Wanderlust

Better than deep fried....

2012-09-29T13:38:00.000-07:00

In America we have deep fried at festivals, but in Barcelona, they have PulpOH! It's a play on the Spanish word for octopus, Pulpo. These tents are part of Festival Merce de Barcelona which includes a giant parade, dancing with the devils, and of course, some amazing fireworks. More to come soon.

Carnivores came to town

2012-07-12T16:00:00.000-07:00

A young Coopers hawk

I wondered why I have not heard any crows or seen any fat squirrels recently until I walked into the backyard and saw a several Cooper's hawks. It seems that a family of four has taken roost in the trees--two adults and two young.

It's amazing to think that they've made a nest in such an urban area. Although I have yet to see them hunt, I have heard the disconcerting sound of tearing flesh and breaking bones during meal time. Now when I walk in the backyard, I sometimes wonder if the last thing I will feel is a pair of talons in the back of my neck.

Lunch time

Bahama Blue Church

2012-05-22T16:00:00.000-07:00

St. Andrews Parish in Georgetown, Bahamas

A beautiful church sits on a hill over the town of Georgetown, capital of the Exuma Islands. The Bahama blue on white church tower stretches upwards, calling and contrasting with the white clouds on the Bahama blue sky. During my trip to Bahamas, the stunning St. Andrew's Parish compelled me to attend Palm Sunday service, the first in many, many years.

The interior of the church and its members are equally warm and welcoming and the female rector lead a pleasant sermon. It's a lovely way to experience a side of the Bahamas many people miss, and if it's Sunday perhaps you might also be compelled to listen in on a sermon like me.

Seize the Streets

2012-05-04T17:00:00.000-07:00

People seize the streets of LA

Every Sunday, 75 miles main streets in Bogata are overwhelmed, not by the pollution spewing cars and buses that normally command the roads of any city, but by runners, skaters, and cyclists. The city, among others in Colombia, close these roads and call them Ciclovías. Not just once a year, or even once a month, but every damn week (plus holidays) 2 million Bogata-ians (30% of the city) seize their streets. People dance in the roads to the pulsing rhythms of rumba, some take an aerobics class, others just do what ever they please (video). Some cities across the world have followed Bogata's lead, and created Ciclovias, including, ironically, Los Angeles.

Yes, those cars should be behind bars today.

CicLAvia offers the opportunity to explore the architecture of this vast city one doesn't normally see. Although, its history does not stretch as far to the past as some others, some of the buildings in LA carry the weight of American history.

The RFK School has replaced Ambassador Hotel but its past is not forgotten

MacArthur Park Lake

The Paradise Trip

2012-04-18T14:00:00.000-07:00

Kayaking and Fishing off of Long Key

The guides at Adventures in Florida call this the Paradise Trip, simply because it is. I finally returned after a three year hiatus to help lead a trip and I swore I would return every year. We brag about the beautiful sunsets, the perfect white sand beaches, and the crystal clear water. But what gets lost is snorkling among a rainbow of fish, seeing a turtle pop its head right by your boat, or the taste of fresh lobster caught a few minutes before.

Neighbors at Children's Cay

This year we had neighbors, in the form of sailboats, many months away from home. All were friendly, and some even shared cold beers and freshly caught fish (quickly made into ceviche)! We also had neighbors who were hoping we shared with them.


The iguanas on Leaf Cay only look mean

For those of you who are interested in paddling the kayaker's version of Eden, check out our trip description. We are also excited to announce an option to lodge at a marine research center or sleep in a cabin on a deluxe sailboat.

View from our campsite at Leaf Cay

The Beauty of the Senseless

2012-04-12T17:00:00.000-07:00

A beautiful senseless snowy day in Yosemite Valley

The whisper of your snowshoe breaking through the crust of an untouched white blanket over an open meadow. The slight sparkle of dawn off a white bleached Half Dome. The cold wind stealing away your warmth as it passes over, around, through you. Do we really need color or is the silence, the grey, the cold enough?

Although under appreciated and often neglected, the National Park system is one of the wonders of the United States. The parks range from the Denali National Park beneath the shadow of the massive mountain in Alaska to the arid Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in the sun burnt desert of Arizona. One of the grandest parks is Yosemite National Park, located in the middle of California. While it was not the first national park (Yellowstone), it was the first land set aside for preservation by the US Government in 1864 by Abraham Lincoln. Some may know it from Ansel Adams' stunning, yet simple photography or efforts of naturalists, John Muir and President Theodore Roosevelt, to preserve Yosemite and other wilderness across America.

View over Yosemite Valley from Dewey Point

Yosemite is just a four hour drive from San Francisco and six hours from Los Angeles and is a must see if you are coming to California. Most people visit Yosemite Valley where five thousand foot granite walls tower over you. Sadly, tourism between late Spring to early Fall can make the traffic and crowds in the Valley unbearable (even to most of the bears). While I believe that the finest locations in Yosemite are those only accessible by rope or backpack, certainly there are places where you can experience the magnificence of the park without the crowds. One way to do this is to visit Yosemite in the winter.

There are opportunities to go snow shoeing, skiing (downhill and cross country), and snow man making near Badger Pass or hiking in the Valley where it is "usually" above freezing during the day. Those with a thick fur can camp and those without can choose from a wide range of (heated) housing options. And, certainly, nothing is better than a cup of cocoa or a glass of wine in front of the tree-sized fireplace in the Ahwannee hotel. But better than the lack of crowds is the appreciation of the beauty of the senseless.

This blog posting was written for one of my favorite podcasts, indietravelpodcast.com.

Urban Wasteland or Beauty

2012-02-18T17:08:00.000-08:00

Sometimes, the urban wasteland shows its hidden beauty. No, this photo was not taken in Texas. Actually, Los Angeles, has numerous oil wells scattered across the city primarily to keep the oil from seeping to the surface, especially in rich areas such as Beverly Hills. Check out the La Brea Tar pits to see what happens when they don't pump the oil.

Gotta love California...

2011-11-30T17:00:00.000-08:00

Gotta love being on the water in California...

Perfect Canyonlands Paddle

2011-10-03T16:00:00.000-07:00

Moonrise at camp

Another trip down the Green River in Canyonlands, Utah. For some reason, I never get tired of this paddle. There's always a new discovery, another beautiful view, and more friends to meet This year, I was able to take some great photos. We normally run the river around Labor Day and it's one of our most spectacular trips. It's all flat water and even our friend Virginia who is eighty-something has paddled it. You can find more information on Adventure's in Florida's blog.

Rainbow over the Confluence

Moonrise over the canyon

Sunrise along the Green River

Relaxing at the amphitheater

Moon over Robber's Roost

That Luang Festival on Indie Travel Podcast

2011-09-29T16:00:00.000-07:00

An article I wrote on the Pha That Luang festival was posted on Indie Travel Podcast! It's an amazing ceremony and worth a look just for the photos!

Vote for AIF in American Rivers Calendar Contest

2011-08-08T15:00:00.000-07:00

A photo of my back on the Green River in Utah taken on an Adventures in Florida trip has been nominated as a Finalist in American Rivers Calendar. The winning photo will be placed in their 2012 Calendar. Please vote for our Photo #3 by clicking here! Find more info about our Green River trip. We are going to be floating this amazing river in Canyonlands, Utah on Sept 2-12 (or Sept 7-12 for the half-trip) and still have some spots available.

Indie Travel Podcast

2011-07-26T17:00:00.000-07:00


Dance Circle during Botswana Independence Day celebration in Sankoyo Village

I've written an article on Botswana Independence Day for Festival Week on my friends' podcast and travel website, Indie Travel Podcast. If you're into travel and want to get some great advice and hear/read some amazing travel stories, I highly recommend you check out Craig and Linda's site. You can also check my original blog post including video on this amazing celebration.

At the watering hole

2011-07-20T17:00:00.000-07:00

Cranky, cranky hippo

Water. Some animals live in it, some animals bathe in it, but all animals come to the watering hole to drink. The famous hippo yawn is actually a sign of aggression. Either way, it's probably best not to mess with one of them. I've been told by locals that they are not as aggressive as TV has made them out to be, but it's best not to surprise one.

There's an African saying that the elephants always let the warthogs drink first. No one could explain the story behind this, but if you know, please share.

Follow my blog at http://squong.blogspot.com where you can subscribe to receive updates. Also I help lead some great kayaking and outdoors trips with Adventures in Florida. In 2012, we plan to lead an awesome kayak and land safari in Botswana where many of these photos were taken.

Night in the bush

2011-07-18T17:00:00.000-07:00

Guardians of the road

Night drives in the Botswana bush are amazing. I can't promise that you'll be lucky enough to see a couple of lions guarding the road, but you will get to see animals behave as if they were a different species. Hippos leave the water, elephants shy away from your lights, lions, well, they don't really care.

Unlike during the day, elephants will run away from your lights at night

Follow my blog at http://www.squong.blogspot.com where you can subscribe to receive updates. Also I help lead some great kayaking and outdoors trips with Adventures in Florida. In 2012, we plan to lead an awesome kayak and land safari in Botswana where many of these photos were taken.

She is the huntress

2011-07-13T17:00:00.000-07:00

She is alone. She pauses and glares at the light, the one thing betraying her presence. Without it, just a mottled shadow hidden in the folds of darkness. Her muscles are perfect for the hunt always tensed, always ready to strike. Even her tail is coiled, ready to spring forth. She pauses, listens, and moves forward with a purpose. She does not have a pride of lionesses helping her, and can not afford the impatience of the cheetah. She must stalk her prey, maybe for hours, waiting for the perfect moment. For she is the huntress.

Food Stoned

2011-07-11T17:00:00.001-07:00

Nap time at Khwai National Park

The brothers lay there, their panting almost at a frenzied pace. The day heat was just beginning, but their level of lethargy must be caused by something more severe. I noticed their bellies were stretched to their limits and they had remaining tint of red on their muzzle. Certainly too big for an impala, but perhaps a kudu. For all I know they could have just have washed down a football sized burrito with four cold beers and the red was a bit of salsa that always seems to get everywhere when you eat Mexican food. Then I realized, these cats were 'food stoned'!

Follow my blog at http://www.squong.blogspot.com where you can subscribe to receive updates.

Amateur Traveler Podcast

2011-04-05T17:10:00.000-07:00

I was recently interviewed on Amateur Traveler Podcast regarding my trip to Botswana which involved a kayak and land safari. If you're into podcasting and travel, the Chris Christensen has numerous, great interviews about places across the country and the globe.

You can listen to the show by clicking HERE

The company I guide for, Adventures in Florida, hopes to run a similar trip to Botswana in May 2012, and details can be found by clicking here.

Dogs of war

2011-02-26T09:00:00.000-08:00

Wild dog on the hunt

In the Bush, you either eat vegetables or you eat meat. However, unlike California, bush vegetables do not consist of processed soy burgers or alfalfa sprouts , but often water grass, dry scrub, or if you're tall enough, leaves from the acacia tree. Meat.....well, meat is everything and anything that's not bigger, faster, or stronger than you.

African wild dogs are one of the exceptions and should be one of the most plentiful carnivores in Africa. They have large litters and an amazing 80% of their hunts end in a kill. They hunt in packs and show brilliant team work (check out the Planet Earth video). However, humans (of course), disease from domestic pets, and other unknown factors have devastated their population down to a few thousand. These dogs are on the hunt and are not too far from the zebra herd shown in my previous blog.

Pack with young one's on the hunt

Follow my blog at http://www.squong.blogspot.com where you can subscribe to receive updates.

White and Black

2011-02-23T17:00:00.000-08:00

One or two?

There's something about seeing an animal in the wild. Most of us have seen zebras in the zoo, but when you spot them in the bush, it seems like their white stripes glow next to to the depth of blackness. Perhaps it's the high of being on the road that makes everything seem more brilliant.

Grazing Zebra with Impala in the background

The African beer shot!!!

2011-02-14T08:00:00.000-08:00

African beer shot

Here's my beer shot for my friend Greg, who always seems to find time to call me in order to open a can of beer in my ear while he's on some beautiful river. As Greg reminds me, it's important to have a beer with your neighbor.

Indy Day--Botswana Style

2011-02-09T06:00:00.000-08:00

Learning how to drum

Sometimes when you travel, you have to let go of your plans and just step onto the dance floor with abandon. I had just finished a week of paddling on the Delta and was starting the second half of my Botswana journey--a land safari. I was excited to see some more animals, but was regretting not being able to take advantage of the fact that it was independence Day in Botswana. Certainly, there must be some people celebrating, but I was told that most people celebrated among their family or in bars.

About an hour into the drive, we passed a village where people were gathering and having a good time. After some cajoling, our guide agreed to stop and also mentioned that he grew up in that village! I was invited in and allowed to take photos. Several women and three drummers made a loose arc in front of an audience which included the village 'mayor' and tribal chief. Slowly the group settled on a beat which pulsated louder as more people began to catch the rhythm. One woman stepped out into the open ring and began to sway in this complex pattern and she was soon joined by a man who appeared to be wooing her. Individually, other women would take their turn and be pursued by another man. The beat would continue until it seemed like all of the dancers and musicians were too tired to continue, but after a short rest, another rhythm would begin with another complex dance.

Video of dancing at Sankoyo Village. A better version can be found here

I was told that the dances are very difficult and only the older women and men knew all of the steps, gestures, and swaying. Occasionally, a younger dancer would follow and older one to learn the moves, but our guide said that much of the dances were being lost as the younger generation preferred modern music.

The dance circle

A Independence Day Feast!

Follow my beat.

Follow my blog at http://www.squong.blogspot.com where you can subscribe to receive updates. Check out the company where I lead kayaking trips all over the world at adventuresinflorida.com.

Law of the Delta

2011-02-06T13:05:00.001-08:00

There is a law of the Okavango Delta in Botswana:

"Civilization ends at the waterline. Beyond that, we all enter the food chain, and not always right at the top."

OK, so I mention paddling in Africa, and I get two reactions. One is "Awesome" and the other is, "what about (insert fear here)". Actually, I get that reaction from any trip I take, but it's especially true for my African Paddle.

Despite what you've heard, the Crocs are the more aggressive on the Delta

Hippo's and crocs are the one's you hear about most, and despite what think you know, according to our guide who has spent 40+ years paddling the delta, it's the crocs you need to watch out. He claims that unless you plan to run into a hippo or surprise it, they tend to keep their distances and it was true during our trip. I think their "killer of Africa" reputation comes from people watching too much Nature channel. Crocs, like crocs in Florida and elsewhere, tend to be more aggressive. The "small" difference with the one's in Africa is they can grow to 15 feet long.

Yes, kayaking in the Delta does have it's dangers, and it's probably more dangerous that other places. Anyone who tells you otherwise is being worse than dishonest However, you can fall into the Delta and get eaten by a croc or fall into waters in the Everglades and die of hypothermia. One is just a little quicker. Plus, the locals have been paddling these waters in their wooden morkoro (canoe) longer than anyone reading this blog has been alive. So, to be really honest, if you're gonna head out into the wilderness, bush, delta, outdoors, ocean, whatever you call it, you're gonna take a bigger risk than sitting at your local coffee shop, but less of a risk than crossing the street getting there. Live a little. Paddling the Delta was amazing.

Local on a traditional Mokoro

Follow my blog at http://www.squong.blogspot.com where you can subscribe to receive updates. Check out the company where I lead kayaking trips all over the world at adventuresinflorida.com.

Big elephants make big......

2011-02-06T00:41:00.000-08:00

Elephant poo

I suppose the title and picture says it all here. Although elephants make a lot of big poo, it doesn't really smell too much. There's even a company from Asia making elephant poo products. 100% recyclable!

Follow my blog at http://www.squong.blogspot.com where you can subscribe to receive updates. Check out the company where I lead kayaking trips all over the world at adventuresinflorida.com.

Cacophony w/sound

2011-02-06T00:11:00.000-08:00

A curious visitor to our campsite

The night has fallen and the frogs have started singing. It is a complete contrast to the silence of daytime, where everything is under shade, eluding the throbbing sun. IT is not just the clinking of the painted reed frog sounding like a windy day at a marina, but three, five, ten, even more species each with their own call. Add to it the grunting of the hippos and an occasional roar of a lion. It is nature's own drum circle with a cacophony of rhythms that in one instance sound like chaos, and the next, a pulsating heart of the Delta. Play the clip below to hear the sounds of the Delta, you just have to imagine it ten times louder.

Follow my blog at http://www.squong.blogspot.com where you can subscribe to receive updates. Check out the company where I lead kayaking trips all over the world at adventuresinflorida.com.

Kayaking on the Botswana Delta

2010-12-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

Mylo hitting the water

So, what it's like paddling on the Okavango Delta of Botswana. To be honest, it reminded me of the Everglades. Tall grass and mangrove roots create waterways through the Delta. Except for the small fact that you have an elephant standing in front of you munching on some grass or hear the roar of the lion while you lay in your sleeping bag at night. I'll be hopefully leading a trip in May of 2012 if you decide you want to experience having an elephant walk through your camp..... Check us out at Adventuresinflorida.com

Paddling among the reeds

Coming into camp

Follow my blog at http://www.squong.blogspot.com where you can subscribe to receive updates. Check out the company where I lead kayaking trips all over the world at adventuresinflorida.com.