If you want to see a valley so magnificent that it gets you thinking about what the Garden of Eden might have looked like, travel to Cuba. Richly, fertile, with endless tobacco, sugarcane, and coffee plantations, the western province of Pinar del Rio is a blessed with a lush greenness, beautiful rivers, and natural springs. The pretty village of Vinales is nestled into the breathtaking Sierra de los Organos mountains, and the Vinales Valley is UNESCO-protected. Photo by: rikun1401

A glance from the road down to the town will tell you why: nothing can prepare you for your first view of the mogotes -tree-covered limestone knolls, molded by underground rivers, rising dramatically out of green landscape. Photo by: Paddockmuir

The beautiful countryside can be explored on foot, bike, or horse. The sleepy village of Vinales itself is a classic small Cuban country town, with a strip of colonial-style bungalows painted in various pastel shades overlooked by pines. Most of the houses are good deal smarter and the owners more house proud than the average Cuban campesino. This is the best place to sample rural Cuban hospitality, too: the people are friendly, sweet, courteous, and helpful. The valley is an outstanding example of natural beauty. Photo by: bno20

A stunning seventeenth-century colonial harbor town on Brazil’s Costa Verde, Paraty is a perfectly preserved UNESCO World Heritage site. Paraty meaning ”river of fish” in the Tupi language, was founded in 1667. The town’s growth was based on its location at the end of the Gold Trail connecting Rio and Europe to the gold mines in Minas Gerais by the sea. Photo by: Rodrigo_Soldon

After the gold business ended, Paraty became the center of the famous Brazilian rumlike drink, cachaca. The town became so synonymous with the drink that for a while the beverage was known as a Paraty. Today it is beautiful town surrounded by a tropical forest and remote beaches. Photo by: Claudio Barbosa

Wander the colorful, cobbled, car-free streets where horses and carts still make deliveries and take in jaw-droppingly beautiful architecture. Churches like the Capela de Santa Rita or the Igreja Matriz da Nossa Senhora dos Remedios are immaculately preserved. Admire the pastel-painted homes and the riot of color that are the shop fronts flaunting bright hammocks. Photo by: Eriberto Almeida Jr

Paraty is all about food, music, and, of course, cachaca. Try the local cuisine: fish and banana gratin or banana-and-cheese-stuffed squid in coconut milk. Spend the night in any of the basic yet beautiful pousadas: simple rooms with antiques and local art on display. With no motels or fast food outlets to be seen, this is a low-key as it gets. Although quite and remote it is not undiscovered. Mick Jagger, Linda Evangelista and Tom Cruise have all been known to visit this world and nobody cannot blame them. Photo by: neofito

Photo by: André Pipa

On the edge of a small fishing village in the heart of a natural park, Picinguaba Pousada is a relaxing hotel in a former colonial mansion run by unpretentious Brazilian couple. It sits on the stunning Costa Verde (green coast), a UNESCO World Heritage Site full of spectacular landscapes. Photo by: Jacada Travel

The ten comfortable rooms are decorated with Brazilian native art. Each has a balcony with a hammock and views onto lush subtropical gardens. It is an excellent place to disconnect because there are no television, no Internet access, and no cell phone signal. Ceiling fans and natural sea breeze provide all the air-conditioning needed. Photo by: hiddenpousadasbrazil

Lounge by the pool on the deck by the ocean or enjoy massages carried out in a linen-draped pavilion in the gardens. Guests are encouraged to enjoy drinks and canapes together at night, although flexibility is paramount and you can eat breakfast late, or ask for a dinner in a different settings. Organic food is served buffet-style using locally sourced fruit and vegetables. Fish is specialty, from seviche to Picanha Churascos, a South American barbecue. Photo by: hiddenpousadasbrazil

The adventurous can borrow the hotel’s kayaks and cross the bay to Praia Fazenda, a deserted 3 km stretch of gorgeous beach ideal for walking. Guided treks, surfing classes, fishing, diving and boat trips to deserted island can be arranged. For a taste of town life, there are eateries, street markets and classy boutiques a twenty-five-minute drive away in the colonial port of Paraty. Alternatively, stay in your bikini and sip the house lemonade while daydreaming. Photo by: indexorama

Photo by: cwipp33

Photo by: hiddenpousadasbrazil

Fernando de Noronha is one of Earth’s peerless places. It was a stop on Charles Darwin’s famous 1839 Beagle expedition, become a UNESCO World Heritage site in 2001 (with nearby Rocas Atoll), and is one of Brazil’s top scuba-diving spots, with spectacular flora and fauna. Its environmental fragility means it is monitored by Brazil’s Environmental Protection Agency. Visitors are limited to 700 a day, and Fernando de Noronha’s sixteen beaches are kept immaculate with clear waters giving visibility of up to 50 m. Photo by: alexrobinsonlightbox

Pousada Maravilha has only eight exclusive rooms (five bungalows and three deluxe apartments), with huge beds, outdoor showers (and bamboo hammocks), Japanese hot tubes, and furniture from top Brazilian designers Artefacto. The infinity pool is one of the few places, you may actually see a fellow guest before having a dinner that has been lovingly prepared by chef Adriana Sala. Organized activities include guided island tours, scuba diving, surfing, and the magical experience of watching baby Green Sea turtles hatch on the beach in the middle of velvet night, just as Darwin did almost two hundred years ago. Photo by: Zumk

Photo by: ngaala

Winter is the best time to visit Yellowstone National Park. Wildlife-watching is at its peak and some 10,000 hydrothermal features, including erupting geysers and steaming rivers, provide stark contrast to the biting cold. The crowds of summer are gone, and the glories of the park are wide-open. During this time of the year the wolves are the masters! 

Great herds of bison, elk, pronghorn antelope, deer, and bighorn sheep, struggling to survive the harsh winter, migrate down to the relative warmth of the thermal basins and the easier grazing in the open valleys. Otters frolic in snowbanks along the rivers. Moose move into the willow and fir to browse; bobcats, mountain lions, and foxes hunt in the woods. Swans drift across misty pools.

Yellowstone’s snow-packed roads are closed to cars from December through March except for one plowed road running from Gardiner. The world’s oldest national park in snowcoaches also offers insights on thermal geology, vulcanism, and winter wildlife ecology.

However it was the wolves that fascinated most. By last winter, that population had grown to 306 wolves in 31 packs roaming the greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Because almost half of them have wandered outside park boundaries, occasionally picking off domestic sheep and cattle, the conservation group Defenders of Wild-life has set up a fund to compensate local ranchers for depredations by wolves and grizzlies.

Location: Wyoming, Montana and Idaho

At 4,095 m, it is the tallest peak in Malaysia and proudly overlooks Kinabalu National Park. What makes the park unique is the range of climates, from subalpine flora at the summit of the mountain to tropical hardwood forest on the lowlands. This diversity has allowed more than 6,000 plant species to thrive, many of which can only be found in the Kinabalu. Therefore the park was designated as a World Heritage Site in 2000. Photo by: spooneater

The most common park resident is the state flower of Sabah (rafflesia). It blooms just once every nine months, and only for a few days, but it is a sight worth waiting for. The rafflesia is the world’s largest flower, and its spotty orange-red blooms can measure nearly 1 m across. Although it is very attractive, the smell is not pleasant. Photo by: chin yee LAM

The summit trail up the granite slopes of the mountain is both a challenging and popular climb for hikers. It is recommended to tackle the slope over two days, pausing overnight at a rest house near the peak. Beginning in a forest of chestnut and oak trees the trail is lined with brightly colored rhododendron and exotic orchid plants. You will also see abundance of pitcher plants. Near the summit, few trees can tolerate the climate. Instead you will find mosses and hardy grasses covering the rocky slopes, and at the very top, the best views of Borneo. Photo by: Stoncel

Photo by: timparkinson

Head north through the vast Quebrada de Hamuahuaca gorge, which was a UNESCO World Heritage Site for the beauty of its stratified orange-ocher rock, and then strike off across wildly beautiful landscape on a rocky road that crosses several rivers before climbing to a mountain pass, the Abra del Condor, at a breathless 4,000 m. From there, the track slaloms down vast slabs of mountainside. It seems incredible that anyone lives here and finally at the end of the road, Iruya reveal for you. Photo by: Sk-Charlie

However the village live is being changed forever by the arrival of television, modern influences and of course tourism. But Iruya somehow retains its identity. With one main street giving access to provisions stores, a tiny post office, and one phone center, Iruya is cut off the world. The nearest village is three hours walk away. From Iruya there are blissful walks all around but the real pleasure of arriving there is that you will not want to leave. Bring a book, and prepare to slow down the tempo of your lifestyle. The time is going to stop for while. Stay in villagers houses sleeping under heavy Ilama blankets in winter, or in a comfortable room at Hosteria Iruya. Gaze over the night sky filled with stars from the terrace and listen to the exquisite silence. Photo by: mau_tweety

Location: Salta, Argentina. Photo by: Incandenza

The Great Kyz Kala is an awe-inspiring and dramatic mud-brick structure, sited in Merv, Turkmenistan. It comprises a rectangular earth platform with slopping slides containing lower-story rooms. The massive external walls rear dramatically from the mound and enclose the rooms of the upper story and parapet. Each corrugation is half-octagonal with a diameter of 1.3 m rising from a pointed base to form a pointed top. The walls are 1.98 m thick, gently tapering toward the top. Photo by: Amen-Ra

The Great Kyz Kala stands adjacent to a smaller monument called the Little Kyz Kala, also made of mud-brick, having an identical structure. These buildings perhaps served as residences for the wealthy and powerful. This architecture ideally suited in a hot climate. The Great Kyz Kala has survived relatively unscathed from a period in which the majority of buildings have been lost. The whole of Merv has been designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Photo by: Amen-Ra

Photo by: elgalopino

]]> http://www.wayfaring.info/2009/12/02/kyz-kala/feed/ 0 http://www.wayfaring.info/2009/12/02/pirin-national-park/ http://www.wayfaring.info/2009/12/02/pirin-national-park/#comments Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:58:12 +0000 iv http://www.wayfaring.info/?p=15370

National Park Pirin takes up a significant part of the beautiful Pirin Mountain in Bulgaria. To the west is located the valley of the Struma and to the east of the Mesta Rivers. Area: 71,669.5 hectares, Total length: 85 kilometers, 70% of all ecosystems are natural, Highest peak: Botev at 2,376 meters above sea level, There are 9 nature reserves, with a combined area of 20,019 hectares.

The park is a home to 18 local endemic species, 15 Bulgarian and many Balkan endemic and a large quantity of preserved species, such as the Edelweiss, a symbol of Pirin.

 The Park contains rare and endangered wildlife species and communities, self-regulating ecosystems of biological diversity. Over 130 higher plants and animals encountered in the Central Balkan National Park are listed in the Bulgarian and the World Red Book of Endangered Species. The latter include 177 bird, 45 mammal and only 6 fish species.

Pirin is known with its abundance of water. There is only one distinctive waterfall, the Popinolashki waterfall , which is 12 m high. The mountains also have diverse and unique landscapes of great aesthetic value.

 Pirin National Park was included in the World Heritage list of Unesco in 1983.

Horseback riding, bear and  whale- watching trips, kayaking, trekking – these are just some of the activities available at Clayoquot Wilderness Resort, possibly North America’s only luxury safari-style resort. The whole resort is like a camp, surrounded by verdant rain forest in the area near British Columbia‘s Tofino designated by UNESCO as Biosphere Reserve.

The twenty tents offer lots of space and homey features, such as remote-controlled propane woodstroves, Adirondack furnishing, and an abundance of candles and kerosene lamps that muster up a wonderfully rustic atmosphere at night.

The ranch cookhouse has a huge stone fireplace and an open kitchen where up to six dinners can watch culinary maestros prepare the resort’s delicacies. An area called the Healing Grounds boasts there cedarwood hot tubs, seawater baths, and four massage and treatment tents, plus a new spa building with two indoor treatment rooms for water therapies.

Add in the exotic, untamed surroundings and wealth of wildlife and it’s safe to say today’s urban explorers have never had it so good. This resort offer extremely sophisticated resort in the wild.

Location: Vancouver Island, Canada

It’s located in the town of Mir in the Grodno region of Belarus. Located 100 km south of Minsk, off the Brest highway.

 The construction of the castle began at the end of the 15th century, in the Gothic architecture style. Building of the castle was completed by Duke Ilinich in early 16th century near the village Mir. Since the late 18-th century the castle had been property of the Gogengoe Count Family. The last private owners of the citadel the Prince Swiatopolk of Mir and his family. After that the castle used to host a military garrison. After that the castle used to host a military garrison. All rooms had stoves, fire-places, ceilings sculptured with gilt, parquet. Paneled doors were with internal French locks. The earth grosses sprinkled around the castle with four bastions and created the defensive building – a semicircular wall in front of the central tower. In 1994, UNESCO placed the Castle of Mir in the top category of the world culture monuments. On November 29, 2000 the UNESCO included the Castle of Mir in the list of the world’s legacy.

The Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley is a glacial valley in Andorra. The isolated valley offers visitors the chance to discover the harmony between nature and mankind saved over the years. It covers an area approximately of 43 km² and this represents almost 10% of the surface area of the country. In 2004 it became Andorra’s first, and to date its only, UNESCO World Heritage Site in the cultural landscape category.

A diversity of landscapes, dry stone walls, cottages and country houses, flocks and the uninterrupted presence of human activity recall, without interruptions or alterations, significant periods in individual history. At present the Madriu-Perafita-Claror Valley is the scene for new leisure related activities, among which one should note trekking, hiking, camping, hunting and fishing.

Lies over 3,000 m above sea level in Minshan Mountains the Huang Long Valley is one of China’s natural heritage sites. Huang Long Valley means Yellow Dragon Valley in English and covers an area of about 700 sq. km. The area includes colorful lakes, Snow Mountains, spectacular glaciers, limestone formations, waterfalls, hot springs valleys and virgin forest. Remarkable for its landscapes it was included in the UNESCO world heritage list in 1992.  

Huang Long is famous for its colored terrace ponds of different sizes and shapes that follow the hiking paths up from the valley floor. Due to varied depth of the ponds and all kinds of mineral pigments and deposits on the bottom, the water reflects a variety of charming colors. The golden and greenish minerals give magical colors to the water. The valley has also waterfalls, stalactite caves and 3 ancient temples at its higher sections. With so many wonderful views gathered in one place, Huang Long is not only the treasure of China, but also the treasure of the world.

Lulworth Cove is a cove near the village of West Lulworth southern England.West Lulworth lies near the coast between the Isle of Purbeck and Weymouth. Lulworth is included amongst England’s UNESCO sites and its World Heritage. Lulworth Cove was formed approximately 10,000 years ago by the awesome powers of a river and the sea.

At Lulworth Cove, there is the famous Fossil Forest. The area supports a remarkable array of diverse natural life, particularly butterflies. There are glauconitic sandstones, sponge chert, cyclical Chalk, oil sands, lignite, ostracods, stromatolites, crocodile and fish teeth, an oyster bed, a transgressive marine pebble bed, a fluvial channel conglomerate, phosphatic strata, carbonate breccias, charophyte limestones etc.

At the western point of Lulworth Cove is Stair Hole, a series of arches formed by the action of the sea on the soft Portland and Purbeck limestone. Also Lulworth Cove is famous with the Lulworth Crumple, Durdle Door and and Man o’War, just a short walk away over the surrounding Hills to the west.

Lulworth beach provides a great place to relax where you can swim in the cove, take a boat trip, or just take in the stunning scenery. There are pubs, restaurants, cafes and beaches all within easy walking distance!

If you’ve been to Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) there is no need to see any other mountain. Situated in eastern China’s Anhui Province and popular with its breathtaking sweeping landscapes and misty peaks, the Yellow Mountain offers extraordinary scenes and views from what can look like the edge of the world.

Whether you look there are oddly-shaped pine trees and rock formations. Huangshan is actually an entire range of mountains and valleys, jutting rocks, shimmering pools, gurgling water falls and the ephemeral clouds. As an international ecotourism point of interest, UNESCO listed the mountain as an official World Cultural Heritage Site in 1990.

The trees of Mount Huangshan occupy an especially important place in China’s botanical research. Here you will find century-old pines, firs, ginkgoes, actinidia, Chinese torreyas and camphor woods– remnants of the glacial era. The Huangshan Mountain Range also provides a natural habitat for a wide variety of creatures. Among the mountain-dwellers are monkeys, goats, deer, pangolin and squirrels, in addition to an active bird population. The climate there is mild and humid, and the temperature is agreeable during all four seasons.

Getting there: Huangshan is accessible from Shanghai by overnight train, a five-hour bus ride or one hour by air. Expect expensive accommodation and food in the mountains everything is transported up the mountain by man-power: witness tough workers carrying live chickens or flats of coke cans in buckets hanging from wooden beams over their shoulders, and still making it up the mountain faster than you.

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