Kitesurfing in Morocco enjoys a growing reputation as one of the best areas for the extreme sport. Essaouira, in the north, boasts some of the best beaches for kitesurfing in Morocco – benefitting from large swell and constant cross winds ranging from 25 to 35 knots in the summer.

Yet hitting the waves isn’t the only way to make the most of the kitesurfing experience in Morocco. Back on dry land and backing most of the beaches in and around Essaouira is a network of bars and cafes.

Here you will find all manner of kitesurfing, surfing and windsurfing enthusiasts, congregating over a few beverages and regaling each other with stories of jumps, air-time and even the spectacular crashes!

Meet New People and Pick Up Some Tips

Chilling out in these bars and cafes is a great way to meet new people but also where you might find some pearls of wisdom to help next time you hit the water.
Many of the locals will be more than happy to share their know-how and make recommendations on where and when to go when kitesurfing in Morocco. Furthermore, it is generally more fun taking to the water with some friends.

Getting the Most from Kitesurfing in Morocco

This network of bars and cafes has been steadily building over the years, with many kitesurfers becoming so enamoured with the area that they have moved their permanently. To this end, they have a good idea about the area and this could help to improve your kitesurfing experience in Morocco.

Yet, if you need some time away from the sport there are plenty of places to go, especially for food, where you can enjoy a Mediterranean inspired diet of healthy dishes.

Venture into the center of Utah and you enter mining country. This area of Utah has a diverse ecosystem from the forest with lakes, wild flowers, flowing rivers to the painted desert. Central Utah is often overlooked as a vacation destination and this would be a mistake.

Take Spanish Fork Canyon to Price and you have made it to central Utah. Price is the largest town in the area so if you need supplies stock up here. Nine Mile Canyon has been recently purchased by the State. It is an archeological treasure trove. There is painted Indian art rocks and the land was held in private ownership until about two years ago.

After a visit to Nine Mile Canyon you will want to head south towards Huntington. The two lane highway here is very deceiving it looks desolate no trees. Travel to Huntington and follow the road sign to Huntington Canyon. After reaching the power plant the terrain will change and you won’t believe your eyes. Traveling into the Manti La Sal forest you will discover pristine streams, hiking trails through abundant wild flowers, ferns, aspen and a variety of trees. It is a great place to camp for the night and see the stars and smell the fresh air.

After visiting Huntington Canyon you will want to return to the desolate highway. If you want to visit a dig for dinosaur bones the town of Cleveland offers a look into the pit where archeologists will be working for a hundred years.

There are many options in the area to choose an adventure in the mountains here. Traveling on that same desolate highway through Orangeville you will discover orange sandstone as you travel up to Joe’s Valley. The crystal blue water, orange sandstone and ponderosa pine are a perfect place to have lunch.

When you reach the town of Castledale you will see a dirt road turn off towards the San Rafael Swell. The swell has been a favorite of the locals for years. If you hike off the dirt road you will find some of the most undisturbed Utah desert I know of. You will find Indian rock art in many unmarked places, see food storage on the cliffs, hear the meadowlarks off in the distance and feel like no one else is on the planet.

Traveling further south on that same desolate highway you will come to the town of Ferron. You will see a sign to the east take it to Ferron Canyon. Here you can visit small natural lakes, see a wide variety of wild life and enjoy scenic beauty that is rare these days.

Follow the same desolate highway to the I-70 interchange and catch highway 89 and take a scenic journey to Moab. Here is one of the most beautiful areas in Utah. Take a wild white water rafting trip, visit Arches National Park stay at a hotel after all the outdoors you will enjoy a bed.

Nepal is a beautiful place to go trekking and enjoy the wonderful sights that surround you. Nepal is a place to just go and indulge in everything that nature has to offer. While trekking in Nepal you will notice the many beautiful mountains, rivers and country side. One of the most stunning beauties is Mt. Everest, in which you will find good reason to stare in awe and amazement. Nepal is one of the planet’s most beautiful places to visit. What better way to experience such wonder with trekking. Trekking is the sport of walking or hiking while enjoying your surroundings. This guide will give you some ideas on what you will need to know when trekking in Nepal.

The best time to plan your stay in Nepal for a trekking journey would be October through November or February through April. When traveling at the right time of the year you will be able to enjoy the views and scenery much more. Once you have made plans for a trekking trip to Nepal you will need a place to stay. There are many extremely affordable accommodations for your trekking adventure. Some places that you may consider if you don’t mind camping out is Lower Dolpo and Annapurna Circuit. Make sure to bring enough camping supplies so you can enjoy your trip comfortably. Other places that you may want to consider staying on your journey are places that have lodging accommodations. Some locations of lodging include Gokyo Lakes, Peak and Renjo La as well as Siklish, Begnas Lake and Lamjung. These are just a few recommendations on places to stay while visiting Nepal. There are many other options out there and or worth the research.

Maybe you are wondering what types of clothing and other items you should bring with you on your Nepal adventure. The accepted apparel would be long pants and shirts that are not revealing. Don’t bring cut offs or low cut shirts, this type of outfit is not readily accepted in Nepal. When packing your clothing for your trip make sure to add good sturdy well supported boots. Other essentials are a first aid kit, hat to cover your head, sunscreen and lotion, bath supplies, water bottle, urination bottle, sunglasses and trekking poles to name a few. The list can go on and on pick and choose what you may think is essential to your Nepal trek.

Some may wonder if it would be worth it to set up a guided tour. A trek tour through Nepal is offered by many professional guides. Guides can be very affordable and most of the time the price will also include food and drinks. Check around for a good guide they can really help the new trekker get the most out of their trip. Some rather enjoy their trek solo and this is fine. Just make sure that you know where you are going and have an emergency plan if one arises.

When trekking through the beautiful mountains of Nepal you will want to bring a camera or video recorder. The memories you will be able to capture of this wondrous place will entertain you for years to come. Some sights to see while you are on your trek include the beautiful Mount Everest and you can also view the splendid sight of Himalayas. Trekking throughout Nepal isn’t only about the mountain views it’s also about the culture. View the many villages, streams and farms along your trek. Take in the many smells of the different cuisines being cooked up in the small towns. This will be a trip to remember and a good quality camera or video equipment is highly recommended.

Be careful on your trek and watch out for altitude sickness. This ailment can strike the most experienced trekker and cause lots of misery. The symptoms of altitude sickness are vomiting, nausea, fatigue and problems with sleeping. Make sure not to trek extremely high distances when first starting out as a Nepal trekker. The best way to prevent this sickness is to drink plenty of water and take an over the counter motion sickness medication.

What if you’re on your trek in Nepal and an emergency arises? This could be anything from a fall or suddenly falling ill. The best way to be prepared for an emergency is to keep a cell phone or a radio with you to alert emergency personal of your distress. Another good thing to do is to trek in groups. Trekking in groups is always the safer recommended way to trek Nepal. Always be safe and know who to alert in case of an emergency. Keep a first aid kit with you at all times as well as any medication you may need to take on a daily basis. Be safe and enjoy the many beautiful mountains that Nepal has to offer on your next trekking adventure.

The Big Island of Hawaii is the largest and youngest island of the chain. Because it has an active volcano, this island is still growing. There are five volcanoes on the island. Kilauea, the shortest volcano of the group is the most active volcano in the world. It has been erupting almost continuously since 1983. Watching Kilauea erupt is one of the most exciting scenes you will ever witness. You can literally see the earth being born! The island’s terrain offers barren lava fields, black beaches, tropical jungles, and snowcapped mountains. The summit of Mauna Kea offers the most beautiful views from the world’s clearest skies.

Hilo Bay is home to more then 100,000 people. This city is located on the Eastern side of the island. Hilo is known as the rainy side of the island. They get around 130 inches of rain annually. The terrain is like a lush rain forest. Hilo has had two documented tsunamis and many earthquakes. You can see cruise ships docked in the harbors of Hilo Bay. Hilo has mind-blowing waterfalls.

Heading south takes you to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. This is a sight not to be missed. Watch Kilauea erupt, walk through the lava tubes, see the lava hitting the ocean in big waves of steam. This is an incredible experience!

Head south of the park and enjoy the black beaches of Hawaii, such as Punalu’u Black Sand Beach. At the most southern part of the island is Green Sand Beach. Continue driving around the southern point and drive to the Western side of the island, or the “sunny side” of the island. Kona has the most sunshine on the island. The beaches are tamer and better for swimming. Most of the island’s resorts are on this side. The Kona side gets less rain and is therefore not as lush.

At the very northern point of this road lies the picturesque town of Hawi. There are many art shops here to enjoy. Heading north to the end of the road is the Pololu Lookout. You can hike down to the Pololu Beach by a trail. At the bottom, you will find black sand dunes.

If you want a “cowboy” experience, head to Parker Ranch. Parker Ranch is known for their long-horned cattle. Hawaiian cowboys are called Paniolo. You can take a 45 minute wagon tour of a section of the range. You can also visit the Parker Ranch Historic Homes in Waimea. At the Parker Range Visitors Center, you can see videos of the ranch’s history and cruise the museum.

Enjoy your visit to the Big Island!

Here is a guide to how to bargain and get the absolute best price while shopping in China.

Shopping is very popular in China and you can find shops everywhere, whatever your looking for in China you wont have a problem finding it, China has stores for everything. The best place in Beijing to go shopping and bargaining is Silk Street.

Now, bargaining in China is very acceptable in most shops through out China; the most famous of these places to bargain and get the best deals is the Silk Street in Beijing. Here is a guide about bargaining in China as well as some of my own personal tips on how to get extra low prices. Typically at places like Silk Street, where bargaining is expected, the shops will rise the prices pretty high for foreigners, so the key is persistence when your bargaining. Bargaining can be a lot of fun, I typically make it about joking around and make the atmosphere light, I like to become friends with the shop owners, which also helps to get lower prices, but an important thing to remember is to be sure to be respectful.

Here are some tips I have to help you get cheap prices and have some fun with bargaining.

Smile:
One of the most important thing to do is to Smile, its important to keep the atmosphere light and relaxed, not stressful, this helps so that shop owner will be more relaxed and will help you get cheaper prices.

Fun:
Have fun with it, make jokes, and you can even playfully flirt a little with the shop owner. This is my favorite part and which helps me the most with getting the lowest price. I would always create elaborate stories for why they should give me a lower price for the product i want.

Some examples of these stories are such as:

I’m a poor student
I’m Chinese (even though I’m actually an American, I would tell them I’m Chinese and say they should give me a good price)
If I were buying an electronic product I would say I’m a robot and I need it to live.
The girl shop owner would try to flirt with me saying I’m handsome and so forth so that I would give them more money, but I would always turn this around and say because I’m handsome they should give me a better price
So be creative and have fun that’s what’s important.

Flaws:
The second thing to know is that you aren’t going to be buying the highest quality of products while in China, and there is a lot of fake merchandise, and it might brake some time after buying it. However this also helps to your advantage, while bargaining point out flaws in the workmanship of what you are wanting to buy, this will help to get the price lower and put pressure on the shop owner to not charge so high of a price.

Browse the Stores:
A good thing to do is once you find something you like its good to look around first to see the other stores that have the same product, because more often then not you will find stores selling the same things. This helps to find the typical asking price so you can have a basis for where to start with bargaining as well as you can use this as a leverage point to get another store to give you a cheaper price then the other.

The Rule of 1/3:
Once the shop owner gives you a price for a product that you want, a typically good starting point for bargaining is to start with 1/3 of the price of what they suggested. An example of this is I wanted to buy a calligraphy scroll painting of a dragon, and the shop owner started at RMB 100 so I offered RMB 30 to start at.

The Rule of Three:
This is the first rule I ever learned about how to bargain in China I will call it the rule of three, which is to walk away at least three times while bargaining this helps to push the shop owner to drop the price even lower. If you walk away they will chase you and give you a lower price, if they don’t go after you then you will know that the price they gave is pretty close to their last price that they would drop to.

These are the main points to consider when bargaining and shopping in China, i hope they are helpful for you, Good luck, and happy shopping.

With its wide range of attractions, Kenya has a lot to offer when it comes to adventure. Climbing Longonot Mountain which is less than an hour drive from Nairobi the capital city, hiking in Hell’s Gate National Park located next to Longonot, climbing Mount Kenya which also includes technical climbing are just but a few areas to experience.

Hell’s Gate National Park remains the best place in Kenya to adventure. In this park, one can do hiking in the gorges where popular movies like Tomb Raiders have been shot. As you hike you encounter hot springs, Hell’s Gate is popular for geothermal power generation. Hell’s Gate Park is the only park where visitor are allowed to walk freely. They mingle with animals found in the park and direct contact with nature where they see rock formation at close range. Biking is a popular activity in this park where competitions have been held. Lake Naivasha, a fresh water lake in the Rift Valley is located next to the park. It offers an opportunity to do boat ride. Lake Naivasha has a huge population of hippos which makes the ride truly adventurous.

At the Coast there is scuba diving, water surfing and deep sea fishing. These combined with the white sand beaches make Kenya Coast an ideal place to make an adventure safari. This is even made better by the existence of clean and quality accommodation in hotels located along the beach all the way from Diani Beach in South Coast, to North Coast and to Watamu Beach in Malindi and to Lamu up north.

Bringing the right things can be the difference between a great experience, and a disaster. Making a list of what to pack for a road trip is a great way to be prepared and feel safe in the knowledge that you have everything covered.

Something a lot of people don’t think about, but can be really fun to have, is a set of binoculars. Depending on how important this is to you a nicer pair can certainly go up in price, but you can find a cheap $10-$20 pair fairly easily. Once you have a pair you’ll find it’s fun to be able to pull over and take a look at things at different scenic outlooks. It’ll give you a lot more value from your road trip, since part of the point is to see the sights.

You’ll want to have a small ice chest for drinks. Often when people realize they want an ice chest they end up bringing one of the full size ones stuffed with food, which is nice if that’s what you want to do, but often these end up being more hassles than they’re worth. Bringing food that doesn’t need to be chilled, or stopping at restaurants (the best is usually a mix of the two) is a lot easier when it comes to food. You want to have drinks with you constantly, however, and taking care of a small ice chest with a few drinks in it is very convenient.

A first aid kit for the road is essential. Things happen, especially when you’re outside of your normal routine, and if you don’t have one of these around you’ll almost certainly end up needing it.

GPS devices are becoming so convenient with all of their new features that they’re practically a necessity these days, especially when you’re looking at what to pack for a road trip. They can help you find the nearest gas station or hospital, they can plot you a route avoiding toll roads, or highways, they can plot you the fastest route or the shortest distance, and they do it all in one small device that won’t take up too much room in the car. Navigation plays a key role in the success of any road trip and a GPS system makes it a pain free task.

The Marabou stork was definitely out of place. No one could miss this gigantic strange-looking bird with its crop hanging down the neck. This only added to the beauty of this natural reserve, Lake Nakuru.

Lake Nakuru national park is located in the Rift Valley and is a small, shallow, alkaline-saline lake located in a closed basin without outlets. This creates avery

Alkaline environment in this basin and its waters. The alkaline water and warm environment provides perfect growing grounds for the blue-green algae that flamingos feed on.

Lake Nakuru is one of the most famous tourist destinations in Kenya due to its spectacular wildlife sight, a paradise to all especially ornithologists. It was declared a national park in 1961 and it now covers an area of 200 km2. It is a home to several species of wildlife in addition to the millions of flamingos and hundreds of bird species.

Flamingos are the main attraction of this lake and their brilliant pink extend as far as the eye can see.

Standing at 40 inches, they have long legs that enable them to wader and feed in the warm muddy waters of the lake.

Their main diet is the blue green-algae (Spirulina plantensis) that grow in the alkaline waters with pH concentration of between 10.4-10.5. With the deep-keeled bill they filter the top waters for the algae and other fine particles. Their pinkish or reddish color comes from the rich sources of carotenoid pigments in the algae and small crustaceans that they eat. Their long legs and neck are especially noticeable as they are longer than in any other bird to relation to the body size.

However, even though flamingos can withstand pH levels as high as 10.5, they do need to wash in clean water in order to rinse the soda off. The soda can dry and form clumps on their feathers and hold them from flying. Same case goes for drinking water.

Lake Nakuru is a haven for both greater and lesser flamingos. Both are gregarious forming big crowds all over the lake. Only the keen eye will notice the small differences in plumage color and bill, but your guide will definitely show you what to look for.

During courtship, a group of up to 10 individuals hold their heads and neck high and call to one another. Then they move the head side to side. Over the next several minutes, the rhythm increases and other members join in the frenzy which can reach up to 50 individuals. It is one of the magnificent displays that no one needs to be a birder to enjoy. They then march forward for a few meters and back, open their wings and bow in salute. This show will be repeated about 6 times. At the end of it, pairs will stand side by side in a ‘kiss’ position, their beaks touching.

A flamingo’s nest is a mound of mud about one foot high (12 inches). The mound’s purpose is to protect the egg from being washed away by the gentle currents of the lake especially in windy and hot days

The female lays a single egg and both partners take turn to incubate for the next 28-30 days.

After incubation period, the new gray chicks are welcomed to this world and stays in the nest for the first 10 to 12 days. The chick has pink bill and legs but within a few days, up to a week they turn black. All the parents know their offspring by voice and feeds them with a blood-red secretion formed by glands in the upper digestive tract.

After the chicks leave nests, they stay together in crèches. They are however able to fly and swim from an early age. It is interesting to note that flamingoes have few enemies as the conditions that they in are usually inhospitable for the predators and large birds of prey. In Lake Nakuru however I have had a few occasions that hyenas have been able to prey on them.

During flight they follow each other closely, using a variety of formations that help them take advantage of the wind patterns and maintain their bonds of togetherness.

Lake Nakuru is great for a family weekend outing or simply a stop over enroute to other destinations, especially because of its central location.

The Nine Mile Canyon in Utah is a stunning, historical 40 mile canyon showcasing over 1000 panels and 10,000 images of petroglyphs and pictographs. Petroglyphs are carved, pecked or chipped into the sandstone panels. Pictographs are painted onto stone. The unique history of rock art in this canyon is attributed mostly to the Fremont Native American cultures.

The Fremont Culture

As you drive through this incredible canyon with desert mountain views and high sandstone canyon walls, you’ll find panels of mostly Fremont petroglyphs assessable right off the side of the road or within a short hike. The Fremont Native Americans inhabited Nine Mile Canyon around 300 A.D. to 1250 A.D. It’s always entertaining imagining the meaning and inspiration behind each petroglyph.

Directions

To reach the start of the canyon, head east from Wellington on US 191/6 onto Soldier Creek Road, 2200 East, at Walkers Food and Fuel Chevron Station (where you’ll want to make sure you have a full tank of gas and fill up water bottles before entering the long stretch into the canyon without any services!). You’ll then drive about 20 miles on paved and dirt roads to the start of Nine Mile Canyon.

The Canyon drive is about 40 miles along. Plan a full day to drive, view the amazing sights and take a few side hikes. I highly recommend this adventure exploring art history. I would suggest having a map to help you locate the panel sites on the side of the road; however, it’s also fun to find them yourself. Take your camera!

I was literally surprised when one of my friends told me that there are many people that live their lives in vans. This trend is commonly known as Vanabode, is not concentrated in a single part of the world but is spread all over the globe. Isn’t it shocking? These people live in vans not because they have failed in their lives but do so willingly and are pretty happy in doing so.

My friend told me about a person named Jason Odom, who has spent his entire life on road, living in a van. He did not live in the traditional RV or trailers rather his approach was slightly different. He used a nondescript van that could blend almost anywhere. In this van he along with his wife spent many years on the road, living anywhere they felt like. Doing this they nearly explored the entire country.

To describe his different lifestyle, Jason has also written a book. In his book he has explained common questions that people ask him related to his experiences of living in a van. His book titled, “Vanabode – Happily Camp, Travel and Live Forever on $20 a day”, is a 113 pager self published book that covers topics tips and techniques using which you can make most of your stay in van. Topics that are covered in the book include vehicle choice and outfitting, safety and security, parking and camping considerations in various area types, saving money and budget breakdowns.

Since my friend was so fascinated by the concept of living in van, he used to drop regular queries to Jason and once Jason released this book, he sent a copy of it to my friend since he knew that my friend would appreciate it.

In crux, I would say that Vanabode is all about living a fun filled life, different from our normal lives wherein we spend money in trying to buy fun for life. People who do live in vans are not homeless; rather they have a home where ever they park their van. They spend less and have more freedom much different from the average person who works long hours a week just to try and keep up with their mortgage and payments.

If you are looking in for some adventure in your life then Vanabode is probably the solution. When you do live like this you would soon realize that people living in a van near a river or under the hill lead and live life better than the rest of us. Just try out and I am sure you would feel the difference in your life.

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