfasts, a tranquil environment and comfortable rooms, each elegantly themed and named for famous patrons of the area, a stay at the Kingsford Homestead is something you will never forget.

To find out more about a stay at the Kingsford Homestead in the Barossa Valley, visit their website , Be prepared to spend money on this one, a stay at the Homestead is a once in a lifetime experience for most of us starting at $700 per person per night for an all-inclusive stay.

What is the best hotel you have ever stayed at?

Read the original post Sunrise Beauty in Barossa Valley on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

They understand that there is a shift in the way people are thinking about life and career. Amex recently conducted a survey and found out that about nine in ten (87%) Canadians believe you should prioritize following your dreams over other commitments like work and career. And Aaccording to the same study 83% of Canadians are striving to learn new things this year and that a sense of fulfillment is top priority in 2013. Are you one of them?

The Realize Your Potential with Pinterest Contest gives you a chance to not only be creative, but to win one of three $5000 American Express gift cards.

Realize Your Potential

What we love about this contest is how inspiring it is. American Express has been encouraging people through their Realize Your Potential campaign to live the best lives possible. They understand that there is a shift in the way people are thinking about life and career. Amex recently conducted a survey and found out that about nine in ten (87%) Canadians believe you should prioritize following your dreams over other commitments like work and career. And according to the same study 83% of Canadians are striving to learn new things this year and that a sense of fulfillment is top priority in 2013. Are you one of them?

Show Us!

We are one of three judges who will help American Express choose a winner in their Pinterest Contest. So, it’s your job to inspire us today. To help you get started, we want to share some advice on how you can make the most of your Pinterest board.

First, go take a look at the Pinterest board we created. It was some of our most inspiring moments that eventually lead to us changing our lives. It was a long and slow process to shift from working in the film business to becoming full time adventurers, but we did it.

Your life is probably far different from ours but I know that you are doing amazing and inspiring things every day to realize your own potential. Are you taking a course? Are you up at the crack of dawn getting in shape at the gym or hitting the pavement? Are you studying an instrument or taking an art class? Do you have photos of your family? Are your kids at the top of their class or performing at school? What is your passion and what are you doing to pursue it?

Your Pinterest Board

Pin these moments to your own Pinterest board and enter the contest. Remember, photos that you use, must be your own. We aren’t looking for repins from other people’s photo galleries, we want yours. Don’t worry if your photography isn’t perfect or from an exotic location, we want real moments. Moments that touch our hearts, make us think and inspire us. We’d love it if you pinned at least 20 photos to really show us your story.

You have until May 26 to enter.

How to Enter…

1. Create a pin board entitled “Amex Potentialist Canada” on Pinterest. *All entries must contain your own original content or material.
2. In the board’s description, tell us your dream of how you want to realize your potential
3. Tag each of your pins #PotentialistCanada
4. Re-pin the ‘how to enter’ image from American Express Canada’s Pinterest page (so your friends can read about the competition too!)
5. Once your pin board is complete, visit www.rtpwithpinterest.ca and complete the entry form on “Realize Your Potential with Pinterest” contest tab for your chance to win. (note: Canadian Residents only)

Need more Pinsperation? Check out our fellow judges Pinterest Boards.

Read the original post Pinspiration for Inspiration on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

We have never been to Tonga and when Kate of RTW Travel Guide and 30Traveler told us she visited a remote island in Tonga with no electricity and no other tourists (only 3 locals on the island), in the middle of the rainy season last year, we were intriqued! Now that’s an adventure. Below is a photo of  the traditional accommodation she stayed in. It was like DIY Survivor! When I saw a photo of her bungalow, I wanted to hear more.

Want to know some facts about Tonga and get some tips on what to do and how to get there? Read on!

Things to Do in Tonga

Here are some facts by Kate!

I’m a massive fan of the TV show Survivor. I decided I wanted to have my own Survivor type experience, so I went to an island with no electricity and virtually no other people.

I arranged a boat from Lifuka island (where Ha’apai airport is located) to Uoleva. There were no other tourists there as it was rainy season, and only four locals on the entire island. It was an amazing place to decompress! All I had was a kerosene lamp. I took my own food with me, my Mum’s kindle, and lots of torch batteries! It was very, very wet. Not for the fainthearted.

Foa island, Tonga

I also spent some time on Foa island. I stayed in a bungalow at a place called Matafonua run by an expat family. The family were super nice. If you want to plonk yourself down and stay put on one beach then Foa island may be a good choice. However, you can’t really go for walks etc. I was nervous about whether Uoleva would be too adventurous for me so it was reassuring to have a backup option with more creature comforts (such as electricity!)

I enjoyed visiting the local food market in Nuku’alofa. You’ll get to see what 100% seasonal eating on a tropical island is like. You can go swimming with whales off Vava’u from June to November (Consider that this is Tongan winter so the temperatures won’t be super high. Average lows in the mid 60s and highs in the mid 70s.) You can Trek and hike on ‘Eua and you can watch Tongan men doing Rugby training in the park in Nuku’alofa.

I’m a New Zealander but until last year I hadn’t visited any other Pacific Islands (except for Australia and Hawaii). I wanted to see a little bit more of my own neighborhood. Not being one to follow the crowd, I chose Tonga.

About Tonga

The Kingdom of Tonga consists of 176 islands stretched over 500 miles lengthwise, 52 of which are inhabited. The main island of Tongatapu is a 3-hour flight north of Auckland, New Zealand.

Flights to Tonga from New Zealand are very affordable (You can find specials for less than $150 USD), however internal flights within Tonga are expensive.

The total population of all the Tongan islands is only around 100,000 people. Tonga is the only nation in the South Pacific region never to have been colonized and because of this travel to Tonga provides a very authentic cultural experience.

Island Groups

The Tongan Islands are divided into four island groups.

1. Tongatapu – This is the island where the capital, Nuku’alofa, and international airport are located. Nuku’alofa is the equivalent of a very small town. This island is mainly considered a jumping off point for reaching other places in Tonga. (If you want great beaches without taking additional internal flights then Rarotonga in the The Cook Islands would be a better option instead of Tonga.)

2. Ha’apai group – This is where I went, in addition to spending a few days in Nuku’alofa. The flight to Ha’apai takes around 40 minutes. The cost was the same as what my international flight to Tonga cost. I traveled on a 6 seater plane and sat directly behind the pilot. My only co-passengers were a catholic sister and a teenage girl. Flights go most days with no flights allowed to operate on Sundays in Tonga. The flight schedule changes frequently so don’t book interisland travel the same day as your domestic flight.

3. Vava’u group – This is where most tourists go. Interisland flights from Tongatapu to Vava’u are even more expensive than to Ha’apai (however you can get a pass that allows travel to multiple island groups). One of the main attractions people go to Vava’u for is swimming with whales. The season for this is Tongan winter when air and sea temperatures are quite cool and perhaps not the tropical vacation you might’ve been expecting.

4. ‘Eua island – This is an island located off Tongatapu that can be reached by ferry or flight. It’s known for hiking but not for beaches.

Timing your travel to Tonga can be difficult because, as mentioned, temperatures are quite cool in winter, but the summer (Oct to March) is the rainy season. The shoulder seasons are your best bet.

Getting There

• Virgin Australia and Air NZ both fly from Auckland. Specials are often available for 150 NZD each way. Try http://promos.airnz.co.nz/wenza/
• Virgin Australia also fly from Syndey.
• Air Pacific fly from Nadi and Suva.
• Tonga international flight schedule here – http://www.tongaairports.com/flight-schedules/international/
• Domestic flight schedule here – http://www.tongaairports.com/flight-schedules/domestic/
• Domestic flights are expensive. Chatham Pacific have a monopoly. You can get an airpass if going to multiple island groups http://www.chathamspacific.com/kingdom-pass.html
• There is a weekly ferry to/from Ha’apai from the capital, but there was a major fatal ferry disaster on this route a few years ago.
• ‘Eua can be accessed by ferry, but many people choose to fly.

Places to Stay in Tonga

Tongatapu

On Tongatapu I stayed at Sela’s Guest House. This was a very authentic local experience. The other guests were mainly Tongans visiting from other islands and a few backpackers. Facilities are shared so expect the usual issues that come with that. It’s an easy walk to town. There is a fridge and clean kitchen available for guest use. I was given a bowl of mangoes off the tree on arrival. The price is around $20-35 TOP (Tongan Paanga). Expect that you might hear some roosters outside etc. There was a resident kitten when I was there.

Ha’apai group

Budget

If you need to stay in Lifuka for some reason (the island where the Ha’apai airport is located), stay at Eveloni’s Guest House.

Go to Uoleva. Stay at Diana’s resort. No electricity. Very basic. Run by an older Tonga couple. You’ll feel like you’re on Survivor, but it’s great. Around 35 TOP/night (20 USD). You can also take your tent and pay a small fee to camp.

Diana’s resort will arrange the boat – also around 35 TOP each way (approx 15 minutes).

Mid range

Matafonua Lodge is on Foa island. Foa Island is connected to the island that Ha’apai airport is on by a causeway. I negotiated a lower rate than the internet rate as I visited at the height of the rainy season. It was so wet that flights were cancelled for several days the week I was there.

Vava’u Group

I didn’t go to the Vava’u group but travelers I met consistently recommended Port Wine Guest House. Once on Vava’u you will need to travel to other islands for beaches. Vava’u itself is the jumping off point. This all involves traveling to tinier and tinier dots in the Pacific!

Places to Eat

Bringing your own food is a common recommendation for parts of the Pacific e.g. that’s what Kiwis often do when they go places like Rarotonga.

Tongatapu

- Buy seasonal fruit at the Nukua’lofa market.
- Friends Cafe is a cute cafe serving and selling Tonga coffee.

Ha’apai

Bring your own food if going to Ha’apai and staying anywhere other than Matafonua. The food at Matafonua is good. They buy crayfish locally and have a bread maker that they use to make pizza bases. All food except meat and root crops is shipped into Ha’apai. Selection is EXTREMELY limited. Fresh fruit and vegetables are NOT available, partly due to soil conditions.

Vava’u

Vava’u group is much more developed than Ha’apai group so you won’t need to bring your own food there.

Know before you go

• Tonga is much more expensive than South East Asia but less expensive and less developed than many other Pacific Islands.
• Currency is Tonga Paanga (TOP). Money changers at Tongatapu airport offered better exchange rates than my bank in New Zealand or using my ATM card.
• Even in the capital, options are very limited. It’s a very small place.

Unique aspects

As I said previously, Tonga is only nation in the region never to have been colonized. Because of this, it retains are very authentic local culture.Tonga feels very safe. The capital feels like a very small town in New Zealand. I even caught lifts with strangers a few times in Ha’apai. This is something I have never done anywhere else. And finally, the Tongan people extremely friendly.

Author Bio

Kate is leaving on another adventure in a few weeks, starting with a 5 week stay in Hawaii. You can follow her trip at RTW Travel Guide and 30Traveler. You can also find her on Google Plus. Her other social networking profiles can be found on her websites.

Read the original post Travel to Tonga on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

Swimming with dolphins in Baird Bay

Our first trip took us to Baird Bay for an unforgettable wildlife experience.

We were swimming with dolphins!

We’ve swam with dolphins before and it is the most uplifting and beautiful experience on earth. The only difference with swimming in Baird Bay, South Australia was that these waters were in shark territory and they were freezing!

When we asked our captain what the temperature of the water was? He replied a chilly 16 degrees Celcius! For you Americans out there, that’s 60 degrees Fahrenheit. When we spotted the dolphins and were told to jump in I wasn’t sure if I was more afraid of the cold or the possibility of becoming a lunch for a great white shark.

The Shark Deterrent worn by our guide in Baird Bay

We had a quick briefing our swim where we were told stay close to our guide who was wearing a shark deterrent. He wore an electronic pulse attached to his ankle that apparently scared sharks off. If we swam too far away we’d be prey. However, the more we thought about it, the more it didn’t make sense to us. If sharks and dolphins use the same sonar to navigate, how come it didn’t scare off the dolphins? It’s better not to think about these things so we just jumped in.

Swimming with the dolphins of Baird Bay. Up close and personal.

Each time we’ve swam with dolphins, it’s been reiterated that we must jump in as soon as the dolphins arrive. They love to play, but they also have short attention spans and if you don’t act soon, you’ll miss your chance. So we did what we were told and jumped into the frigid waters.

It is said that if there are dolphins around, sharks will not bother you. That is a myth that has been debunked again and again. Dolphins and sharks do share the water and eat the same food but sharks are not terrified of dolphins. They occupy the same space on a regular basis. What dolphins can do is defend themselves agains sharks; Even Great Whites, and when push comes to shove they can kill a shark while defending their young. When it comes to the food chain in the ocean though, dolphins are up there as worthy opponents.

Dolphins are so playful!

Hey, when we were swimming with dolphins in New Zealand, I saw a shark swim right underneath me. It was big and it was curious, but thankfully nothing happened. Our captain didn’t believe me, but we’ve been up close and personal with enough sharks in our lives to know what they look like. He didn’t look afraid at all.

See video of us swimming with sharks. 

Anyway, I’m here to tell the story, so clearly nothing happened… So, on to the dolphins.

As I said earlier, we’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to swim with wild dolphins on two occasions. Once in Honduras and once in New Zealand and while they were amazing experiences, neither of these came close to the experience we had in Baird Bay, South Australia. We have never seen dolphins stick around for so long. They made pass after pass around us. They dove and turned and jumped and sang in the water. You can hear their sonar while you are snorkelling. Their eyes are so pure and innocent yet filled with intelligence. When you swim with dolphins, its as if they know your being to the core and can read your mind. I have heard that dolphins and whales can feel your heartbeat and when you are in the water with them, you believe it. You sense that they know exactly what you are thinking.

A pod of dolphins.

The more relaxed you are and the more you play with them the more they want to interact with you. What I love about the experience in Baird Bay is that  it is completely wild. We’ve never swam with enclosed dolphins before and I don’t know if I’d ever want to. Out here in the bay, it is completely left up to the dolphins if they want to play with you. If they dont’ want to visit, you they’ll simply swim away or not show up at all. Both our captain and guide told us that this was one of the best visits they’ve ever had and we believed them. We’ve never seen dolphins so interested in staying with humans before. They seemed to really enjoy our company and we enjoyed theirs too!

Video from our dolphin swim in New Zealand – South Australia video coming soon.

For more information on swimming with dolphins, check out BairdBay.com - Adult swims cost $140 (AUD)  To view from the boat with no swim is $100 AUD.

Australian Dollar is on par with the US Dollar.

• Check out our Great White Shark Dive with Video in South Africa.
• Enjoy our post about swimming with sharks in the Galapagos
• Read all about our other dolphin swim in New Zealand and see more videos too. Or enjoy this short clip below and see what it’s like to swim with the dolphins.

Read the original post A Dolphin Swim in Shark Country on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

The rain stopped the next morning and we were free to explore the beautiful amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound, an 80 Square kilometre circle of rock that is simply astounding . What is the best way to see this incredible landscape? From above of course!

Flinders Ranges and Wilpena Pound by Air

Magnificent Amphitheatre of Wilpena Pound in the Flinders Ranges

If there is one thing we love to do it is to take scenic flights. There is no better way to take in the beauty and scope of a place than from a plane flying overhead. We arrived at the Wilpena Pound Airport at dawn just as one lone plane was taking off. There was no one else in sight. We had our own Ute hire so we waited in the warmth of the truck for the pilot and the rest of our party to arrive. As we waited, we hoped and wondered if we were at the right place.

Taking off Over Wilpena Pound

The airstrip is quite remote. It’s not paved and there’s no hanger or office. There’s a little shed and two planes parked in a gravel fenced in area. Nobody arrived for quite some time, but eventually two guys from Germany and another fellow from Sydney showed up to join us. We felt much better knowing we must be in the right place. The pilot showed up a short while later, stripped off the window covers, did a quick check of the plane, and then we all loaded in within a few minutes after being weighed and assigned seats.

The Remote Airstrip of Wilpena Pound

Dave and I were placed in the back beside one another which was a bonus because we could photograph each other grinning through the flight. It was a tight squeeze. The plane only held six people and the two back seats were the most snug of them all. I had to take a couple of deep breaths at the beginning because I felt a little claustrophobic as Dave’s shoulder pressed against mine and I had nowhere to go. All the anxiety was soon forgotten though once we took off.

The flight over Wilpena Pound was one of the smoothest scenic flights we’ve ever had. The day was perfect, the sky was clear and there was zero turbulence. We had a bump free ride allowing us lots of time to take in the view below.
And wow! The scenery was some of the best we’ve ever seen!

Flinders Ranges, Wilpena Pound

Astounding Wilpena Pound

Wilpena Pound has to be one of the coolest landscapes we’ve ever witnessed. It’s a giant amphitheatre of raised rock circling through 80 square kilometres of the Flinders Ranges. We heard a couple of conflicting reports and I wasn’t able to figure it out even after checking for more details on the Internet. Was it a meteor that caused this landscape or is it something known as syncline, an occurrence that happens during a tectonic shift causing rocks to fold and shift? As far as I can make out, it looks like the rock was folded up and then the valley was formed by erosion. But it all seems too perfect to me when I look at the saddle like formation at the top of the page. I’m sticking with the meteor theory. (Call me crazy)

The Flinders Ranges are millions of years old and a walk through the Pound is just as interesting as the flight. You can see the layers of eras stacked upon one another as the rocks tell a history of the earth. It’s quite a fascinating destination. But today, we’re in the air and it’s pure fun and beauty on our agenda. Our pilot turned through the air giving each passenger enough time to see Wilpena Pound and the mountains of the Flinders Ranges. The Pound may be the most impressive part of the Flinders Ranges, but the entire area is beautiful and not to be missed. It’s the quickest way to get the Outback experience in all of Australia. A few short hours from Adelaide takes you to an entirely different world.

See more on South Australia

• Get Ready for South Australia
• Is That the Cover of a Midnight Oil Album?

• You can book your scenic flights at Wilpena Pound Resort, our accommodation during our stay in Wilpena. It’s located in the heart of the Flinders Ranges and has cottage type guest rooms. There’s buffet breakfast, a bar and dining area too.
• A 30 minute scenic flight is $190 per person find out more information at Wilpena Scenic Flights.
• To Hire a Ute from Adelaide, check out Complete Ute, Van and 4 Wheel Drive Hire.
• Our Trip to South Australia is brought to you by Visit South Australia. Find out all there is to do in SouthOZ.

Read the original post Fly the Flinders to Witness Wilpena Pound on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

The ever Elusive Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby

Recently we returned from South Australia a little known part of the country that actually is the least visited state in all of Oz. While we were there, everyone asked us where else we were going during our stay and when we replied, “Nowhere,” They immediately asked “Why?” Locals and tourists alike were surprised that we weren’t going to the more flashy states of Queensland or New South Whales. It turns out that South Australia has plenty to do. By the time we left the country, we discussed with each other and tour operators that South Australians should take more pride in their state. It is beautiful and it has everything that one could want to see and do when visiting Australia.

We visited the Outback of the Southern Flinders Ranges, swam with dolphins in Baird Bay, dove with Great White Sharks in Port Lincoln, tasted wine in the Barrosa Valley, discovered Kangaroos and Koalas on Kangaroo Island and witnessed this rare species at Wilpena Pound.

This is the Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby of South Australia.

A Wallaby is closely related to the Kangaroo and the Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby is a rare site to see as it is listed on the endangered list, but this little guy stuck around just long enough for Dave to snap this beautiful shot.

When the driver stopped our van, Dave and I jumped out first to snap a shot of him. We know how quickly animals can move away when humans enter the area and we were right. By the time the rest of our group got out of the van, it had already scurried deeper into the rocks.

So the lesson of today is, be quick with your camera and ready for the moment.

This was the only Yellow Footed Rock Wallaby we saw during our entire time in South Australia.

So today marks the beginning of our South Australia coverage. We hope that you enjoy reading about it as much as we did visiting it.

A big thank you to the South Australia Tourism Board for helping discover these hidden Gems in Oz.

Check out more posts from South Australia below:

Is that the cover of a Midnight Oil Album?

Read the original post Get Ready for South Australia on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

Hi friends. Today I share with you a Black and White photo of the iconic Taj Mahal, in Agra India, taken from the Yamuna River. Built by the Mughal Emperor Shah Jahan in memory of his third wife, Mumtaz Mahal, The Taj Mahal is often referred to as the greatest monument to love ever built. An incredible architectural feat completed in 1653 that is now a designated UNESCO World Heritage Site, one should be sure to not miss this incredibly beautiful white marble mausoleum.

Some fun Taj Mahal facts you may or may not have known:

• Arjumand Bano Begum was christened by Shah Jahan as Mumtaz Mahal, meaning the “Jewel of the Palace“.
• Shah Jahan lost Mumtaz Mahal when she died giving birth to their 14^th child (prolific, no?)
• For the transportation of the construction materials, more than 1,000 elephants were employed.
• As many as 28 different varieties of semi-precious and precious stones were used to adorn the Taj.
• The Taj Mahal attracts 2-4 million visitors annually, over 200,000 from overseas.

I love this image…it almost looks like a drawing to me (which is partly what I love about it). I struggled whether to post this in Black and White or in color. In truth, the color version is just as beautiful, but in a different way. The warm early morning color of the sun gave the Taj a beautiful pink glow, which is totally lost when it is in Black and White. And yet, something about this image…the texture and the lines……draws me to post it in black and white. I guess it comes down to personal taste…I just love Black and White photos. What about you?

Photo Tip: This was not an easy shot to get by any stretch. I knew that I wanted to get a different perspective of one of the most photographed sights in the world. But it’s hard (not impossible, though) to get that shot where EVERYONE else walks (i.e. within the Taj complex). So what do you do? Think outside the box. While at the Taj, I walked to the very back of the walled-in complex and noticed the Yamuna river flowing behind and thought to myself, “Now, if I could get out on that water, that would be a much better photo.” I thought I noticed a little house and a small oar boat down the river, and felt pretty confident I could find my way to it. So I put a plan into action: I’d come back even earlier in the morning the next day (about 5:30 or 6 a.m.) and would not get in line to enter the Taj complex, but would rather walk to the Northern side of the complex along the outside wall and try and find the owner of the little boat whom I would offer some moulah to take me out on the river for an hour or so. (On a side note, some people don’t like to pay for things like this while traveling, but a few dollars here and there will really make a big difference not only in the shots you get but also the lives of the locals. Just don’t go overboard or pay too much.) And what happened? It all worked out smoothly…I found the owner and worked out a small charge for him to row me out on the river and hang there for an hour while the sun came up. It was not only a tremendous photo opp, but also a very peaceful and serene way to experience the Taj (away from the crowds). As I’ve said before, you gotta dig and really work a subject to get a great photo….so next time you think you got the shot, ask yourself how you can improve upon the shot by looking at the subject outside the box (or in this case, outside the complex). 

Jonathan Irish is a seasoned travel photographer who has traveled to over 65 countries and specializes in photographs of people, landscapes, abstracts, and, above all, cultures abroad. His work has appeared in various National Geographic publications, and he is represented by National Geographic’s Image Collection www.NationalGeographicStock.com/jonathanirish. When he is not traveling the world in search of amazing photos, he gathers inspiration from the other great photographers at National Geographic, where he is the Program Director for National Geographic Adventures  Jonathan lives in Washington, D.C.
Check out more of his photography at JonathanIrish.com
Follow his daily photography on Twitter at MagnumJI, 
Instagram at Magnumji
Facebook at Jonathan Irish Travel Photography and Pinterest

See Jonathan’s other photo posts, including…

• The Magnificent Moscow Metro
• A typical street scene in Varanasi, India
• The Amazing Icehotel
• The Magic of Torres del Paine
• The Hunter-Gatherer Hadzabe Tribe of Tanzania
• Machu Picchu – Citadel in the Sky
• Iceland Waterfall in Black and White
• Northern Lights in Iceland
• Matterhorn Reflected

Read the original post The Taj Mahal in Black and White on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

Archaeology has certainly been one extraordinary life adventure for me, with many unexpected twists and turns. But this is what growth and travel is all about, right? I trained as an archaeologist in South Africa, and specialised in prehistoric art. My research into rock art traditions around the World took me to many wonderful places around the World, including rafting on the Colorado River just upstream of the Grand Canyon, the stunning Sigiriya rock in Sri Lanka, and some amazing sites along the Red Sea on the Eritrean coastline. I even got myself into the Lascaux cave (but do not dismiss Lascaux II just because it is a replica).

Then eight years ago I left my full-time academic career in archaeology. Having suffered my fair share of bored lecturers I promised myself that come the day I no longer enjoyed teaching archaeology I would call it a day. So after a bit more than a decade at two of the United Kingdom’s leading universities I swapped the lecture room in Manchester for a B&B in Normandy. Despite dodgy financial times, and the rare trying holiday maker, I can honestly say I have never looked back.
Running a B&B may seem so far removed from being an archaeologist … I suppose I could have served breakfast dressed as Indiana Jones (I would have to buy the whip). You can imagine I get asked about this all the time. Ironically, it was being a B&B host, attending to the needs of holidaymakers, that set me off on a new adventure with archaeology.

Archaeology Travel 

In directing my guests to the sites and attractions in the area, I became aware of just how varied the information about the archaeology of the region was, and also how some really good sites sell themselves short. So I started Archaeology Travel, which in just under a year became the most comprehensive online guide to accessible archaeological sites and museums in France. France has an incredible variety of archaeological sites, from prehistoric cave art to some of the best preserved Roman ruins.
Writing about these sites, I became fascinated with the Roman archaeology in France, a topic I knew very little about as my research had focussed on much older prehistoric archaeology. I could spend hours searching out some of the larger monuments on Google Earth, but this just gave me wander lust! For which there was only one cure … Rome. I hopped on the next flight and for a few days I walked the sites and streets of Rome until my toe nails literally turned black and fell off. But I was as happy as a pig in muck!

I had truly rediscovered my passion for archaeology, and travel.

Returning from Rome, I soon realised that instead of just directing people to great sites I wanted to be on the road myself, visiting all those amazing sites I had not already been to for one reason or another. Once again, I was also ready to share my passion for the past.
I am not convinced we ever really learn from the past. After all, what have we really learned from Pompeii, other than the obvious? But, the past does shape who we are today, our lives, our cultures and our politics. Often we are not even aware of it. From those obvious pillars on grandiose public buildings to the hours spent in the gymnasium working out for that perfect stomach, there is very little we have not inherited from the past. Stumbling on one of the USA’s finest examples of Egyptian revival architecture on the streets of Chicago then is as much archaeology travel as visiting the Colosseum in Rome.

L. P. Hartley opened his 1953 novel The Go-Between with the line “The past is a foreign country: they do things differently there.” He might not have been talking about the archaeological past, but these words are spot on. Exploring archaeological sites, and even those collections of spectacular artefacts in our many museums around the World, is the only passport we have to those foreign and distant times. And so we are able to appreciate how differently they did things back then, and how we are still inspired by their lives today.

About the Author:
Thomas Dowson founded the website Archaeology Travel – part travel blog, part online guide to archaeological sites and museums around the World. Before this he was an active archaeologist, specialising in prehistoric art and the contemporary significance of the past – on which he has published numerous articles and books. When not searching out ruins of the past or looking for the influence of archaeology on contemporary architecture and society, Thomas lives in Normandy, France.
To read more about Thomas’s archaeology travels, follow and connect with him on Facebook, Twitter or Google+.

Read the original post Why I dig Archaeology Travel on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

Dreaming of Adventure

But then something happened. After a couple of years of working too hard and leaving little time for any activities outside our jobs, we found ourselves uninspired and depressed. We had a talk and decided that something had to change. It was while ringing in the New Year 2007 (December 31 2006) that we made the commitment to change our lives and stop saying “Maybe one day.” We signed up for the world’s longest cycling race from Cairo to Cape Town and said, “By this time next year, we’ll be on our way to living the life we’ve always wanted.”

In January 2008 almost exactly one year later we found ourselves in Cairo, starting the first day of the rest of our lives. That decision to sign up for the Tour d’Afrique and race down a continent was terrifying. We didn’t know what the future had in store for us, but for the first time in years, we felt excited and fulfilled. We may not have known where our new career would take us, but we knew that if we didn’t try, we’d be unhappy for the rest of our lives.

Cycling from the Pyramids in Cairo

Five years later, we’ve achieved more than we could ever imagine. We travel full time together and make a living out of doing something we love. We took a chance and it paid off. We realized that instead of working for money first and wishing for happiness, if we found our passion we would get to live our dream every day of our lives. And that is exactly what happened.

American Express Real Life Potentialists

American Express Canada took notice and featured us as Real Life Potentialists. We fit with their idea of what that is; someone who strives for a more well-rounded form of success that takes into account dreams, self-fulfillment and happiness.

We aren’t any different from anyone else. We’re two ordinary people from small towns in Ontario who believe that individuals should have no limits. Everyone should be empowered to live life to the fullest and realize their potential. We’ve made it the main focus of ThePlanetD to inspire others to embrace life and follow their dreams and American Express Canada has done the same. They understand that realizing your potential isn’t just a thought – it’s an action and a way of life. They’ve made sure to offer their Cardmembers access to travel rewards, unique entertainment experiences and world-class service.

The Realize Your Potential with Amex Canada Pinterest Contest

To celebrate this way of thinking, American Express Canada wants to encourage people to show how they are a real life Potentialists, too!

They’ve launched a “Realize Your Potential with Pinterest” contest where you can submit original images that inspire you to realize your potential between May 6 to May 26, 2013 for a chance to win one of three prizes of $5,000 in American Express Gift Cards. Even more fun – we’ll be helping to judge the entries along with fellow Amex Ambassadors Hip Urban Girl and Everything Mom.

How to Enter…

1. Create a pin board entitled “Amex Potentialist Canada” on Pinterest. *All entries must contain your own original content or material.
2. In the board’s description, tell us your dream of how you want to realize your potential
3. Tag each of your pins #PotentialistCanada
4. Re-pin the ‘how to enter’ image from American Express Canada’s Pinterest page (so your friends can read about the competition too!)
5. Once your pin board is complete, visit www.rtpwithpinterest.ca and complete the entry form on “Realize Your Potential with Pinterest” contest tab for your chance to win.

Our Realize Your Potential Pinterest Board

To help you create your board, we’ve made our own “How We Realize our Potential” Pinterest board. We’ve put together images of our most inspiring moments. Nothing inspires us more than pushing ourselves to the limits, meeting new people and experiencing new cultures.

Taking time to see the beauty of this world, constantly educating ourselves and remaining active, inspires us to achieve our dreams every day. Our hearts are touched by the kindness of strangers, we are awed by the power of nature and we are surprised with just how much we can achieve when we set our minds to something. It is these thoughts that helped us to shape our lives and create our board and we hope that you too can create with the values and ideals that you have in your own lives.

We can’t wait to see your boards and be inspired by your images. Nothing is more powerful than an image and board of goals to help you put your dreams into action. So start pinning today and let’s see what the future holds for you!

Visit the American Express Canada Facebook page for more information on the Realize Your Potential with Pinterest Campaign.

Read the original post Become a Real Life Potentialist, Pin for a Chance to Win $5000 on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

“Just because you stepped foot on a few more chunks of earth than someone else doesn’t make you special. It simply makes you someone who travels a lot.”

Can you imagine someone else showing off their accomplishments so blatantly? I was thinking about other scenarios where this could have happened. Imagine if someone said “Ask me how high my marks were in school because I guarantee mine were better than yours!” What if someone else said “Ask me how much money I make because I know I make more than you.” Nobody in their right mind would say something like that. And yet some travellers feel that they have the right to brag about everything they do.

Life Experiences VS Travel Check List

We feel that life experience and an active and happy lifestyle makes your time on earth rich. Not a tally of what you’ve seen and where you’ve been. It’s how meaningful that moment was when you saw it. Who were you with and how were you feeling? Were you happy?

Our friends and family haven’t been to as many countries as us, but they have very successful lives. They have amazing careers and have raised beautiful families, they keep active and healthy and do cool hobbies and a have a supportive circle of friends. We have friends who save lives and protect the community. We have friends who volunteer and help people and others who entertain and make people laugh. They are amazing people.

Life is not a competition.

People can have just as beautiful experiences at home that they can traveling abroad. It’s about balance. Travel is beautiful, but being grounded is also beautiful. Having a home is beautiful and enjoying your career is beautiful. Being in love is beautiful and having a good laugh is beautiful. Dammit, Life is Beautiful.

Just because you stepped foot on a few more chunks of earth than someone else doesn’t make you special. It simply makes you someone who travels a lot.

Dave and I choose to travel because it’s always been our dream to work together. Travel was simply the catalyst that made that happen. Over the years, as we travelled to more and more places, we realized that we loved spending 24/7 together. We loved exploring new places and challenging ourselves. It was travel that helped us create a richer life at home and strengthened our relationship and we are thankful for that, but other people may have been inspired by something else in their lives. Be it sports or art or music, what makes someone happy in life is different for everyone.

Our goal in life wasn’t to hit a hundred countries, it was to be able to live as rich of a life as possible and to find happiness and fulfillment. That’s what life is about to us. Pursuing Happiness. I say ‘pursuing happiness’ because I think that happiness is difficult to achieve, but it is something that is worth working at. Life will always have ups and downs and there will always be challenges and difficulties. But the best way to find happiness is to stop judging others, have an open mind and listen and learn from people. That’s what works for us.

Read the original post Arrogant Travel Snobs on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

Find my personal top 7 (in no specific order) of sportive yet enjoyable activities to do in Europe below:

7 Funsport Activities To Do in Europe

1. Mountain Biking Finale Ligure (Italy)

Italy is one of my favorite countries to visit, for multiple reasons: it’s almost impossible not to find good food, Italians serve the best coffee, gelato and alcoholic beverages and the country itself offers so much goodness. Like the area around the town of Finale Ligure, situated by the Ligurian Sea in between Genoa and the French border.

It’s as if the mountains arise straight from the sea, and these mountains offer some of the best mountain bike trails I’ve ever ridden. Bring some good skills and decent protection, the climbs can get steep and the descents can get real technical. Perfect combo

2. Snowboarding Les 2 Alpes (France)

Both beginners and intermediate boarders (and skiers alike) are welcomed in the cozy little town of Les 2 Alpes. With 19 green, 42 blue, 21 red and 11 black slopes the area provides you with a great environment even for rookies, but a little less fun for experts riders. Many lifts – including a gondola – will take you from 1300 meters (4200 ft.) up to a maximum of 3600 meters (11800 ft.). Now that’s a slope!

Fun fact: during summer time this area transforms into a downhill mountain bike paradise. The lifts are altered to carry your bike.

3. Wind Surfing North Lake Garda (Italy)

North Lake Garda, and most specific the small town of Torbole, is well known for it’s great wind surfing possibilities. Every day around midday a strong wind starts to blow from the mountains down to the narrow north of the lake. It’s almost as if perfect wind surfing conditions are guaranteed due to the way the lake is situated.

You’re a first-time windsurfer looking for a great place to learn? Look no further – mornings are great for attending a class: little wind makes it easier for beginners and the lake is almost completely yours as the ‘big guys’ will wait for the afternoon blow.

4. Hiking the Mediterranean coast of Calp (Spain)

The esplanade in tourist town Calp, 120 kilometers south of Valencia, is a nice starting point for a hike along the waterside. Walking north, you’ll come across many lookouts over the Balearic Sea. Apparently the rock formation named Peñon offers a nice view, but we missed it because of strict opening hours. Most of what we did see was still incredibly beautiful though, like a boardwalk through the water and the natural pools near Cala Bassetes.

5. Bike park mountain biking Winterberg (Germany)

Like Les 2 Alpes, Winterberg is originally a winter sports area. With an added fun-factor, because in Winterberg they do even more than just use lifts for bike transportation: an actual bike-park has been created for your pleasure! With a training circuit and downhill, 4-cross, north shore, slopestyle and single trail tracks, it offers many hours of playtime for all you big kids out there.

6. Blokarting Brouwersdam (The Netherlands)

Though I’ve never sailed before I guess Blokarting can be compared to sailing in a way. Except that it’s in a kart, and on land, so it’s probably nothing like sailing… Ah well, it’s fun!

During wintertime the Dutch beaches are mostly deserted and the wind will blow strong enough for you to properly ride a kart. With some introduction to the sport (provided by rental companies situated at the beach) blokarting is something people in any level of sportive skill can attend. A must try!

7. Paragliding looking out over Lake Garda (Italy)

Oh sweet Italy again, if I hadn’t told you before you would’ve guessed I really like the country by now, eh?

From most towns around the lake, pickups can be arranged to drop you off for a paraglide experience you won’t easily forget: one that will take you looking out over beautiful Lake Garda. The lake stretches 52 kilometers (32 miles) in total length, and if you’re lucky enough to have clear weather you might be able to see both ends during your glide. But even if you don’t, you will still have a wonderful experience in one of the most inspiring places I know.

Bonus activities

Also consider the following activities while planning your Europe trip, and be sure to reach out to me for any type of advice you’re looking for!

• Hiking & mountain biking the Belgian and Luxembourg Ardennes
• Trail running around the Blindsee (Austria)
• Mountain biking Livigno (Italy)
• Quad riding, via ferrata, hiking & mountain biking north Lake Garda (Italy)
• Bungee jumping over the North Sea at the Scheveningen pier (The Netherlands)

Lindy Coops is the colorful kinda person, inspiring others to travel more, to go out, to see the world from a different perspective. All while – whenever possible – mixing in any type of funsport. She travels together with Roy Rovers, and together they run BeWicked – a Funsport, Travel, Lifestyle blog. The two of them try to make a living from photography, building websites and by helping others create a life around their passion.

Find out more on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Pinterest and the blog itself (www.bewicked.eu ).

Read the original post 7 Funsport Activities To Do in Europe on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

We had never thought about joining an organization before. We’ve been plugging away for a few years, quite proud of our lack of allegiance to anything. Then we spoke at the Society of American Travel Writers conference in Indianapolis last year and our minds set started changing.

We had dinner with the type of people who were good friends with Lonely Planet founders Tony and Maureen Wheeler. We sat in on workshops lead by Award Winning National Geographic photographers and we had conversations with authors who have published successful travel books. We were inspired. We wanted to be a part of this organization.

SATW in Indianapolis

When we first arrived at the convention centre, we felt a little bit like a fish out of water. Fellow bloggers warned us that we may not receive the best reception so we were worried when we first arrived. How would we be received? As it turned out, the warnings were unfounded. Everyone at the conference was friendly and kind and welcoming.

Our welcome receptions at SATW

People were fascinated with our career path and genuinely interested in what we had to say. When we spoke at our two sessions on Travel blogging, we stood in front of a large and engaged audience who took notes, asked questions and approached us afterwards for more information. It was exciting.

It was later that day at the reception and dinner that many people told us that we should apply to be members. When members of the board asked us if we’d be interested in joining the SATW, we thought it could be a good idea. We should be a part of something. We should collaborate with these writers and learn from each other.

The Reception at the SATW

We made a point to apply for membership.

It took us awhile. Not because we didn’t want to, but because we flew directly to another conference after Indianapolis and began a long stretch of travels. We had a very busy year in 2012. Luckily, we had six weeks off over Christmas and regrouped and thankfully, the SATW didn’t forget about us. We approached our good friends Beth Blair of the award winning Vacation Gals, and Theresa Storm, an award winning Canadian journalist to ask them to sponsor us and they graciously accepted. Thanks ladies, we couldn’t have done this without you!

Our SATW Membership

There’ve been a few times in our travel blogging career that I’ve done the happy dance. One when we were first signed as American Express Ambassadors, two when Expedia.com chose us for their Expedia Find Yours Ad Campaign and three when we were invited on our first press trip with Princess Cruises to Alaska, (coincidentally where we met Beth Blair)  Today we did the happy dance when we received our email from the SATW.

It is a true honour to be a part of the Society of American Travel Writers. It is an institution for travel writers dating back to 1955. The best travel writers in the world belong to the SATW and we now join an elite group of members that includes writers, photographers, editors, film lecturers, broadcast/video/film producers, bloggers, website contributors and owners, creators of mobile apps and public relations representatives. Whew, that’s a broad spectrum.

Travel Bloggers and SATW

We have always felt proud to be bloggers. When other’s in the industry have said that, We shouldn’t call ourselves bloggers and instead call ourselves “online journalists” or “travel experts” or whatever catchphrase they choose to use, we always felt the need to embrace the blog. It is being a blogger that has gotten us to where we are today and it is being a blogger that got us into the SATW. We went to the conference as bloggers, we applied as bloggers and we’re remaining true to ourselves and continuing as bloggers. We feel that being a blogger encompasses everything. When I look at the list of what the SATW represents, we fall into many of the categories. As travel bloggers we are writers, photographers, editors, film producers, bloggers, website contributors and owners. With our jobs as American Express Ambassadors and HouseTrip diplomats, we’re public relations representatives too. The life of a blogger wears many hats. Being a blogger allows us to be in charge of our own destiny. We wear many hats and work very hard, but the rewards are incredible.

This year is an exciting time for us and we are even more excited now that we are a part of the SATW. Thanks for having us! We look forward to the next conference where we get the chance to meet our new friends again.

Read the original post Society of American Travel Writers – We’re In on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

Living Like a Local

Since we were living like a local, we thought that we’d ask the locals what the best things to do in Marrakech are. We compiled a little video showing off all the activities that they suggested in Marrakech. From getting lost in the Medina, looking out over the main Square dJemma El fna to riding a dune buggy in the desert and visiting the Saddian Tombs, Marrakech is one exciting and exotic destination. We hope you enjoy our video as much as we enjoyed the city.

A Local’s Guide to Marrakech

In Marrakech, we stayed in a holiday apartment in the heart of the Medina. It was in the style of a traditional Riyad; a tall house with a courtyard in the centre of the building. There was a plunge pool to escape the Moroccan heat, a rooftop patio to enjoy the Moroccan heat and all rooms had heat and air conditioning to cool down after being in the Moroccan heat. We weren’t in Marrakech during the hot season, so we didn’t have to have the air conditioning blasting on high, but we did have some pleasant days making walking through the souks and markets a relaxing and comfortable experience. We’ll be talking more about Marrakech, but for now, check out these great views of our apartment. I felt like a Moroccan Queen when we first laid eyes on the place as our host laid out rose petals on the beds and in the pools with fresh cut flowers adorning the main room.

Our Marrakech visit was sponsored by HouseTrip as part of their HouseTrip Diplomat campaign.

Check out our fabulous apartment in the heart of the Medina and another beautiful HouseTrip apartment just outside the Medina in a quieter part of town.

Holiday Apartment Rental Booking.

• Apartment Number 1 - in the Medina
• Apartment Number 2 – outside the Medina

Read the original post A Local’s Guide to Marrakech on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

Mount Barney

I was currently camping in the saddle between the two peaks of Mount Barney, a rugged and remote mountain in South East Queensland, Australia. This afternoon, I had trekked for over four hours through dry eucalyptus forest and steep terrain. The rough rocky trail had been tough, relentlessly climbing almost directly up the steep slope into the saddle. With my full pack on, my legs had burned as I climbed up the steep trail, often having to scramble up rock faces to continue on. And so, when I had finally found myself in this tiny pocket of rain forest, I was relieved to have made it to my campsite for the night.

View of Mount Barney from the start of the trail

A native flower on the slopes of Mount Barney

A steep natural stairway cut into the rock on the trail up Mount Barney

Now with all of my layers on, I held a hot cup of tea in my hand as I stirred the pot on my stove. The sun had now set and the forest was alive with activity. Two possums crept in out of the darkness to see what I was having for dinner, their curious nature bringing them right over to me, so close that I could reach out and touch them if I wanted to.

Tired from the tough day’s hike, I crawled into my sleeping bag within the shelter of my tent. I was alone on this mountain, with only the possums and my own thoughts for company, and as I drifted off to sleep, I could only imagine what the next day would bring.

My campsite in the saddle

In the morning, I awoke from a fairly restless sleep. The sound of the gusty wind blowing through the trees was like huge waves crashing on a beach in a storm, and sleep didn’t come easily. With sandy eyes, I ate my breakfast and prepared for the day’s hike. Leaving my tent behind, I walked out of the pocket of rain forest that had been my home for the night, and began my ascent up the mountain.

My legs burned and protested as I struggled up the steep slope. The trail had become almost†nonexistent, and I was now relying on my own sense of direction and the occasional piece of coloured tape that had been left behind by other trekkers to mark the trail. I pushed through scraggly vegetation and scrambled up exposed rock faces, nearly getting blown off of the mountain by the strong wind.

As the sun rose above the east peak of the mountain, I squinted into the morning sunlight and could just make out the top of the mountain. The darkness of the shadow of the mountain gave way to a sunlit summit, and I was filled with renewed energy.

View of Mount Lindsay in the distance

Pushing on, my tired legs continued to burn, the rugged terrain relentlessly rising high above me. At times, I found myself on all fours as I tried to navigate my way up the huge exposed rocks. My hands were being rubbed raw on the rock as I tried to balance myself, carefully making sure that I was safe before continuing on to the next obstacle.

As I slowly gained altitude, I felt that I was climbing up above the rest of the world, with the other mountains in the area now seeming to be tiny hills below me. My goal was getting closer, and I was determined to make it.

I pushed my way through a thick section of low scraggly bushes, not even sure if I was on the trail or not before scrambling up yet another rock face. Then, just as I thought I had found myself at one of the rare flat sections of the trail, I realised that I had made it. The steep terrain had flattened out, and in my excitement I leaped over the rest of the rocks to get myself to the highest point, ignoring the strong wind that threatened to blow me off of my feet. †I stood there on the summit of the east peak of Mount Barney, and my breathe was simply taken away by the view. The struggle that I had endured up until this point was now swept away by the beauty that stood before me.

The view north from the summit of Mount Barney

Looking south from the summit of Mount Barney

I found a place to shelter myself from the wind on the rocky summit and sat there, looking out over the vast landscape far below me. My tired legs, sore hands and sleep deprived body was now in the back of my mind, and I was ready for the long descent back down the mountain. Mount Barney was tough and relentless, a rugged beauty that tests your entire body, but I had conquered it, and now I felt on top of the world.

Author†Bio:†Dean Wickham is an intrepid traveller from Australia who loves adventure and exploring new places and cultures. He hopes to encourage others to get out and see the world through his travel stories and photography, which he shares on his travel blog The Road to Anywhere. You can follow his adventures on his travel blog, Facebook and Twitter.

Would you like to write for ThePlanetD? Check out our writing guidelines and share your inspiring story, beautiful photography or exciting adventure from around the world.

Read the original post Conquering the Summit of Mount Barney on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

The Moscow Metro system is more of an art deco design project than transportation hub. Sure, it ferries somewhere in the vicinity of 9 million people a day (fourth only behind Tokyo, Seoul, and Beijing in terms of daily riders), but the logistics are really beside the point. What’s the real draw here is the design of the metro stations themselves. If you find yourself in Moscow and someone suggests you check out the Moscow Metro….and visions of the often stanky, and always dirty NYC metro system immediate come to mind (sorry NY’ers, but you know it’s true!)….try to get them out of your head, because you’ll miss out on one of the great things Moscow has to offer (believe it or not).

One does not typically think of 1930’s Russia when they think of forward thinking design, but the Moscow Metro was one of the USSR’s most extravagant architectural projects. Stalin ordered the metro’s artists and architects to design a structure that embodied svet (radiance or brilliance) and svetloe budushchee (a radiant future). My feeling is that Stalin had a pretty heavy governing hand, and the State (Government) was quite oppressive for the average Russian. I think the extraordinary designs of the different metro stations were a way of reminding the Muscovites that their sacrifices did have benefits. What better way to remind people of the glory of the USSR than with a grand design they must look at every day to and from work? I am willing to bet the riders simultaneously took pride in the beautiful work while also wishing that perhaps the benefits of sacrifice were shown in ways that contribute more positively to their daily lives. Perhaps?

Built in 1938 and designed with the inspiration of a Soviet future (as envisioned by the then popular Russian poet Mayakovsky), the Mayakovskaya Metro Station (pictured here) is a nice example of pre-World War II Stalinist Architecture and is often considered to be one of the most beautiful metro stops in the system with its grand pink, white, and grey marble columns. Besides its beauty, it is also famous for being an air raid shelter during World War II and for temporarily housing Joseph Stalin during the same period (air raid!).

I have a lot of images from the different metro stops (seriously, each metro stop deserves a full post), but chose this one to feature because I really love the lines and movement. I also feel it works well in Black and White, even though there are nice colors in the marble and floor. Something about Moscow screams Black and White to me…I’d love to go back and do an entire Black and White series there.

Photo Tip: I took this image without a tripod, which, given the motion in the image (read: long exposure) and relative lack of blurriness in the floor and ceiling, is a bit of a miracle. If you do go to Moscow, you’ll find that they are quite sensitive about tripods, especially in a place of art and pride (like the Metro stops). I have a feeling there is some kind of security concern with tripods as well, but what that is and how a tripod would offer any kind of less security than a duffel or backpack I have no idea. If you go to Red Square (Kremlin and St Basil’s Cathedral) don’t even bother brining a tripod, as you won’t even get one leg extended before guards are all over you. So how was I able to get a clean and clear shot of the metro and at the same time blur the people walking? MAGIC! Just kidding…I have no magic. It was plain patience, practice, and a steady arm. Nowadays, the digital cameras are so good that I could have bumped up the ISO and captured a clean shot (with nothing blurred) even in the relatively low light of the metro. But I wanted the motion of the people…that’s the mood I was going for. So I set the Time Value (“TV” on a Canon camera, “S” on Nikons) on the lowest number that would give me decent blur of the people walking (about 1/30^th of a second with the available light in this scene…this will change with every circumstance!) and then braced my left arm against my chest while holding the camera close to my body and depressing the shutter with the right hand. I also put the camera on a 2-second delay, allowing me to get set and stable while the camera counted down to releasing the shutter (even pressing the shutter release will shake a camera if it is not stable). I then snapped away….taking 7 or 8 of the same images (timing then with the people in the frame, of course). When you do this, you know that there will be a few that are going to be fuzzy…maybe most or all of them (you took a breath while the shutter was open! Heaven forbid!). But really focusing on holding steady and taking a bunch of shots with the 2-second delay and strong and stable hand positions will usually allow for one of them to be pretty darn good and usable. In this case, I lucked out and got one I am really happy with. It’s not a technique I would suggest…if you have a pole or something stable to lean against then your odds of getting the shot your want increase a thousand fold. But with the restriction of no tripods and no stable structure to lean against, sometimes you gotta improvise. Give it a try….see if you can capture motion blur and a clean shot in one image without a tripod. With these few tips, I bet you can make it work as well.

Jonathan Irish is a seasoned travel photographer who has traveled to over 65 countries and specializes in photographs of people, landscapes, abstracts, and, above all, cultures abroad. His work has appeared in various National Geographic publications, and he is represented by National Geographic’s Image Collection www.NationalGeographicStock.com/jonathanirish. When he is not traveling the world in search of amazing photos, he gathers inspiration from the other great photographers at National Geographic, where he is the Program Director for National Geographic Adventures  Jonathan lives in Washington, D.C.
Check out more of his photography at JonathanIrish.com
Follow his daily photography on Twitter at MagnumJI, 
Instagram at Magnumji
Facebook at Jonathan Irish Travel Photography
and Pinterest

See Jonathan’s other photo posts, including…

• A typical street scene in Varanasi, India
• The Amazing Icehotel
• The Magic of Torres del Paine
• The Hunter-Gatherer Hadzabe Tribe of Tanzania
• Machu Picchu – Citadel in the Sky
• Iceland Waterfall in Black and White
• Northern Lights in Iceland
• Matterhorn Reflected

Read the original post The Magnificent Moscow Metro on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

Toronto Travel Bloggers

We normally hate doing posts like this. Inevitably someone awesome gets left out and we feel bad. But since TBEX is coming to Toronto in June, we felt compelled to show off our community. There are other amazing Canadian Travel bloggers that we could mention too, but then this post would go on forever. So for now, enjoy our Toronto based only recommendations for your reading pleasure.

Toronto Travel Bloggers – In no particular order:

My Life Untethered - Alicia Taggio not only puts together amazing travel videos, but she also splits her time between My Life Unteathered and being the Social Media Specialist at FlightCentre.ca. Alicia co-founded the Toronto Travel Massive with Mariellen or Breathe Dream Go and together they have transformed it from a small social gathering to a major industry event. Alicia is someone who gets you excited when you talk to her. She’s filled with ideas, has major connections and knows how social media works. We always say “This girl gets things done!”

BreatheDreamGo - Mariellen Ward has a passion for India. She’s been writing about it in both traditional media outlets around the world as well as at her successful travel blog. Recently she changed her niche to expand beyond India to a meaningful adventure travel blog and has really hit her stride. An influencer and another leader in the industry who has won several awards in writing. And as mentioned above, Mariellen is the co-founder of Toronto Travel Massive with Alicia Taggio.

Travolution - Before TBEX begins, we get to spend a week with Cristina in Italy as part of the BlogVille Campaign. A graduate of Journalism and Political Science, she turned down her dream job twice. A well rounded journalist she interviewed the likes of Justin Beiber, Tom Cruise and Raine Maida  of Our Lady Peace (like Cristina also, one of our favourite bands). She quit it all to become a travel blogger and if anyone can make it, she can. Cristina is also now a part of the people behind the Toronto Travel Massive with Alicia and Mariellen.

JourneyWoman - Evelyn Hannon runs the premiere online travel resource for women. She’s been featured everywhere from Time Magazine and Good Morning America to Reader’s Digest and Canada AM. We’ve known and admired Evelyn since we started travel blogging. Whenever we talk to friends or family oustide of the travel industry, they know of JourneyWoman. They may not know the rest of us, but she’s a household name with 65,000 people subscribing to her newsletter which was featured in People Magazine!

KickTheGrind - If you want to know about how to make travel videos, you want to follow Mike Corey. He has the best travel videos in the industry and it’s only a matter of time until he has his own travel show. His editing is awesome and we’re not the only ones who think so. He’s won several video competitions including the prestigious Cathay Pacific around the World in 80 Days video competition.

The Travel Society - Our good friend Helen (And as some say, my sister, we look a lot a like) has started a new company The Travel Society. It’s a travel club for adventure travel around the world. That’s our kind of place! It’s so much so that we’re developing custom ThePlanetD tours with Helen for 2014. That will be coming soon, but in the meantime, check out everything there is to offer. We love her latest post Misadventures in  Antarctica, where she talks about being on a sinking ship in Antarctica. Yikes! The Travel Society is a boutique travel agency with a subscription based membership of 2000 people. Way to go Helen!

Red Hunt Travel - Red has been everywhere. He is a travel consultant and social media consultant. He quit his job to travel the world long before it was trendy and has become an avid travel photographer and has written more than 600 travel articles and newsletters. He’s a former journalist who now works in the world of travel marketing. All that and he still has time to share his spectacular travel stories on Red Hunt Travel.

Savoir Faire Abroad - You may know her from SpunkyGirlMonologues, but Pamela MacNaughten has rebranded and started off 2013 with some major travels through Central America.We first met her in Bangkok where she was helping refugees connect with their families. Pam has a huge heart and has made a living out of travel blogging for several years. She has been featured in Outpost, Travel and Escape and Up Magazines.

The Melly Boo Project – Melissa is a fabulous gal who is as crazy as we are. From the gorge swing in Zambia to diving with Sharks, she’s another great Canadian Adventurer! I will admit, she’s much more adventurous than us when it comes to eating exotic food. Jellyfish? My oh my! She’s been travelling since 2010, been featured on Daytime TV and was nominated as the best newcomer blog in the Destinology 2012 Travel Blog Awards. We love a girl who is adventurous as we are and maybe one day we’ll get to jump out of something with her too!

Seattles Travel - Featured on Mashable as one of the best people to follow on Instagram, Seattle Dredge has really made a name for herself. She’s been everywhere from Australia to Iceland and focuses on Adventure Travel. Her latest posts have been focusing on mountains and snow and ice and we’ve been loving following her journey. Our kind of gal indeed!

Have Baby Will Travel - Mom Bloggers have always been way ahead of travel bloggers and Corinne McDermett is definitely ahead of the game. I remember first talking to her a few years ago and was blown away with her ideas and vision. Besides her successful travel blog she’s been featured in traditional media and television such as Canada AM, Breakfast Television, Travel and Leisure and the Disney Channel. She has now started her own consulting company and  is a family travel specialist for Thomas Cook.

Near Afar - Every time we see Natalie Taylor I just laugh and laugh. There’s something about her energy that makes me smile. A true Toronto Specialist, this is the blog to follow if you need information for the 2013 host city for TBEX – Toronto. She’s been featured in the Sympatico Blog, Lucky Penny, National Geographic’s Intelligent Traveler and Trip Atlas just to name a few.

TheTraveller World Guide - I just love The Hogga, Aka Lindsay Hogg. Her writing is fresh and funny and this girl is busy. Not only is she the President extraordinaire at the Traveller World Guide where she has brought on two other people to work with the site, she is also Captain Burrito at ChickenChunk and Monday Funnies Author at Travel and Escape. Funnies Author is a fitting title, whenever I read her stuff, I do it with a huge smile.

SoloTraveler - Janice Waugh has taken the travel industry by storm, traveling the world speaking about how to make a business out of blogging. She started the Global Bloggers Network and founded The Traveler’s Handbook Series. Janice is always coming up with innovative ideas and is filled with wisdom when it comes to solo travel and the blogging industry. She’s a very giving and caring woman and a mentor to us all.

Professional Hobo -  Nora Dunn may have now settled in the Caribbean but she’s a Toronto gal. We actually have something in common, we both worked at YTV. Nora is one of the leading travel blogs on the net. She proved long before the rest of us joined the game that you can live a location independent lifestyle and make money doing it. She’s so financially savvy that she is the senior contributor for Wise Bread, a popular personal finance and frugal living website, she give regular round ups of how much money she made and how she does it and she’s just truly an inspiration.

Backpack with Brock - Brock is currently on an amazing journey through Asia with Viator as their video blogger. He came oh so close to winning $10,000 through Viator last year, but they loved him so much, they brought him back anyway! He’s now traveling Asia with them. Brock not only runs his travel blog, he is also an adventure consultant and entrepreneur who helps others plan their next world backpacking trip. Brock feels like the little brother we never had and is so much fun to be around. I hope he makes it back in time for TBEX so that he can share his adventures with everyone.

Bacon is Magic - Ayngelina Brogan has slowed down work on her travel blog in recent years to return to her life in PR, but Bacon is Magic is still going strong and she has started working with the Navigate Media Group bringing travel bloggers together to collaborate on projects. Specializing in food, she writes engaging stories.

 A Nerd at Large - Stephanie has already made her living writing about the travel industry for over a decade. She’s now started a Nerd at Large and is a Travel and Escape featured blogger. I’ve been loving her photographs and she even was kind enough to post some right here on our website. Check out Los Angeles in Black and White. Right now Stephanie is in the process of pursuing her goal of trying 1000 new things. Now that makes for an exciting life.

Hopscotch The Globe - Kristen represented us on a press trip last year and ever since this girl has been on fire. We’ve been watching her travel the world working with various tourism boards. She won the VLogger award in Puerto Rico run by our good friends at Diamond PR and her youtube video “How to Pee Standing Up has received nearly 150,000 views! This girl has an awesome youtube channel and she’s just dynamite!

Girls Getaway - Dian Emery is the managing editor of this popular website. It’s grown to become so big that there are six regular contributors and several guest writers. We’ve had the pleasure of going to Mexico with Dian and meeting her other half. She’s such a gracious and giving lady and it’s awesome to see so much success come her way!

Excellent Vacation Ideas - Melanie is another person who when we get together we just laugh and laugh. A savvy business woman, she has developed an amazing site with Excellent Vacation Ideas. I love talking blogging and website business with her (in between laughing). And value her opinion and advice. If you’re looking for vacation ideas for your next trip, this is the site for you. Her daily questions and inspiration always pop up in my facebook feed too!

KK Adventures – Okay, Kieren and Karen may be from Britain, but they’ve made Toronto their home and are a huge part of our travel community. They’ve kept their full time jobs while running the blog on the side and have done a great job balancing both. And we’re happy to know that they love exploring their new home…Toronto! Karin has also become a part of the Toronto Travel Massive team joining Cristina in helping Alicia and Mariellen plan events around the city.

Oneika The Traveler - We met Oneika when we ran with the bulls last year while she was a part of the uber popular “Girls Running with Bulls” Oneika was recently named one of the Top 7 Travel Bloggers to Watch on Twitter and has been featured on National Geographic’s Radar. She’s been to 60 countries on 6 continents and is one fabulous lady. While travel blogging isn’t her full time profession, she’s a high school English Literature and French teacher at international schools, she still manages to take 10 international trips a year and if she wanted to switch to be a full time blogger, she easily could.

Travel and Escape - Well, you may have noticed that many of the people we’ve mentioned above have been featured on Travel and Escape. Did you know Travel and Escape is based in Toronto? They’ve been a great supporter of the Toronto Travel community and even though they are a Television network, they also keep a good travel blog up and running to. .

So there you have it. That’s our list of Toronto Tavel Bloggers. I’m going to die if I missed someone. If you know me and we missed you, please send us an email. I’ll add you in, somewhere in the middle so nobody will ever know that you weren’t put on in the first place! I hope you enjoyed these Toronto Travel bloggers, you won’t regret reading any of their blogs. Seriously, we’ve got a great world class community.

Read the original post Toronto Travel Bloggers – Who to Watch for at TBEX on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

We’ve been wanting to visit the country of Morocco for quite some time and when HouseTrip asked us what cities we’d like to Live like a local in as their HouseTrip Diplomat, we said, Marrakech please. When our plane landed, we took a taxi to the Medina; the old walled city where we’d be spending the next week exploring. The Medina  is exactly what we envisioned. It’s busy, full of life and hectic. It’s where the old world still clings to life as a new world emerges around it. Snake charmers and street artists perform for money in the middle of the main square dJemma El Fna and thousands of stalls are set up in the Souks selling everything from carpets and lamps to dates and mint tea. It’s a place to get lost in. Walking through the Medina is part of the adventure of being in Morocco.

Let yourself get lost and see where each turn takes you through this historical city. Or you can simply enjoy this visual journey from Dave of our favourite photographs from our time living as a local in Marrakech Morocco. Enjoy!

The Beauty of Marrakech: Through the Lens

DJemma El-Fna square in the heart of the Medina, Marrakech

Burber Home in Marrakech

The colours of Marrakech

The dramatic skies over the Atlas Mountains, Morocco

Making a living in the heart of the Media, Marrakech

The perfect mint tea of Marrakech

The beautiful Bahia Palace in the heart of Marrakech

Colourful spices in the Souks of Marrakech

For more on Marrakech, read our other blog entries….

How To Survive your First Hammam
Diggin’ the Dunes of Marrakech 
Moroccan Food, A Feast for the Senses

Our Trip to Marrakech was sponsored in part by HouseTrip, a holiday apartment rental company .  

Read the original post The Beauty of Marrakech: Through the Lens on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

Brisbane – Day One: 0-24 Hours

Morning: Gallery Of Modern Art

Located next to the Brisbane River, the QAGOMA or Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery Of Modern Art is definitely worth a visit. From modern installations to classic oil paintings, this bright and spacious gallery is not only free, but it’s a great place to see beautiful pieces are artwork to suit everyone’s tastes.

Afternoon: Brisbane Shopping

(Image from architravel.com)

Brisbane is a great place to go shopping, from music to fashion to large department stores, there is something for everyone’s shopping habits. Also, watch out for a great range of sushi restaurants, like your everyday sandwich shop in the UK, you are able to go in and pick large sushi rolls from $1 to takeaway. Which became slightly addictive for me. (Image Eat-Travel-Love)

Evening: South Bank Bars

Known as Brisbane’s cultural point in the city, the South Bank Bars are a great way to end a day around the city. With a range of cool and chic bars, restaurants and cafes this is a place where you really are spoilt for choice. There are a lot of bars who run happy hour drinks offers and also meal deals. Whilst there, we ordered steak and a beer for $10 at a bar located near the South Bank Lagoons.
If you’re not the type of person who likes to stay at bars and restaurants all night, then South Bank area also has three large cinemas and entertainment complexes.

Brisbane, Day Two: 24-48 Hours

Morning: Brisbane Town Hall

(Image Dipty)

Brisbane’s town hall was built in 1920 and is known by many people (and tourist guides) as the heart of Brisbane’s city with a large amount of cultural and social events happening there.
Over the past few years the City Hall has been under restoration, and will reopen to the public in early April 2013. A visit to the town hall is free and you are also able to walk up the steps to the clock tower and see the sites of Brisbane.

Afternoon: River Cruise

A great way to see the city, whether you are on a limited or long time scale, is to take a river cruise. From morning to night, the river boat cruises run throughout the day, however I recommend taking a cruise in the afternoon as you are able to fully see the beautiful skyline and sites of Brisbane’s city. The tour only takes 1.5 hours and you are informed by the captain on what to look out for. We used a company called River City Cruises – who seem to be the main provider.

Evening: Aussie Rules Football

This is a great atmosphere and event for everyone. From sports enthusiasts to people who don’t mind watching the odd game; I highly recommend visiting an Aussie-Rules Football match. We took a local bus from the city centre of Brisbane to watch the Brisbane Lions take on the Adelaide Crows (the Lions won, in case you were wondering) with tickets costing us around $20 each as we received student discount at the time. We booked our tickets online and picked them up from the stadium when we arrived. The game and crowd were great and what was even better was at the end of the match, everyone runs onto the pitch and kicks their own ball about. (See the picture of me, happy yet terrified on the Brisbane pitch).
As I mentioned in the beginning of this post, Brisbane is a fantastic place to see and has lots of activities to do on the outskirts of the city such as Kangaroo Point and Australia Zoo. However, these are my top things to do with 48 hours to spend in Brisbane.

Gwen Taylor is a travel writer over at Eat-Travel-Love.com. And you can follow Gwen on Twitter too.

Would you like to write for ThePlanetD? Check out our writing guidelines and share your inspiring story, beautiful photography or exciting adventure from around the world.

Read the original post 48 Hours in Brisbane on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.

The Burra Homestead in South Australia. A Midnight Oil Album cover

We made a point to take a detour from Wilpena Pound on our way back to Adelaide in South Australia to photograph the old Burra homestead. Made famous in the 80′s by Midnight Oil’s Album Diesel and Dust, (remember The Beds are Burning?) the Burra Homestead has turned into one of the top 100 must photograph destinations in all of Australia. Diesel and Dust was Midnight Oil’s biggest international album focusing on the struggle of the indigenous Australians and environmental issues. We were young when this album came out and didn’t listen to the lyrics, we only thought The Beds are Burning was a cool song. I’m going to make a point of listening closer as it seems that there are still environmental and indigenous concerns in Australia. Has much changed since the 80′s? That I cannot answer as a Canadian looking in from the outside.

The Burra Homestead

It’s a beautiful drive from Wilpena Pound no matter which route you take and if you are a photographer, by way of Burra is worth the stop. As we kept our eyes peeled while driving along the highway, we saw an old abandoned cottage sitting in a field. When we noticed another truck parked nearby taking photographs, we knew we were in the right place. The setting is beautiful and the homestead takes you back in time. You can imagine sheep grazing in the fields surrounding the homestead that was once abuzz with sheep farmers manning the land. The old homestead however, could be any other abandoned homestead in South Australia. The dry environment is harsh for farming and many abandoned homesteads litter the land.

At first glace we wondered what all the fuss was about? It was a grey day and the building was in ruins. But then again, this is a famous cottage. Midnight Oil made Ken Duncan’s photograph a household name and this is the second best view in South Australia according to the Australian Traveller. Besides, it may not be around for much longer, The Burra Homestead is in desperate need of repair and if the Burra community doesn’t come up with the 13,000 to fix the roof, there may be nothing left of this famous album cover locale, but the album cover itself.

You can’t get as close to this homestead these days as Ken Duncan could for the Midnight Oil Album Cover. There is a fence around the property with a no trespassing sign. But it still makes for a great photograph.

Midnight Oil album cover Diesel and Dust

Note: The day was perfect for HDR photography. As Dave says “I use HDR whenever there are dramatic skies. It gives you a realistic view of what the eye sees. It shows the contrast between the foreground and the sky and picks up the texture in the clouds which would otherwise photograph flat. HDR brings out the drama of the sky while keeping the vibrance of the field and homestead as the focus. For more photographs from Dave, visit his photography section…and his portfolio.

 

Our trip to South Australia was made possible by South Australia Tourism. Our truck hire was courtesy of Complete Ute and Van Hire www.completeuteandvanhire.com.au

Read the original post Is that the cover of a Midnight Oil Album? on Adventure Travel blog for Couples | The Planet D.