Packing My Hiking Kit

Let me tell you about my gear, clothing, and food from my recent 7 day section hike from Tuolumne Meadows to Sonora Pass in the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California, USA. First, I firmly believe in "Hike Your Own Hike" (HYOH) – my way is not the right way, it is just my way. If yours is different, that is all good. As an example, I like to be organized. Everything fits in a stuff sack and then goes in the pack. I know then, if I need my toilet then I grab the red stuff sack, my kitchen – the blue sack, and so on. Others will just cram the tent in, the sleeping bag in, their clothes in, wherever they fit. HYOH.



This trip covered 75 miles, at elevation of 8,500 to 10,800 feet, there was no resupply, and temps ranged from low 70s F in the day to 32 F at night. Packing my hiking kit efficiently was essential. Working clockwise from left, you can see my GoLite Quest backpack... Continue reading....

XplorMor: La Palma, Capital of the Darien Provence, Panama

Sunrise Over Mount Everest

Continued from Kathmandu to Mount Everest Base Camp...

Over the following days our expedition team trekked to the villages of Khunde and Khumjung, or to the locals Khurnyung, that lie adjacent in a valley of Sagarmatha National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This part of the expedition held more memorable moments of Nepalese cultural sights. While hiking in this valley we looked up at the amazing Khumjung Gompa ("gompa" translates in English to monastery). It was destroyed by different reasons time and again since its first construction about 350 years ago. The ambiance of the gompa was the most interesting thing of all. Although lamas, Buddhist monks, carried out their daily chores in and out of the monastery, it was as silent as it could be. Another surprising artifact we came across the same day was a chance to see what the locals call "the skull of the mystical mountain animal", known also as the Yeti.

Tengboche Gompa in Nepal by Uzol at XplorMor

Leaving these significant villages behind, I along with our expedition team headed up higher elevations towards Everest Base Camp, which still was a long distance away. As we went further up, the mountains got closer and closer, so close that for a moment I felt like I could touch them with the tips of my fingers. Days went by on the trails and we reached a very small village, home to a world-famous monastery named Tengboche Gompa, it is also known as Dawa Challing Gompa. The gompa rests at an elevation of 3,870 meters or 13,700 feet. The Tengboche Gompa is also the biggest monastery of entire Khumbu region. Tengboche is not only famous for the architecture and artwork of this monastery, but also as a viewpoint from where to see an amazingly close view of Mount Everest; closer even than that from Namche Bazaar. The breathtaking color combination of white mountains kissing the deep blue sky is spectacular, and imprinted in my mind a never-fading memory of incredible Everest.

As we got closer to our destination I felt uncomfortable and realized... Continue reading....

Kathmandu to Mount Everest Base Camp

Wow! This experience is incredible. I never thought, my mind could be absorbed by a single question or a place: What exactly is happening right now? Am I out of this world or entering an amazing air-conditioned realm? Just 32 minutes ago, I was in Kathmandu, Capital City of Nepal, country of the Himalayas, where lies the world’s highest mountain peak. This peak has many names in many languages, such as Sagarmatha and Chomolongma, but the most popular name in the world for a mountain which soars to an elevation of 8,848 meters or 29,029 feet is "Everest". The highest elevation on the planet.



The most popular and the only aerial port of entry to the Everest region is Lukla. Lukla is a small village based around a primitive airport. The Lukla airport, officially named the Tenzing-Hillary Airport, has been time and again rated by National Geographic and others as one of the most dangerous airports in the world. I look out from the window of my plane, and the runway looks like a small, very short alley way. The airstrip is so short, barely more than 400 meters or a quarter of a mile, that I have a major adrenaline rush as we take off! After take-off my excitement sky-rocketed even more from just looking out the window at the incredible landscapes we flew over.



The main settlers of the Himalayas, known individually as a “Sherpa”, are equally renowned and unique when compared to Mount Everest, and were completely different from... Continue reading...

Journaling Your Expedition Details

I carry a journal along when I backpack or camp and I would suggest that you do so, as well. I do not fool myself into thinking that I will ever compose essays in the manner of Edward Abbey, no matter how witty or profound my thoughts seem while hiking throughout the day. For me, the primary reason behind my journaling is to record the day’s events. This helps me in recounting tales of a specific trip, matching my photographs to my maps, and keeping accurate records of exactly which peak, pass, lake, or stream that I encountered. But when face to face with a blank page where does one begin?

I cannot claim that ‘my’ format is really even mine. I give all credit to Ed Garvey, who thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1970, and wrote about his hike in Appalachian Hiker: Adventure of a Lifetime. Garvey kept notes in a 4x6 inch bound notebook but I find his real genius was in devising a format which captures the critical elements of each day's hike. Garvey actually had his format printed up on sheets separate from his journaling book; I am not so formal as that but use Garvey’s foundation as the base for what I record. Here is Garvey’s format that I have adopted... Continue reading...

XplorMor Community Got Wet for Project H2O!

Our global XplorMor Community got wet with Project H2O!

   

Project H2O took place on the June Solstice, June 21, 2014.  2100 people from 73 countries joined the event!  The assignment was to capture water in its three forms (liquid, solid, gas) in as many settings and situations as possible as seen through each participant's perspective, and to promote getting out there and sharing a global experience through photography.

Participants used wonderful creativity to capture water from rippling rivers to glaciers to all-shapes of clouds.  There were even posts with words of wisdom about water.

The project showed us how intertwined water is in our lives and in the life of our planet.  The assignment succeeded in getting participants out there in order to share their vision and a moment of their day through photography, while creating awareness as to the intertwined existence of water, our planet and us.

Thank you for your support!

Continue to Explore. Photograph. Get Out There. Share... and look for the next Project on the September Equinox!

   

View photo galleries of Project H2O: Liquid, Solid, Gas, and the Project H2O album on Facebook.

Project H2O Aims to Focus the XplorMor Community on Water in all its Forms

Project H2O seeks to create awareness as to the intertwined existence of water, our planet and us. During these times of population explosion, technology advancement, increased building and global climate change, it is imperative we work together to ensure our future is bright and wet with cool, clear, flowing water. XplorMor Team wishes for Project H2O's assignment of observing and photographing water in all its forms and sharing with a worldwide community to raise interest and consciousness for water's integral role in our world.

Join event on Facebook, and post your photographs June 21, 2014! Everyone is welcome.

Rare Sighting of Water at Badwater Basin, Death Valley National Park, California, USA

Project H2O will take place on the June Solstice. The assignment is to capture water in its three forms (liquid, solid, gas) in as many settings and situations as possible as seen through each participant's perspective, and to promote getting out there and sharing a global experience through photography.

Water offers many exciting photography possibilities.  It appears in numerous forms from bodies of water, like oceans and lakes, to clouds, mist and steam, to snowflakes, frost and ice-cubes, to glaciers, tear drops and sweat to holy water.  A photo for Project H2O could show someone pouring a glass of water or rain drops on a window or snow covering mountains... get as creative as you wish!

Read more about Project H2O and JOIN the XplorMor Community Facebook Event!

Big Sur and Pine Ridge Trail

When I lived on the Monterey Peninsula the Pine Ridge Trail into the Ventana Wilderness was one of my favorite hikes to quickly get to a remote area. A downside is that trail access is easy, Big Sur is popular, and California trails are notoriously crowded. That means that on weekends, when the weather is good, there will be others on the trail with you. If you have the gear and are willing to brave winter weather the trail could be yours alone.



One recent December I had a weekend without plans and decided to head to Big Sur for a solo hike and camp in Ventana Wilderness. As it turned out, a cold front was predicted to move through on Friday night, with rain, wind, and a drop in temperature. My philosophy with weather is summed up by explorer Ranulph Fiennes who reportedly said, "There is no such thing as bad weather, only inappropriate clothing." Admittedly, winter in Big Sur is not severe, but I did pack my winter sleeping bag and an extra fleece layer.



I arrived at Big Sur Station in mid-afternoon, packed up, and started to hike in. There were about a dozen younger folks hiking out with dogs, guitars, and ukuleles – I guessed that I had missed a good party. My goal was Barlow Flats which was seven miles in but... Continue reading... 

Tucuti: Gateway to the Perilous Darien Gap

Continued from Xplorer Journal: Navigating the Impenetrable Darien Gap...

As our expedition team finished breakfast, Vidal, a leader in the Tucuti community invited us to visit the town's school and observe the children at study in its classrooms. I was an English teacher in South Korea for a term, and Tucuti reminded me very much of the small town where I was located. I jumped at the offer and stepped in with his brisk pace.

We arrived at a building with architecture that I recognized: simple cinder block construction painted white, with the bottom half and roof edge, blue. I knew we were at a Panamanian School. The C.E.B.G. Inocencio Quintanar Blanco, is the main primary school for Tucuti. According to Vidal, the youngest students use the classrooms in the morning, and then the older students come in the afternoon as there are not enough classrooms to accommodate both at the same time. The other problem is the desks; only the small children fit on the seats, so the older must push them out of the way and have class while sitting on the floor. Do they complain? No. They are happy to have their books and a school with teachers to explain the subjects.

I toured each of the classrooms, surprising the students with my unexpected entrance. They responded similarly to the Korean children I taught, fascinated to see a tall white blond-haired girl. Their stares varying from excited to scared, made me smile. I speak some Spanish, so was able to introduce myself and communicate enough to put them all at ease. And, they were able to respond in English with a few phrases such as "hello, how are you?", "I'm fine" and "goodbye, nice to see you." They also eagerly gathered around their teachers for me to photograph them. What a wonderful experience... I believe they thought so too.

Read more...

Navigating the Impenetrable Darien Gap

Continuing from Xplorer Journal: Darien Gap Trek to the Monkey Stone, aka Yarre Mongara...

Leaving Puerto Quimba, Darien Province, Panama our expedition team traveled by motor boat from Puerto Quimba along the Rio Turia passed Isla Mangle, and onto its southern fork, Rio Balsas, or "River of Rafts". Rio Balsas journeys through the heart of Darien Gap all the way to the Colombian border. Most settlements and villages lie along the rivers as these are the main arteries and highways for travel, communication, medical attention, and to transport goods and livestock. The only other means to reach these remote locations is by foot, though some primitive dirt roads are in place for motorbikes and even off-road vehicles. However, where our expedition trekked, there were usually no trails, and the only means to venture forward were by bushwhacking and wading rivers.

Rio Balsas, or in English "River of Rafts"

The water level of the rivers was much lower than expected, and our boat was marooned many times along the snaking, switch backs of Rio Balsas. As a consequence, our voyage took hours longer than expected and forced our first night's stay at Camoganti, a small village nestled between the Chepigana Forest Reserve and the river's edge. To get our gear to dry land we had to form a human chain, passing each piece of luggage from one to another off the boat and up onto the riverbank.

Human chain on the banks of Rio Balsas at Camoganti, Darien Gap

The Camoganti townspeople were very accommodating to our unexpected arrival...

Continue reading...

Darien Gap: Trek to the Monkey Stone, aka Yarre Mongara

First entry in the XplorMor Team journal on our trek to the mysterious Monkey Stone, aka Yarre Mongara, in the Darien Gap of eastern Panama.

Destination: Darien Gap

Mission: To cross the Darien from Puerto Quimba to Playa Muerto in order to locate lost petroglyphs (ancient stone engravings or carvings) and mark a new route through the jungle

End of the road at Puerto Quimba, Darien Gap, Panama

Our expedition members ventured from the United States and the United Kingdom to Panama City, to meet our Panamanian guides for trekking the Darien jungle.  I was on board to photograph and document the expedition and its findings.

Continue reading... 

Carrying our Gear to the Dock at Puerto Quimba, Darien Gap, Panama

Latest XplorMor Video: Car Burning, Immokalee, FL

Stopped to get cold drinks after a hike... and got quite a show!

National Parks Week is Here!

Get out there and take advantage of free admission to our National Parks and lands this weekend: April 19th and 20th!  In honor of National Park Week, our park lands will waive entrance fees this Saturday and Sunday.

North Fork Trail, Inyo National Forest, California

National Park Week celebrates all 401 amazing national park sites around the United States. This year's theme is "Go Wild!".  Events from Hawaiian sailing to mountain biking to wildlife talks and wildflower walks will be held at many of the national parks; to find events near you, check the event calendar.

Continue reading...

Glacier Trekking, Tongass National Forest, Alaska

Exploring Colonial America

XplorMor Team has explored the historic Virginian towns of Colonial America on several occasions, experiencing lovely sunny days featuring reenactments of colonial events and sipping hot cider by small bonfires on wintry nights.  No matter the time of year, visiting Colonial America is a memorable experience into the history and founding of the United States.

Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

The area is compromised of three main sites known as the Colonial Triangle: Colonial Williamsburg, Historic Jamestowne and its recreated Settlement, and Yorktown.  I asked one of our team members, Bryan Davis, about his experience with Colonial America as he was raised in the area and has seen its transformation over the years first hand.  His reply, "The Colonial Triangle has gotten better and better. The committees and foundations responsible continuously make improvements in order to offer the colonial experience as close as possible to reality from the architecture to the role players use of 18th century colloquialisms."

Continue reading...

Replicas of the Colonial Ships, Jamestown Settlement, Virginia

XplorMor Communty Gets Colorful with Project Color

Project Color had the XplorMor Community chasing colors around the globe on the Equinox!

   

The Project took place on the March Equinox, March 20, 2014, with participants capturing the colors of our world on a single day. On this day the length of the sun's appearance is the same at all points on the Earth. The sun gives us light. Light gives us color. Hence, a great day for color photography.

The goal was to capture colors seen through each person’s perspective and creativity, and to promote getting out there and sharing the experience through photography.

The reason to participate was to have fun, and to come together as a community through a shared experience: to share our photographic vision, innovation and a moment of our day. The photos also allowed us to see and appreciate other parts of the world, other cultures and other peoples.

Project Color showed us how unique we are as individuals but how similar we are as a people. It melted differences and formed new bonds of understanding and friendship and joy. Thank you.

Continue to Explore. Photograph. Get Out There. Share... and look for the next Project on the June Solstice!

   

View the galleries for Project Color: Colorful Works of Art, Rainbow World and Vertical Images, and Project Color album on Facebook.

Project Color, the next XplorMor Community Event

Join the Event on Facebook.

Project Color will take place on the Equinox, March 20, 2014, when the XplorMor Community will chase colors of our world around the globe. Everyone is welcome.

Colorful Sprint for Project Color by XplorMor

Project Color aims for participants to post photos of color on the March Equinox when the days grow longer in the Northern Hemisphere and shorter in the Southern Hemisphere. On the Equinox, the “Earth is not tilted toward or away from the Sun and the length of the day is the same at all points on the Earth's surface.”  The sun gives us light. Light gives us color. Hence, a great day for color photography.

The goal is to capture colors around the planet on a single day as seen through each person’s perspective, and to promote getting out there and sharing the experience through photography. A color photo could show the rosy blossoming Spring or the orange glowing Autumn, the colors of your country, your city or town, your home or even yourself. From sunrise to sunset, from a far off coral castle to a nearby white walled temple, from blue city buildings to green country fields, or even just your red skirt, scarf or cardigan… possibilities are endless… get as creative as you wish!

The reason for participating is to have fun.  It’s about coming together as a community and sharing our vision, creativity and a moment of our day.  The photos may also allow us to see other parts of the world.  And, if the weather is bad add some innovation from inside your home or wherever you may be that day.

If you would like to be in the image, that's your choice!

Your photo and its information (as listed below) should be posted on the Project Color event page. If an issue arises post on the XplorMor Facebook page or email the image and its information to info@xplormor.com.  Please note: When the project day is over, photos will be moved into an album on the XplorMor Facebook page, and uploaded to Projects at www.xplormor.com.

Information to include with your photo post:

1. Your name as you would like it to appear with the photo

2. Description For example, me standing in a green rice paddy, or a red building in the city, or cherry blossoms, or yellow leaves of Autumn, etc

3. Location photo taken, including city and country

4. Title of image (if applicable)

5. Any other information you would like to share

For additional information, FAQs and rules, continuing reading about Project Color. 

#projectcolor #xplormor

Joshua Tree: A Land of Subtle, Stark Wonder

I’d never been to Joshua Tree National Park before. I’d heard about it from friends, and often said to myself I should go there, but I never got around to it. Like a lot of things in California, it was so close that it was easy to forget it was there. California is like that, so full of things to see and experience your choices become as congested and difficult to maneuver as the freeways of Los Angeles.  A friend of mine, back from teaching kids in Korea for the winter, asked me to join him on a day long excursion to this special place, and not having seen him in almost two years I could not refuse. Besides, it would be good to get away after a truly awful divorce from someone I thought I could trust. This is also a common thing in California.

Joshua Tree National Park, California

Like most people, in my youth I thought of a desert as a barren, boiling wasteland choked with sand. I thought of Lawrence of Arabia leading a charging army of fierce desert nomads. Deserts were places for the lost and the damned, filled with shallow graves just off the road and swarmed by nefarious hitchhikers and shady characters. Giant worms ridden by noble Fremen charged across endless dunes. It was easy to believe the Hollywood vision. And nothing could be further from the truth (except when it is). Deserts (yes there are different kinds), as varied as any other environment you’ll pass through, team with survivors, creatures so well adapted they thrive in places that can suck the life out of a person in a few hours.

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Bali to Bangkok, Part 5

The final chapter of Bali to Bangkok (Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4)...

Soon I found myself showered and with a full stomach slipping into this big soft bed covered and comfy, relaxed and drifting off into a deep undisturbed sleep. It was early around 7:30 or 8:00 P.M. and I was ready to drift away till morning. Alas, Heaven turned to Hell at about 9:30 P.M. when a band fired up in the bar below me and at screaming Mack 5 decibels. The Thai’s have only one setting on their amps, all the way up. This went on until 3:00 A.M. With ear plugs and my head buried inside double pillows there was no relief. I began to feel like I was a prisoner at Guantanamo being tortured into signing a confession for having committed some heinous terrorist act.

In the morning I lay there in bed trying to recover a little bit from the torture I had just endured. I sat up and without my glasses I saw what looked to be on the snow white sheet a small black bug, looking like an ant I squished it with my thumb blood the size of a dime dominated the spot where this little creature had once been, bright red blood, my blood. Then I spotted another squished to as well and again bright red blood. Bed bugs! In all my travels I have not before encountered these vile creatures.

Bali to Bangkok by Robert Varney

That was it, with bloodshot eyes I staggered down the stairs to the front desk and explained to the desk manager that there was no way that I could possibly endure such another night.  And, that regrettably as lovely as the room was, it was never going to give me a restful night, something I now desperately need. I began to feel like a refugee fleeing from a war zone as I staggered across the street to yet a third guest house to inquire as to the availability of a room far from the little bar, bed bugs and loud music. I was shown on the third floor in the back a small but seemingly adequate room and the price was within reason so I now have moved for the third time in as many nights. Home at last?

Continue reading...

Bali to Bangkok, Part 4

Bali to Bangkok continues (Read Part 1, Part 2, Part 3)...

I quickly take up my bags, scurry out of the office, down the stairs, cross the lines of people, find counter number K14 walk up, and present my ticket. I ask the attendant if I can get on standby, she looks at the computer and says, “Yes, please check your bag here and you have 15 minutes to get to gate B6 before boarding.” Off I went in a dead run. Security check. Off with the shoes, belt, watch, cell phone… next they will ask to remove the fillings in your teeth. Scanned and screened, I recapture all my stuff and resume my fast pace to B6. As luck would have it, it is another seeming mile away.

Bali to Bangkok by Robert Varney

Running between horizontal escalators past the boutique shops selling bags and watches and duty free items I go. Alas, panting and out of breath I arrive just as they are announcing my boarding number and I slide into the plane and find my seat. I try to rest and gather my wits during the 1 ½ hour flight. We land. I disembark, gather the bags, find a taxi stand, buy a ticket to Karon Beach, wait forever for the taxi, jump in paying too much as this is not a time to try and bargain (it’s now close to midnight), and sit back in the cab gathering my breath once again. What is often as much as a two hour ride is cut in half due to the absence of any traffic at this hour; the streets are wide open and we make record time.

Continue reading... 

Bali to Bangkok, Part 3

Bali to Bangkok continues (Read Part 1, Part 2)...

Off I went to locate my bag. The information counter misunderstood me; I should have just shown her my flight number on my baggage claim. As it was not at what I discovered to be an empty carousel. Rechecking at yet another Information stand, I was to then find that my bag was at the complete opposite end from where I now stood. So off I went not yet realizing what valuable time this had cost me.

I arrived to see only one lonely bag left slowly orbiting around waiting for me to reunite with it. Grabbing it up and locating a baggage cart, off I went to find the departure floor and check what I then presumed to be one of several airline counters which had flights to Phuket. The departure floor is up three stories. There is a lift that will accommodate the baggage carts, but the line for this was too long. I abandoned the cart and lugged my bag up the escalator. At last inside the departure area and to inquire as to when would be my soonest opportunity to grab a flight to Phuket. Soon I realize that whereas last year there were many companies; there are now none. What?! I go to Information, and ask what happened to all the airline counters that were just there last year. Gone. Now there are only two airlines that have flights to Phuket. Thai and Bangkok airlines. Thai ticket sales, I was informed, was just across the many check-in counters at the end of Isle N. Above that up the elevator is Bangkok. Off I go to test my luck, which has not been proven to be so kind thus far.

Bali to Bangkok by Robert Varney

I worked my way through the throngs of people checking in, until I was able to cover the distance between the entrances of the check in area and the Thai Air ticketing office. The ticketing office resembled a bank of tellers. One was then obliged to use a small machine to get a number and watch and wait until your number came up on a screen informing you as to which of the several ticketing agents were free to accommodate you. There were several people before me, and then at last my number came up. 

Continue reading...

National Parks: Free Entrance This Weekend!

All 401 U.S. National Parks are providing free admission today through Monday to honor Presidents Day.  Visit the U.S. National Park Service website to view a list of Free Entrance Days, and see the list of Participating Parks.  Get out there, explore more, and enjoy some of our national treasures!

Rainbow Falls in Inyo National Forest by XplorMor

A bit of history...  On March 1, 1872, Congress passed an act that officially established Yellowstone National Park "as a public park or pleasuring-ground for the benefit and enjoyment of the people."  This event started a worldwide movement. And, today our planet houses more than 1200 national parks or equivalent preserves.

Continue reading...

Bali to Bangkok, Part 2

Bali to Bangkok continues (Read Part 1)...

The flight takes more time than flying from L.A. to N.Y.C. I gain an hour and still arrive at 7:30 in the evening. Then, Immigration. After walking what seems to be a mile of corridors I get to the entry area that leads up to the Immigration queues. A sea of people clustered in an unorganized mass leading to the ill-defined roped off areas that begin to define that which will  become the endless zigzag lines leading to the openings that allows you to stand before the Immigration officer and get your visa on arrival and pass on to the baggage claim. Phew. Exhausted just thinking about it. I am looking at hours of wasted time only to get to the point to where I can get my bag. Then off to begin inquiring about any hope I may have of an existing flight to Phuket. Even if I am able to book something for the next day, it will still take a lot of time just to find out.

Bali to Bangkok by Robert Varney

As I pondered my dilemma while facing this sea of people. I noticed a few people slipping off to the right of everyone and seeming to find some other way. So I decided to investigate. I slid up along the right side of all these people and came to the where I had seen people disappear. What I found was a line for non-foreigners. This was for the Thai people only. Dead end. I looked back to where I had just come and to my great regret, hundreds more people had joined the line! Then I got an idea that it came as a question. The question was, “how can I cut in line and not incur the wrath of several hundred people. I stood there looking at the hundreds of faces that stood trance like inching along slowly defining what was to become a portal to Thailand. l stood there looking across all these faces and all this mixed group of race and nationalities. Every known ethnic origin clustered for one common purpose. Enter Thailand. Many even more exhausted than I. One person stood out... 

Continue reading...

Bali to Bangkok, Part 1

When one dreams of travel one often imagines tranquility peace and relaxation. Or, perhaps adventure and excitement. The seamless transition from point A to point B. With the speed of modern air travel one is swept away effortlessly to a far off land. At times it is not always so. Sometimes things just don’t move along as smoothly as you had planned or imagined. Such was my transition from Bail to Bangkok. It all started when, after a lovely time on the Island of Bali, I decided to fly north to Phuket, Thailand.

Bali to Bangkok by Robert Varney

For the last several years, and up until this year, nonstop flights from Phuket to Bali and from Bali to Phuket were daily. I had not booked anything in advance because I was not certain just when I wished to leave Bali. My plan was to just secure the next flight whenever the nearest flight became available. I was not in a great rush. I had just spent two weeks in Bali and the outlying islands recovering from the horrors of jet jag. Plus I so prefer to enter Thailand in the small airport of Phuket rather than its international giant, as it services immigration for nearby countries and has less arrivals. At Suvarnabumi, the big international airport in Bangkok, immigration is a nightmare as it services all the major cities of the world. As a result tens of thousands of people arrive each day, day and night. Immigration alone often can take several hours standing in long lines, depending how many planes have recently arrived.

Continue reading...

XplorMor "Just for Fun" Video: Small Surf, Delray Beach, Florida

Sanctuary of the Monarch Butterfly

NOW is the time to visit Monarch Grove Sanctuary.  According to the Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History in Pacific Grove, California (also known as "Butterfly Town, USA"), the butterfly population is currently estimated at 14,000.  The Monarchs cluster by the hundreds into beautiful orange cascades in the pine and eucalyptus trees of the Sanctuary.  We were recently at the preserve and saw the clustered butterflies awaken and flutter about as the sun warmed the area.  A remarkable sight.

The Monarch overwintering season is from November through February.  "Overwintering" means to pass through or wait out the winter season.  The Monarchs venture to the mild climate of the Central California Coast to avoid colder weather.  They may travel up to 2000 miles in order to make this journey. A docent at the Sanctuary, explained this phenomena is unique as several generations of Monarchs have lived and died since the departure of last year's gathering, and so this generation appears without ever having been to the Sanctuary.

Continue reading Sanctuary of the Monarch Butterfly.

XplorMor: Monarch Grove Sanctuary

California's Meeting of Land & Sea

This may be where the phrase  "California Beautiful" was coined, or at least it should be...

Drive along California's Highway 1 for any distance past the sleepy beach town of Moro Rock and you quickly realize why the California Central Coast pulls thousands of visitors from around the world.  On one side, the road winds along rugged coast with gorgeous expansive scenic views, and on the other, it bends past rolling fields and jagged mountains.  Every car turnout has a worthwhile vista; there's high cliffs covered with colorful ice-plant, whales, seals, dolphins and otters in the ocean waters, and birds gliding in cool breezes of fresh salty air.  The climate is mild, excellent for trails to be accessed year round.  And, there are numerous hiking trails up into the hills and down to the sea coves and beaches.

XplorMor Big Sur Expedition

Places of interest along the coast are numerous, and may be accessed from easy walks to lengthy climbing trails.  In fact visitors spend anywhere from four days to two weeks, and still find they haven't had enough time to see it all.  There is Lover's Point, a large rock formation protruding into Monterey Bay, only a short distance from parking.  Or for the more adventurous, the Pine Ridge Trail in Los Padres National Forest leads into the Ventana Wilderness and Santa Lucia Mountains with access to rivers, waterfalls and thermal springs. There are stands of rare, endemic Santa Lucia Firs visible at higher elevations.

Point Lobos is also a popular destination offering hiking trails along its shoreline that lead to hidden coves.  (Note: Get there early as parking is limited and this California State Natural Reserve is well known.  Also, make sure to adhere to parking signs as I watched a ranger leave tickets on unsuspecting windshields.  Really this applies to the entire coast.)  There is also Andrew Molera State Park with hikes winding along the Big Sur River, and Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park with groves of Colonial Redwood Trees.  Nearby is Pfeiffer Beach with a wonderful stone arch in the sea, excellent for photographs, especially at sunset.

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XplorMor Big Sur Expedition