As with every new place that I travel, I was easily distracted by the animals that I met along the way in Jordan.

Standing in front of one of the Seven Wonders of the World? Who cares–there are camels here! Supposed to be shopping in Amman’s eclectic Souk? Nope, checking out the colourful Easter chicks on the street.

Here are some of the animals of Jordan.

Found these little guys for sale in a box on the street. It was Easter in Jordan.

Goats at Jerash

A rare human floats in the Dead Sea.

The time I was photobombed by a baby camel.

The post Animals of Jordan appeared first on Seattle's Travels.

Some of Iceland’s most beautiful sceneries involve powerful waterfalls pouring out from the glacial rivers of the interior highlands. It seems that a new waterfall flows around every corner, each more impressive than the last.

Along with a collection of shots from my first trip to Iceland in 2011, I couldn’t help but notice just how many images of waterfalls I captured during my recent Ring Road tour with Iceland Unlimited in April 2013.

Here are a selection of my favourites from both trips around my favourite country:

Gljufrafoss

Gullfoss

Goðafoss

Barnafossar

Barnafoss

Gullfoss

Frolicking at Goðafoss

Seljalandsfoss

Goðafoss

 –

I was invited on the Express Iceland 8 Day Tour
by Iceland Unlimited.

The post Waterfalls in Iceland appeared first on Seattle's Travels.

Every once in a while I need to take a moment to absorb the situations that I find myself in during my travels. Admittedly, I do a lot of crazy stuff, so it doesn’t always phase me as much as it should. However, there is usually at least one moment in every trip where I think to myself…

Wow, I love my life.

For me, Iceland itself usually provides a prolonged life-loving feeling, but it was slightly stronger at the moment that I found myself drinking a beer inside an igloo that I had super-trucked and snowmobiled 2000 feet in elevation up a mountain to get to.

Beer. Snowmobiles. Igloo. Best. Ever.

Clearly I’m excited.

If you don’t know anything about me, you should know that not only do I love adrenaline and adventure, but snowmobiling is my absolute favourite winter adventure.

So, you can imagine just how excited I was when I found out only minutes before heading up on the mountain with Extreme Icelandic Adventures.

So far, I have snowmobiled in Canada, Finland, Montana and now Iceland.

“These are not your average tourist snowmobiles” Siggi warned me as I climbed onto the Arctic Cat.

“Good” I replied, smiling beneath my colourful helmet.

I’m no professional, but after a few years of driving up the tail end of various snowmobile guides, I was ready for something a little bit faster.

Even after Siggi explained exactly what would happen, I was happily shocked when my sled burst forward at the slightest turn of the throttle. I tore across the road and shot out onto the open snow like a stray firework.

Shifting myself on the seat and leaning forward, I re-tested the throttle reaction and took off down the trail behind Siggi.

From that point forward, it was a breeze. We dashed up powdery slopes and zig-zagged our way up the first shallow inclines. The sun was shining and the sky was a crystal clear blue in the distance. Ominous clouds reminiscent of stormy fairytale scenes hovered around the mountain peak as we climbed, but the entire town of Akureyri sparkled in the brilliant afternoon light.

Siggi kept a strong pace and didn’t stick to straight lines as we zipped around the slopes, occasionally darting left or right to keep me on my toes (literally, I was standing out of excitement, and leaning my entire body into the turns).

The machine was powerful; I could feel it charge forward as I gripped it tighter, projecting a boisterous rumble of fierce authority. I found myself laughing from behind the helmet each time I gained speed and leaning forward in anticipation.

I’m not sure exactly what I was expecting when we came to a sudden stop on the level mountain side, but it probably wasn’t the wooden door marked “Hotel Cool” that I now laid eyes on.

Here, in the middle of nowhere, was a man-made igloo complete with a front door, tables, chairs and the best view in all of Akureyri.

Siggi had brought along a cooler with drinks and snacks, and we shared a beer as we chatted about skydiving and other experiences we each had throughout our travels.

It felt like an incredibly odd place to feel so relaxed, yet I felt like I could have stayed there for hours.

Before I knew it, it was time to head back down the mountain. We packed up our things, hopped back on the sleds and began the descent. Going down was even more fun than coming up, as slopes gave way to sudden dips and disappearing horizons.

It had been an awesome day on the mountain and I felt rejuvenated for the rest of my Express Iceland 8 day tour with Iceland Unlimited. If you are passing through Akureyri on a Ring Road trip, be sure to book a tour with Extreme Icelandic Adventures. It was one of the highlights of my trip around Iceland.

 –

I was invited on the Express Iceland 8 Day Tour by Iceland Unlimited.
However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

The post Snowmobiling in Akureyri appeared first on Seattle's Travels.

I extended my leg and twirled my toes with a clockwise motion in a lame attempt to put some clear perspective between my foot and the distant ground below.

It was useless. I had no idea how high up I was, I only knew that my legs were dangling over the edge of a cliff and I had nothing to keep me there but the clumsy old donkey that I was sitting on.

I took a deep breath, gripped the small tuft of blankets in front of me and convinced myself that my trusty donkey knew exactly what he was doing. After all, he wouldn’t throw himself off a cliff… would he?

The walk through Petra‘s Siq was just as thrilling as the donkey ride, though it was a thoroughly incomparable type of excitement. It didn’t provide the same sort of heart-pumping adrenaline rush, yet I could hardly contain myself with the aspect of finally laying my eyes on the highly anticipated Treasury itself.

I literally ran ahead of the group I was with, occasionally trying to pause myself to allow them to catch up, but once again hurriedly charging forward like a crazed fan.

The walls of the Siq curved in mesmerizing waves of colour and texture, rising from the narrow dusty floor, opening upward and revealing the vast blue sky in the rocky shapes of abstract trees and birds.

Sky openings reminiscent of a soaring hawk.

Then I saw it.

As my body moved forward, the rocks seemingly opened up like some sort of sandstone vortex, revealing the rosy-hued façade. The opening grew wider with each step until I was standing directly in front of it, with nothing between us but a couple of grumbling camels.

I was finally standing in front of Petra’s Treasury and couldn’t imagine being any happier in that exact moment.

The treasury was worth the trip in itself, but Petra is an immense site that is rich in historical significance and incredible rock-cut architecture.

With only the day to explore, I wanted to see everything, but there was no way I would be able to do it all on foot.

Solution? Hire a donkey.

The first ride took us up to the Monastery. It was a little bumpy and took some getting used to, although compared to the day’s later events, it was a breeze. We nearly bowled over a few pedestrians on the way up, but eventually made it to the top in once piece.

The Monastery was no less than enchanting and totally unexpected. Although I had seen photos of both, I had never managed to pick up on the fact that the Monastery and the Treasury were in fact two separate and very different sites.

I ordered a fresh limonana, leaned back on my chair and admired the colossal monument before descending the mountain on foot.

There were plenty of sites to explore in between, including tombs, temples and amphitheatres.

Along the way we met up with a new troop of donkeys and began the journey to the top of yet another mountain. We had seen photos of the Treasury from above and asked our guides if they could get us to that spot in the quickest way possible. They decided on a route and we were off.

Getting up the mountain was the easy part. We arrived unscathed, embarked on the final hike by foot and marvelled over the sites of Petra from above.

The view was monumentally breathtaking–probably the best of the trip and most certainly one of the most rewarding in my life. However, it is not what made the experience for me. It was the trip back down the mountain that will forever remain in my memories.

Going Down

A voice pulled my wandering thoughts back to reality as I continued twirling my toes above the great nothingness beneath my dangling feet.

“What was that?” I asked.

“I said, this is the most dangerous part”, my guide repeated with a straight face.

I looked down and my eyes grew three sizes.

Before I had a moment to protest, my donkey teetered over the first step and began sliding down the worn sandstone slope, abruptly placing its hooves in impossible succession over each other as it ostensibly plummeted to the open space below.

I was convinced that we weren’t going to stop—surely we would slip on the smooth surface and take the fatal plunge over the ledge. We were moving so quickly that I didn’t really have time to think more about it. I held on tight, leaned back and looked toward the level ground at the bottom.

It was unstable, rough, bumpy and jagged. It was fast, rapid, snappy and rigid. It was uncomfortable, grievous, distressing and dangerous. But—it was ultimately epic in the best way possible.

As we reached the bottom I couldn’t help but smile. I smiled from the rush of adrenaline. I smiled about the inspiring views I had just witnessed first hand  And, I smiled at the fact that I knew I would readily do it all over again in a second.

I also smiled knowing that Liz & Nate were just about to experience that same slippery hill that I had just come down.

Riding a donkey down from the upper viewing ridges of Petra’s Treasury is a slightly terrifying yet fundamentally satisfying journey that absolutely needs to be experienced first hand.

Hold on tight and enjoy the ride.

–

This trip was made possible by My Jordan Journey.
All thoughts & opinions are my own. 

The post Exploring Petra by Donkey appeared first on Seattle's Travels.

As I stepped outside the cold air bit me like a curious hamster. It’s teeth weren’t big enough to cause pain, but it stung my skin as I made a quick dash for the warm relief of the steaming milky blue water.

The water felt sublime as I submerged my body, up to my neck and began to float out to the centre of the pool. I kicked my feet, stretched my arms and swam around with ultimate satisfaction.

I was enjoying the soothing facilities of the Mývatn Nature Baths, a designated nature reserve developed in such a way as to cause as little disruption as possible to what is a unique and highly delicate ecosystem, amidst clouds of steam rising up from a fissure deep within the Earth´s surface.

I blissfully soaked for at least ten minutes, occasionally shifting to find a new hot spot, before I even had a chance to take a good look at my surroundings.

Slowly raising my eye level, I realized that the entire pool only held about ten other people; there were the three girls that I was travelling with, a small group of men behind a wall of rocks and a young couple gushing over each other in the corner.

It was nothing like the Blue Lagoon.

It was quaint and personal. It was natural and non-commercialized. It was peaceful and relaxing. It was absolutely perfect.

I could have stayed there forever. I was tempted to take over the small building in the centre of the pool area, call it my home and have all my mail forwarded to the new address. I never wanted to leave.

The Nature Baths may have been the highlight of the Mývatn area, but there was so much more to see and experience. Mývatn quickly became one of my new favourite regions of Iceland.

Here are a few of the other places we visited:

 Hverarönd

It was a bit difficult to tell with a layer of snow on the ground, but I had just started to notice a slight change in soil colouring (indicating geo thermal activity and sulphuric precipitation) when I saw the first cloud of steam.

It wasn’t unexpected, I had been waiting for it. As we rounded the last stretches out of eastern Iceland, I eagerly searched for the first signs of  geothermal fields in which mudpots, steam vents, sulphur deposits, boiling springs and fumaroles co-exist.

Hverarönð had it all.

Grjótagjá

Grjótagjá is a small lava cave near lake Mývatn with a thermal spring inside. The water was incredibly hot to the touch and there was no way I was getting in.

After climbing down into a random hole in the lava, I was rewarded with a steamy dazzling blue cave. Light from above reflected through the water, causing the colours to dance on the ceiling of the cave.

I would have gladly spent some more time down there, and perhaps the water will be cooler the next time I return.

Dimmuborgir

I have to admit, the name had me intrigued before I even knew what the attraction was. I was half convinced that we were going to visit the home of Norwegian black metal artists Dimmu Borgir.

However, in reality, Dimmuborgir is a large area of uniquely shaped 2300 year-old rock formations composed of various volcanic caves, lava fields and collapsed lava tubes, resembling an ancient collapsed citadel (dimmu=dark, borgir=cities).

These were formed when hot lava flowed over a small lake, causing small steam explosions which built up the lava pillars which you see today.

Vogafjos Cowshed-Café

I was totally thrown off by Vogafjos, as I had never heard of such a restaurant. I didn’t even notice it right away.

I was browsing the small shop area near the reception desk, picking up wool gloves and sifting through jewellery when I caught a small movement out of the corner of my eye. What I had originally though to be wall, was in fact a window.

There, beside the tables of the restaurant, was a cow being milked. I did a double take.

The window to its right showcased a whole room full of cows.

Not only was it an incredibly unique concept in the dining industry, but the home made meal turned out to be even better. I highly recommend making a stop at the Cowshed-cafe if you are spending any amount of time in the Mývatn area.

 –

Mývatn was one of my favourite stops on the Express Iceland 8 day tour with Iceland Unlimited. It’s an essential visit for any Ring Road trip, and I definitely plan to spend some more time here the next time I’m in Iceland (because, we all know I’ll be back).

If you’re spending the night in Mývatn, I would recommend the Stöng Guesthouses. The cabins are secluded, fully stocked and comfortable in any season.

 –

I was invited on the Express Iceland 8 Day Tour by Iceland Unlimited.
However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

The post Relaxing in Mývatn appeared first on Seattle's Travels.

I had always heard that Jordanians were especially kind people, so I wasn’t entirely shocked at my first impression, but I was still blown away by the amount of personal care that I received while travelling through the country.

Having just travelled three days without much sleep, from the arctic climate of Iceland to the desert dryness in Jordan, I was already in line for the perfect recipe of becoming ill. It was imminent.

The second morning started with a sore throat and no will to get out of bed. By the next day, I had a full on head cold and was quietly hating the world, but so excited to be in Jordan that I tried to ignore it.

By the fourth day I was suppressing itchy coughs, unable to breathe through my nose, fighting a terrible sinus headache and dizzily trying to navigate the blurry world around me that worsened with the unavoidable sun and heat.

I managed to make my way to the dining cabin at Rummana camp in the early morning at the Dana Biosphere Reserve, where I was met with a glass full of a strange yellow coloured liquid. They had already caught word of my illness and concocted a special medicine to cure my sore throat.

They ensured me that it was a special Bedouin recipe and not to worry. Without a second thought, I threw it back and swallowed the entire glass.

It was disgusting.

The Bedouin man laughed at me as I scrunched up my face and motioned his hands around his throat and smiled.

I laughed with him; as bad as it tasted, my throat felt 90% better within five minutes.

Somewhere in a Sudafed state of deliriousness, I made it from the Dana Reserve to Dana village, wandered around for an hour and then rode the bus for another few hours to Feynan Ecolodge.

I woke up from a half-sleep and wandered into the lobby in a daze. After having already served me iced mint tea and a cold towel, the staff heard I was sick and offered me another special Bedouin recipe, this time in a hot mint tea.

After my tea, I proceeded to sleep for the next 15 hours, only with small breaks for meals. By the next morning, I was cured.

The rest of my group were also a big help and totally understanding of my weakened state, always asking how I was doing and offering to help. I’d like to give a special thanks to Lesley and Nancy for taking on a type of “Mom-role” as I acted like an eight year old in a twenty-five year old’s body. I really appreciate the time you guys spent making sure that I was alright and can’t thank you enough!

The rest of the experience was no different. Jordanians were always eager to help and lend a hand before I even had the chance to ask for it. They were friendly, kind and incredibly happy.

Young children offered us candy and popcicles, everyone smiled, curious schoolgirls swarmed us for photos and questions and random passers-by welcomed us to the country. Nearly everyone we met invited us in for tea, guides were gracious & helpful and we were made to feel comfortable in every situation.

If you’re looking for somewhere new to visit where you can find adventure, culture, rich history and some incredibly friendly locals; I highly recommend visiting Jordan.

Our Bedouin 4×4 driver was anything but serious on the way to Little Petra

Lesley becomes a local in the Amman Souk

Our friendly drivers patiently waiting for us to take photos at yet another viewing point

An adorable young Jordanian boy smiles for the cameras as we step into a random barber shop in the back streets of downtown Amman

Our guide at Petra stepped outside his job description to show us exactly where to find the best viewing point of the Treasury

Our loving guide Ibrahim, who introduced us to Jordan over 10 days with a never-ending supply of energy and smiles

Catching a ride through the desert with a local Bedouin

A Bedouin preparing Nargile (Shisha) to share with us in the desert

My young camel guide at Petra, showing me the best sites and telling me stories of his other guests

Magical Bedouin mint tea

–

This trip was made possible by My Jordan Journey.
All thoughts & opinions are my own. 

The post Jordanian Hospitality appeared first on Seattle's Travels.

I have spent the past week driving around Iceland’s Ring Road with Iceland Unlimited, starting in Reykjavik and circling the entire circumference of the Island; cruising along the sunny south coast, climbing through the snowy mountains of the east, exploring geo-thermal hot spots of the north and traversing the volcanic fjords of the west.

We climbed chunks of glacial ice, danced around misty waterfalls, dodged sulphur clouds and encountered many friendly Icelandic farm animals along the way. We drove for hours upon hours and days upon days, experiencing the country for all it’s worth, on and off the tourist trail.

Iceland is and will always be my favourite country, and this adventure just sealed that fact for life.

Made up up 1,676 photos taken over the course of one week around Iceland’s Ring Road, here is my Iceland stop motion video of the epic adventure:

Iceland Unlimited from Seattle Dredge on Vimeo.

Music : Mountain Sound by Iceland’s very own Of Monsters and Men

The post Iceland Stop Motion Video appeared first on Seattle's Travels.

The biting wind hit me like a slap on the face as I took cover behind a chunk of ice larger than some cars. Liquid streamed from my eyes with each gust, streaking black smudges of makeup down my reddened cheeks. The epic view in front of me made it all worth it; I was standing at the snout of the Fjallsjökull glacier.

If there’s one thing you can’t miss in Iceland it’s the glaciers—literally, you will see several of them directly from the seat of your car as you drive along the south coast portion of the Ring Road.

Many tour companies will adorn you in crampons and take you right up on the glaciers, but it’s also worth a quick hike off the road to check them out on your own.

The second day of my Ring Road Express Iceland tour with Iceland Unlimited was a day dedicated to glacier hunting *cue adventurous Indiana Jones style music*

Our first stop was at the small glacial lagoon of Svínafellsjökull glacier. We took a short hike along the edge of the glacier and up a path overlooking the ice and the lagoon.

It has a rocky incline that eventually leads to the glacier itself.

I have to admit that the light from the cloudy grey day, the murky water and small layer of ash on the ice didn’t exactly thrill me in terms of overly inspiring landscapes (in comparison to the rest of this jaw-dropping country).

But, I was entirely shocked and equally bummed when I later realized that I had been exploring THIS place, without actually getting to see the magical ice cave that I had seen in so many incredible photographs.

There’s always next time. Because there will be a next time.

The next stop was reserved for Fjallsárlón, a lesser known lagoon that is often outshined by its popular neighbour, yet equally beautiful.

What perhaps made it even better is not only the fact that there wasn’t a single other soul in sight, but the radiant source of the lagoon; the glacier.

Fjallsjökull Glacier is one of the more attractive glaciers in Iceland because of the lack of ash covering on its face. It is not a dull grey like many of the others, but a brilliant clean white.

The real star of the day was the infamous Jökulsárlón glacial lagoon. Jökulsárlón is a place that is often over saturated with tourists, but you will understand this local demand at the moment you lay eyes on it.

While the glacier is less visible from the road, the lagoon alone makes up for it.

Its undeniable beauty is enough to make even the laziest of travellers make the lengthy jaunt from distant Reykjavik.

Jökulsárlón is one of those places in the world that takes your attention hostage and doesn’t let it go until you have to physically be dragged away from the scene.

The bright blue glacial water fades away into a deep navy as it recedes from the shore, habitually speckled with glistening sunlit deposits of glacier ice.

Geo Rant

The glaciers themselves are almost as fluorescent as the water due to the way that light travels through them. They take on a distinctive blue tint by the absorption of both (infa)red and yellow light, leaving light at the blue end of the spectrum more visible as it travels with a longer wavelength and lower frequency through the frozen water molecules. Of course, glacial lakes are always a brighter blue due to glacial sediments, but this does not effect the ice itself.

Luckily for us, we had travelled here during the off season at the tail end of a long winter, and there were only a few other people milling around the icy shores.

This is just one of the many advantages to travelling around Iceland during the off season.

Traipsing down a rocky hill, I hopped up onto a large boulder sticking out of the icy water to get a better view of the whole scene.

Thinking that I was being clever, I fished a lone piece of glacial ice out of the water and held it up above my head.

Bad idea.

Suddenly, my entire arm was dripping with freezing cold water and it had soaked through three layers. At least it made a good photo ;]

By the end of the day we had graduated to professional glacier hunters and headed onward to the snowy north *re-play the Indiana Jones music*

 –

I was invited on the Express Iceland 8 Day Tour by Iceland Unlimited.
However, all thoughts and opinions are my own. 

The post Glacier Hunting in Iceland appeared first on Seattle's Travels.

Today I stood above Iceland and made three wishes for my future.

Well, okay technically I did it wrong and only made one wish, because we later found out that we were allowed three wishes. But I’m hoping that the two wishes that I made after that will still come true :p

Arriving at the small mountain of Helgafell (holy mountain) we approached the old fenced grave of Guðrún Ósvífursdóttir, the main protagonist of the Medieval Icelandic Laxdœla saga, and began our adventure of wishes.

We circled the grave three time and entered the white fence, where the path began up the mountain.

From this point, we were not allowed to speak or look in any direction but the way that we were walking. No looking right, left, down or up, just straight forward.

It all sounded easy enough until I caught a glimpse of just how high this little mountain was. Without a moment to bask in my own glory of not having yet fallen to my demise, my lungs began to take revenge on the rest of my body for overworking their incapable little muscles.

I shuffled up the rocky face all the while making sounds like a fire-breathing dragon with the flu, yet still trying to keep my gaze directly in front of me.

After a few half-hearted breaks where I nearly returned back down the mountain I pressed onward and finally stumbled onto the windy peak.

Next, I was to march into the ruins of the old chapel and make my wish(es) in an eastward direction.

That’s where I collapsed.

Wishes made, I needed a breather and now my legs were hating me just as much as my lungs.

With some time to recover, I climbed up over the ruins and took in the view. It may have been a tough climb, but it was entirely worth the small fire in my lungs to not only see this breathtaking panoramic view of the northern Snæfellsnes coast, but to have participated in this fun little Icelandic tradition.

Finally, I could look wherever I pleased, and it pleased me to look at the back seat of the car where I could rest my weak, unreliable limbs.

I made my descent, said hello to a few random pups along the way and we continued on with our Ring Road tour.

The post Three Wishes on Helgafell Mountain appeared first on Seattle's Travels.

Quebec City in the winter definitely requires a few extra layers, but the snowy urban scenes are totally worth it.

Picture; hot steaming cocoa from charming French cafes fronted with frosty windows, horse-drawn carriages clickity-clacking around the cobbled streets, cartoon-worthy birds chirp(ity-chirping?) and puffing chimneys in the first rosy hues of a late winer sunrise.

That is Quebec City in the Winter. But, enough of the descriptions.. behold this wintry goodness:

Roaming gnomes like to snow tan in Quebec

Would you like to visit Quebec City in the Winter?

The post Quebec City in the Winter appeared first on Seattle's Travels.

As you probably know, I love taking photos. Whether it be with my Nikon D300 or my trusty little iPhone, I am constantly clicking away at what I see.

However, the fact that I generally spend all of my money on plane tickets and travelling means that I never upgraded to an iPhone 5 (or 4s for that matter), and I’m still putting up with my technologically ancient iPhone 4. 5mp camera? Laaame.

So, my only solution was to make do with what I had and try to improve the quality. How did I do this? PhotoJoJo Phone lenses!

That was incredibly peppy. Let me try that again.

PhotoJoJo iPhone lenses  *stern face* they are awesome *sterner face*.

When my lenses first arrived in the mail I spent two days testing them out on everything, taking photos of things that I wouldn’t normally take photos of…

• Pins
• My window
• My eyeball
• Brooms
• Skin follicles
• Lamps

I was going a little overboard, but I couldn’t get enough of them. The first time I took them out of the house I was bombarded with questions and demands to know what they were and where I had obtained them.

PhotoJoJo! I shouted, once again feeling peppy. There is no unhappy way to convey that word.

Not only were my family and friends intrigued when I popped a lens on my phone, but I literally had strangers come up to me and ask about them. I would always give them a little demonstration and let them take a photo or two.

They were hooked. Almost every person I met said they planned to buy some of their own.

Personal experiences aside, let’s get to the good stuff.
Photo examples from these 4 awesome lenses:

Fish Eye

I couldn’t get enough of this one, it is so fun to use. I tried to limit myself from uploading all fish eye shots, but it just makes everything look so much cooler.

Wide Angle

The wide angle isn’t so wide compared to the fish eye, but it is quite easy to see the difference from the regular camera. Perfect for landscapes, without the distortion of the fish eye.

Telephoto

The telephoto doesn’t make a drastic difference in terms of zooming on landscapes, but it definitely helps prevent pixelation when zooming in and cropping. It’s also fairly noticeable when you’re shooting in close range, for example, inside your house.

Macro

Another really fun one, completely different from any other lens. You will find yourself photographing subjects that you never would have noticed before, like a leaf or the fibers on your shirt.

So, there you have it.

The PhotoJoJo Phone lenses are pretty sweet little pieces of iGlass and take some incredibly unique photographs.

*TIP* keep your lens caps on while the lenses are not in use. By my own doing I left the lens cap off of my fisheye for a day and the centre of the lens got scratched up when I dropped it off a moving dogsled. oops.

 –

If you’re interested in getting some of your own, you can get all 4 lenses for $49

PhotoJoJo provided me with the phone lenses.
All thoughts an opinions are my own.

The post Review : PhotoJoJo Phone Lenses appeared first on Seattle's Travels.

Riding a snowmobile up 11 steep miles of narrow mountainside trails, starting and re-starting the fire, cooking saliva-inducing four course dinners on a camping stove, seeing every star twinkle in the clear night sky, using an open-front outhouse with a view, attempting to back-country ski, failing to back-country ski and doing it all miles from civilization.

That was my YurtSki experience in Western Montana’s Glacier Country.

Getting to the Yurt

Staying in a yurt is a pretty awesome adventure on its own, but throw in the fact that it can only be reached by snowmobile and I’m sold.

Starting at the trailhead, we drove our snowmobiles up the mountain, with each turn revealing a panoramic valley view better than the last. It was eleven miles of speed and adrenaline through twisting trails and hairpin cliffside turns.

As we neared the end the trails began to narrow and angle with drifts; as night set in, the fog closed in around us giving little more than a few feet of visibility.

Finally, we reached the yurt and parked the snowmobiles for the night.

You might have expected the descent to be a little easier in broad daylight, but our group did experience an accident the next day. You can never be too safe while snowmobiling in the mountains, so make sure you pay close attention to instructions and feel confident enough behind the powerful engine.

Inside the Yurt

I’m guessing that the interior of a yurt is probably something that you have never pondered before. So, I’ll fill you in.

It’s pretty much the same as a basic cabin. Wooden, simple, rustic.

This particular yurt has two sets of bunk beds on opposite walls with a long picnic table in the middle and wood stove in front. There were a couple of shelves for cooking and storage and a gas lantern hanging from the ceiling. The ceiling was a dome with a skylight hole at the top.

It’s homey and perfect for a weekend in the wilderness with friends.

Food & Drink

It’s BYOB at YurtSki and a fun night in with friends after a day of back-country skiing is almost a necessity.

The yurt is equipped with all of the essential cooking tools, including a camping stove and a variety of dishes and condiments.

If you have hired the guides to accompany you on your trip, they will whip up a meal better than what is served at most restaurants.

I enjoyed pork fried cabbage wraps, pad thai and chocolate cake. Drool.

Sleeping in the Yurt

The bunk beds are surprisingly comfortable and you stay quite warm inside in insulated sleeping bag.

*Tip* Top bunks are warmer as heat rises and you may want to dress in layers.

Once the light goes out and everyone settles in, it is incredibly peaceful to sleep in the yurt. All you can hear is the crackle of the fire and soft howl of the wind above absolute silence.

Backcountry Skiing

So, who else thought that backcountry skiing was basically just the same thing as cross country skiing? Well, it’s not.

Backcountry skiing is skiing on ungroomed and unmarked slopes, including unpatrolled areas outside of a ski resort’s boundaries, often in the woods. Unlike groomed cross-country and alpine skiing, the land and the snow pack are not monitored, patrolled, or maintained. And, no ski-lifts in sight.

It requires a whole new set of skis complete with “skins” which fasten on the bottoms to keep you from sliding backwards when you’re “walking” up the hill. The boots have walk/ski positions and there are special clips that raise your heel when you’re not skiing.

Considering I struggle to walk up a hill barefoot at normal altitude, I was not having it. My asthmatic lungs had me turning around after a fifteen minute battle with the snowy hill.

Turns out it was probably a good decision for a beginner, as I was told that the descent from the top was no less than terrifyingly steep. The skilled skiers had an amazing time–it just wasn’t for me.

The View

After I failed at back-country skiing, I headed back to the yurt to remove my skies. I wasn’t about to give up on the action entirely, so I decided to go on a small hike to find a nice view.

I walked back down the trail that we had sledded in on and was immediately met with a panoramic view of the entire valley below and everything in between. I could see neighbouring mountain ranges in the distance and the spotted pattern of clouds over the whole scene.

I stepped into the deep snow just off the trail and fell back into it, creating cushy bed out of the powder. Perfect place for a nap.

The Guides

Michael Ormandy and Carl Sievers were a pair of the best guides I have ever had in all my travels. They were friendly, knowledgeable, energetic and always made sure we were happy and comfortable.

They led the way up and down the mountain on the snowmobiles, readied our fire, cooked us an incredible meal and kept us well informed of everything we needed to know. They told us stories of previous visitors and their own mountain adventures and kept us company after dinner.

The Yurt

The most interesting aspect of the yurt, is that it’s only temporary; it is taken down and rebuilt every year. The YurtSki crews hauls everything out on snowmobiles piece by piece, every December 1st. On April 1st, they must deconstruct it and haul it back down in the same way.

Considering there are bunk beds, picnic tables and even a wood stove, it’s pretty impressive that not even a screw or nail is left behind.

Why do they do this? The yurts lie in prime habitat for both grizzly bears and lynx, and YurtSki will not compromise that.

So, this means that the yurts are now gone for 2013, but be sure to book yours before they’re filled up for 2014!

 –

For more info on booking a yurt and other activities, view here.
Visit the YurtSki website and Facebook Fan Page.

–

This trip was made possible by Western Montana’s Glacier Country
All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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In fear of this getting too serious and/or cheesy, I have included this platypus for your viewing pleasure.

Thanks to Tracy Zhang for the
Photoshop curves used on some of these photos :]
Font source.

The post 30 Inspirational Travel Words appeared first on Seattle's Travels.

I watched as the pack of dog chased after the man in front of me. He was on skis and moved like a gazelle and had the energy of a–well, a dog. Never seeming to tire or slow down.

The dogs raced after him, following as he turned, eventually looping back to where we started. The dogs were attached to the sled that was beneath my feet, and they were following their owner who was leading them around the frozen lake.

We started the day by visiting all of the dogs back at Base Camp Bigfork, selecting which ones would be accompanying us on our ride.

Venturing back into the cage area, every dog howled with excitement, as if to ask their permission to come along. Many dogs ran freely around the property, greeting us with licks and paws.

We soon chose our six furry friends and were on our way.

Poor Enzo is sad that he’s not coming

I had been dogsledding once before, but this time around in Bigfork, Montana was a completely different experience.

It was all about fun; there was no destination, no trail to follow, no goal to achieve or schedule to abide by. We simply set out across the frozen Flathead Lake with the wind in our hair and the sun on our faces, in any direction we pleased.

For our first ride, I stood at the back while Miss Montana Tia sat in the basket. We took off with a jolt across the ice and made it t the centre of the lake in no time. with the impressive speed of our dog team of six.

Stepping on the breaks brought the sled to a halt, and we took a moment to admire the view.

Mountains rose up on all sides of the lake, appearing even more menacing with the void space of the snowy lake and the never-ending sky.

“Kingston” photo curves for above photo by Tracy Zhang

Even with the yelping of the dogs, it was a peaceful place to be, as the sound seemed to muffle itself in the open air. There was no echo.

For the next ride, we stayed in our positions as we welcomed two more riders to the sled. All in all, we were four full grown adults piled onto one small sled, barrelling across the ice, laughing like a pack of hyenas at the hilarity of the situation.

You might have expected the dogs to slow down with the added weight, but they took this as a challenge and pushed on harder. When we pressed the breaks, they jumped and yipped in the air, eager to continue running.

We may have been full grown adults, but the dog sledding experience had us feeling like children out on that ice.

Taking a break, we ran around in the open space, took photos of the dogs and each other and I even managed to attempt an icy snow angel.

After a good hour of enjoying the freedom and open space, it was time to head back to “shore”.

The dogs tackled the bank at full speed, of course taking our sled with them and launching us into the air. Holding on tight, we all pulled to a stop on solid ground.

It had been an exciting afternoon of dog sledding with Base Camp Bigfork and we all drove away with smiles on our faces. I’d like to give a big thanks to our guide Mark, the most energetic man I have ever met!

Check out what they get up to after the snow melts:

Base Camp Dog Carting

–

–

This trip was made possible by Western Montana’s Glacier Country
All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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I receive reader emails on a regular basis, many of them asking for specific tips on travelling, like how to plan or what to pack. I recently received this email, asking for some suggestions on how to pack lightly:

Just curious if you had any suggestions on packing lightly? I’m headed to the UK for a study program for 3 weeks and then staying in Europe for another couple weeks to travel around. I’ve been many times before, but it’s always a hassle with lots of luggage. So just wondering if you had any suggestions for packing!

For this reader and every other reader that may ask in the future, I have written a list of tips on how to pack lighter.

I’m using an emphasis on the word lighter, not necessarily lightly. It has taken me years of packing, unpacking and repacking over and over again to perfect my own style of packing lightly, and I certainly don’t expect everyone to be able to do it at the suggestion of some list.

“That’s all you’re taking?”

I commonly hear this as I set my bag on the scale at the luggage counter.

Following that question, I am usually waved on to carry my bag with me (which I prefer).

So, that brings me to the benefits of packing lightly:

1. Saved baggage fees
2. Saved storage fees for day trips
3. Less back pain
4. Easier to get around
5. More space for bringing items home
6. Less to replace if luggage lost
7. Less chance to lose luggage if carried on
8. It feels better

Carry a Smaller Bag

First of all, carrying a backpack rather than a suitcase will force you to wear it on your back instead of rolling it on its wheels. This alone will make you want to pack lighter.

Now that you’ve made the right choice with a backpack, don’t over do it with a massive 70L pack that is better suited for a six month trek into the Andes. Unless you’re doing that, then by all means, go ahead.

You probably won’t need more than a 42-53L pack. I use the MEC Wayfarer.

Pack Earlier

I’m notorious for packing the night before, or literally hours before my flight. But, this is NOT the way to do it if you’re an over-packer.

Packing ahead of time will allow you to rethink what you have put in your bag.

Do I need those extra shoes?

Do I really need three pairs of black jeans?

Will a bubble gun really come in handy? (probably)

It’s not necessary for every trip, but try packing a full week in advance for your next departure. Chances are that by the end of the week, you will have removed 40% of the original contents.

Layers

If you’re packing for a multi-climate trip, it is best to pack lots of layers instead of bulky items like a big winter coat. Bring your jacket (and perhaps an outer shell) along with a warm sweater and various inner layers.

I recently packed a small bag for two months of travel through the scorching Sahara Desert, snowy Norway and humid Dominican Republic and relied on different layering methods for all three.

Purchase Abroad

Don’t stock up on sunscreen before your beach vacation, buy it when you get there and leave it behind when you’re done. Keep in mind this is a post on saving space, not money ;]

Even items like sandals, sundresses, hats, shampoo and other toiletries can be picked up on the road.

Travel Sized Items

Keeping below federal liquid regulation sizes may be a bitch at airport security, but 50 ml is the perfect size for a mini toothpaste and shampoo bottle.

Even if you’re going on a longer trip, pick these up at local pharmacies or gas stations as you go. They will save you space and weight.

One of Each

One pair of pants. One pair of shoes. One skirt. One bathing suit. One sweater. You get the point.

Obviously there are a few exceptions like shirts and underwear, but there is no need to go overboard.

Life isn’t a fashion show.

Laundry Detergent

For those items that have been worn multiple times, carry a small packet of detergent to hand wash in the sink.

If you’re travelling longer, bring machine washable detergent (read the label, many travel detergents are for sink only) and do laundry about once a week. Pack appropriately.

Wear Heaviest Items

Adorn yourself in your jacket, jeans and other bulky items on days that you are flying. This will save on weight and keep you warmer on the airplane ;]

Go Natural

No, I don’t mean naked–keep your clothes packed.

This one is mainly for the girls; leave your hair tools and products at home. Curling irons and gels can take up a lot of space and chances are that no one is going to judge you for slightly limp/frizzy hair.

Air dry your hair and save a kilo on the luggage scale.

Multi-Use Items

My ultimate travel accessory is a thin, square light grey scarf that I bring with me everywhere. I use it as an airplane blanket, as a shawl in conservative regions, to keep my neck warm in the cold and to cover my eyes at night in an ever changing environment.

It replaces the multiple items that could have served in its place (extra layers, sleep mask, etc.) and saves a ton of space in my bag.

E-reader

I don’t have one myself, but if you tend to read a lot during your travels, you may want to invest in a Kindle to carry your books around.

Forget What You Think You Need

Whether you are a first time traveller or an expert nomad, you’ve probably packed at least one or two things you don’t need.

For example, you probably don’t need the following items:

1. Sewing kit
2. Poncho
3. The entire pharmacy
4. A 50 pack of Bandaids 
5. An alarm clock (use your phone)

Take a moment to think about each item before you pack it and consider if you really need it.

Take Out 5 Items of Clothing

I’m a big believer in “pack your bags and remove 50%” before you leave, but I know this is just downright impossible for some people.

Let’s keep it simple, try packing your bag and then removing five items of clothing from the pile. Not so bad, right?

People are creatures of habit and often have a favourite sampling of their wardrobe anyway. Stick with what you love.

Pack Your Carry-On

By placing your carry-on bag inside of your main bag before leaving you will stop yourself from packing additional items that you don’t need.

Pop your carry-on out once you arrive at the airport and you won’t have to worry about lugging around TWO heavy bags for the rest of the trip. Win-win.

Use the Straps

This isn’t exactly a tip on packing lighter, but using the straps on the backpack will make it feel lighter than it is.

You’d be surprised at how many people leave them undone because they want to look “cooler”. Their back problems aren’t going to look so cool in thirty years time.

Place the bag above your hip level (sit down if you need to) and clip the waist buckle into place before fastening it tight. Do the same for the chest strap. Make sure everything is tight and comfortable.

*Bonus* Tips on Saving Space

1. Stuff socks and smaller items inside of shoes
2. Roll clothing and stack tightly in bottom
3. Attach items such as pillows, jackets and water bottles to outside of bag 
4. Place clothes into plastic bag and squeeze air out, tie shut 
5. Use external pockets
6. Use expanding zippers 

 –

 I’m sure I missed a few here, so tell me..
How do you pack lighter? 

The post 15 Ways to Pack Lighter appeared first on Seattle's Travels.

The thing about food and drink in Montana is that it is pretty much unexpected. Ordinarily a nice steak might come to mind, but the Montana culinary scene has so much more to offer.

From back-country cooking to modern microbreweries, here are a few of my favourite Montana culinary experiences:

City Cafes

My first dining experience in Montana took place in a small cafe in Missoula, called Catalyst. We sat by the window, ordered our food and chatted as Led Zeppelin quietly played in the background. Given that I was wearing a Zeppelin shirt at the time, I was smitten before the food even arrived.

I only ordered a (giant) Caesar salad, but was really impressed by the other dishes that appeared on the table, like the Tomato Lime Tortilla Soup, topped with tortilla chips, jack cheese & cilantro. And, bread. So much bread.

Back-Country Yurt Cooking

After lunch in Missoula, we continued on to the Swan Mountains where we would be spending the night with Yurtski. I was fully expecting a basic camping meal like grilled hot dogs or baked beans, but I was totally unprepared for the four course meal that graced our taste buds.

Here we were in a yurt in the middle of nowhere in the back-country mountains; no running water, no electricity–but we were presented with a full dinner that put most restaurants to shame, all whipped up on a simple camping stove.

We started with fried pork and peanuts topped with cilantro in a red cabbage wrap, which blew me away. I thought that alone was the entire meal and was fully satisfied.

When our guide casually said that the Pad Thai was on its way, I honestly thought he was making a joke that he had ordered Thai delivery.

It wasn’t until I turned around to see him boiling noodles ten minutes later that I realized he was serious. Have I ever mentioned that Pad Thai is my favourite?

We continued to eat little pork fried appetizers between the dishes, so by the time dessert came I could hardly even look at the steaming berries that topped the richest chocolate cake I have ever tasted.

Ski Town Starters

Whitefish brought on a whole new set of starters and appetizers, with a table full of choices at Tupelo Grille.

There was Candied bacon wrapped shrimp toasted coconut, kaffir lime coconut cream, sweet bourbon street chili sauce served on crisp bibb lettuce.

There were Fried green tomatoes dredged in buttermilk and cornmeal flour topped with sweet roasted red pepper cream and goat cheese.

And, there was Shrimp & crawfish cakes laced with roasted red pepper cream and garnished with a spicy Thai cucumber salad.

 Drooling?

Small Town Breakfast

A quick breakfast at Base Camp Cafe (not even listed online anywhere)  in Columbia Falls proved to be the best morning meal of the entire trip.

I ordered a large tea and an enormous plate of Belgian style waffles covered in mixed wild berries and cream. DE. LISH.

Montana Microbreweries

I am a beer girl and I make a point of tasting different flavours from all over the world. I was fairly excited to taste some beer before I even arrived in Montana, knowing that there were so many local microbreweries to choose from.

I had the chance to order a number of pints from different restaurants, but really enjoyed our visit to Desert Mountain Brewing, which had literally just opened its doors a week earlier.

We sampled a stout, IPA and Amber. My favourite was the Amber.

Classics With a Twist

Dinner at the Double Arrow Resort offered a selection of classic meals with their own spin on the arrangement.

I ordered a Tuscan Chicken, which was a breast of chicen with a roasted yellow tomato sauce, artichoke hearts, Kalamata Olives, served with white bean Cassoulet.

Don’t tell anyone, but we also spoiled ourselves with an entire dessert platter split between three people. Shhh.

And a few more to make your mouth water…

Best Dessert in the World

To end this off, I present you with my new favourite dessert; the bread pudding in a hot butter rum sauce.

We decided to share this cake among the table, but I went into some sort of strange dessert shock after my first bite. I wanted the entire thing to myself and declared it better than steak. I will go back to Whitefish, even if just for that cake alone!

–

This trip was made possible by Western Montana’s Glacier Country
All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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Imagine yourself gripping the handlebars tightly as you lean forward in your seat and crank them to the left, rounding the corner on the side of a snowy cliff in the Rocky Mountains. A rush of adrenaline courses through you as you look down at the tiny trees speckling the ground far below.

There is no experience quite like snowmobiling on a mountain, and I had the ultimate snowmobile tour experience in Western Montana’s Glacier Country.

It’s no secret–I LOVE snowmobiling. It is easily my favourite winter activity, and probably my favourite adventure of any season.

The last time I went snowmobiling was in Finnish Lapland, last April. I had rediscovered how much I really enjoyed it and have been dreaming about it ever since. When I learned that I would be snowmobiling in Montana, I just about jumped out of my chair in excitement.

We arrived at the trail head of Big Mountain with Swan Mountain Outiftters and prepared ourselves for the day ahead; we would be snowmobiling for the next 4 hours.

The first few stops were some basic views as we made our way up the mountain; gorgeous landscapes, but we were still a big clouded in and it wasn’t anything overly spectacular. We still enjoyed the lookouts and everyone took photos.

Our guide was great and answered every question we had. He told us about each region and had plenty of stories to share. He would even stop the tour to make sure we got the shots we wanted, and his sharp eyes spotted a couple of moose in the icy creek below.

It wasn’t until we neared the top of the mountain that things really began to get impressive. It was as if everything transformed at the rounding of one particular corner–I nearly stopped the snowmobile in its tracks as my eyes met something I had been longing to see for years.

A snow ghost.

A snow ghost is a tall skinny pine tree that has been so completely saturated in snow (more specifically rime ice, often layered in fresh powder) to the point of becoming fatter and taller and essentially taking the shape of a ghost. It only occurs in high elevations when the wind is harsh and the air is frozen.

Technical descriptions aside, they are hauntingly magical snow formations that are quite rare to encounter.

First I saw one, then more and more started to appear along the path. As I climbed one last, incredibly steep hill to the top, the snow ghosts almost swallowed me up into their snowy underworld.

My mouth literally hung open as I climbed that hill. I slowed down, lost concentration of the trail in front of me and just awed up at the scene.

They rose dozens of feet in the air above me and connected to each other by walls of rime and snow. Some trees, feeling the weight of the rime, drooped over in a depressed hunch. I later described them as a hill of sad snowmen.

I couldn’t contain myself as I reached the top. I raced into a stop, hit the power and hopped off my snowmobile, immediately heading to find the highest point I could find.

And find it, I did. I climbed a sloping snow drift to the top of the radio tower house. Not only had I just snowmobiled to the top of a mountain, but I was now climbing onto building rooftops. I was too excited to think straight.

For a moment, I couldn’t even take photos. My arms dropped to my sides and I just stared at the scene in front of me with a stupid grin on my face.

Snow ghosts spotted the mountain top, giving way to a wide valley surrounded by an expansive seemingly infinite mountain-scape beneath a darkening snowy sky. It opened only briefly in patches to reveal a deep orange sunset, occasionally beaming into the valley below.

“There’s your home,” our guide yelled to me, pointing to a crop of peaks in the distance. It was Canada.

I’m not sure how long we were up there, but I never wanted to leave. No matter how red my hands were from the cold.

Eventually we made our way back down the mountain, slowly at first. Those hills that had been so steep to climb were even more difficult to descend. With plenty of near-run-ons we returned to some easier terrain.

Knowing our time would soon be over, we took advantage of the last hour by reaching speeds of 65 miles/hour and cutting off the main trail for a bit of fun on small ramps and twisty trails.

In the end, we had covered over 50 miles of trails and reached an elevation of 6900 feet. It was my absolute favourite experience in Montana, and one of the best experienced of all my travels.

–

This trip was made possible by Western Montana’s Glacier Country
All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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Big thanks to Swan Mountain Outfitters.

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I just returned from an amazing week in Montana and feel like I’m bursting with things to say and photos to share. So, I wanted to start off with a little round up of ten reasons why I love Montana, and think you will too:

1. It’s Unexpected

It seems that most people think of Montana as either ranches and cowboys or electricity-free back-country. Yes, there are a large number of ranches, and certainly a lot of back-country–but it is so much more than that.

Western Montana’s Glacier Country is a perfect example of this, with its menacing mountain peaks and rolling landscapes it’s hard to keep your jaw off the ground.

2. Meat, Meat and more Meat

Vegetarians beware–just kidding, there’s plenty on the menu for you too.

However, Montana is most definitely a meat-lovers paradise. From pork fried on the camping grill to towering chicken sandwiches at the diner and of course the infamous Montana steak dinner, there is no shortage of meat in this state.

I don’t eat a lot of meat myself, but I couldn’t help but order a steak on my last night. De-lish.

3. The People

From the second I stepped off the plane I got a taste of just how friendly the locals were in Montana. Being Canadian, I am used to a friendly crowd, but the Montanans gave my fellow Canucks a run for their money.

I was smiled at and greeted by strangers, told that my fashion choices were awesome by both men and women, and loved how everything was turned into a joke (in a good way).

4. Adventure

Adventure and adrenaline are always just a few steps from your front door. If you live in the city, it’s easy to hop in the car and drive to the mountains. If you live in the country, you can probably find something fun to do right in your own backyard.

Snowmobiling, skiing and snowboarding, fishing, mountain biking and hiking. Montana has it all.

5. Montana Time

Do you ever notice how some places are either very prominent about being on time and you feel completely rushed, or other places are way too laid back and you never get anywhere on time? Well, Montana is the middle bear in this scenario, and timing is just right.

6. Location

Montana borders Canada, which makes it easy access for Canadians on the west coast and central Canada. For east coasters like me, it is only a four hour plane ride away.

It’s also fairly central for Americans. West coast residents can hop on a train, and the rest of the country is serviced by a number of airlines.

7. Beer

Montana has recently claimed the title of the state with the most microbreweries per capita in the US, surpassing Vermont which held this position previously.

*Bonus* The beer is really cheap! Bottles are around $3-4, whereas here in Canada it’s usually around $6-7.

And, might I say yum.

8. Mountains

Speak for themselves.

9. Small Town Vibes

Even large cities like Missoula have a small town vibe when you visit them, from the quaint cafes to the cozy shops. Ski towns like Whitefish are charming in both summer and winter.

Everyone knows everyone and tourists are welcomed with open arms.

10. Road Tripping

I’m pretty sure I’d be blissfully happy to spend weeks simply driving around the state, discovering new hidden corners and getting lost along the way. Every road and every turn introduces somewhere even more gorgeous than before.

The state deserves a trip of its own, but any US road trip MUST take you through Montana.

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There are obviously a whole lot more, but there are a number of full posts on the way :]

–

This trip was made possible by Western Montana’s Glacier Country
All thoughts and opinions are my own. 

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The main thing that sets Amboseli National Park apart from the rest of the Kenyan reserves is the ominously towering beast of a mountain overlooking the entire park; Kilimanjaro.

It’s impossible to miss from any corner of the park, and it’s presence makes itself known, even on the gloomiest of days. Although you may not always be able to see it through the clouds and fog–you know it’s there.

Every animal seems more magical posing in front of the snow-capped scene and you will begin furiously snapping photos of the animals you have already exhausted your camera shutters with.

Another great thing about Amboseli is the species of elephant that roam the plains here. Big old bull elephants carry some of the largest tusks to be seen anywhere in Africa and is a renowned feature of this park. Also happily roaming the grasslands are buffalo, wildebeest, zebra, giraffes, impala and warthog.

Unfortunately any rhino are long gone from this area after intensive poaching.

Baboon family portrait

Gerenuk

Bat-eared foxes

Baby baboon

I had the chance to get out of the vehicle and take a quick hike up Observation Hill.

It doesn’t look too high from the photos, but it provided a really great view of the entire surrounding area, including Kilimanjaro and Tanzania.

Traffic jam

Bath time

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Lake Nakuru National Park

Maasai Mara National Reserve

The post Amboseli National Park appeared first on Seattle's Travels.

From eclectic roadside markets, unusual traffic incidents and the Great Rift Valley; rural Kenya sometimes proved better than the main attractions.

First view of the Great Rift Valley

A transport truck went off the mud road, on the detour.. so there were no more detours.

One of the many “traffic jams” along the way

I’m not sure of the purpose of these bottles (perhaps just to make the fence more visible/effective), but I really liked this solution to the lack of recycling programs.

A smoky roadside market

Accident on the muddy road leaving Masai Mara

The Great Rift Valley

Me, looking very tired on the first day, after a long flight and no sleep

The post Rural Kenya appeared first on Seattle's Travels.