Thou shalt not step on the coral. That must have been the eleventh commandment, lost to the world atop of Mt. Sinai. The nib of land that separates Africa from Asia is legendary, both in biblical lore and regional conflict. Scuba diving in Dahab on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula offers some of the best underwater adventures in the world. The Gulf of Aqaba in the Red Sea has some of the most dazzling marine life found anywhere And, it’s all right off-shore. The first thing we notice about Dahab is the friendliness of the people. Everywhere we turn, people are [...]

Day breaks over a cloudless sky - we couldn’t have asked for better weather. We had seen Southern Right Whales breaching in Hermanus, and are hoping to see another one of the ocean’s great creatures. We take the shuttle to the skipper’s house in Gaansbai, where breakfast and the boat are waiting. Shortly afterwards, we reach Dyer Island - home to a colony of Cape Fur Seals. These creatures are a staple in the diet of many Great White Sharks, and the strip of water between Geyser Rock and Dyer Island is appropriately named “Shark Alley”.   Myths and Misconceptions [...]

The flight from Chiclayo offers stunning views over the Andes and a glimpse into the endless expanse of the Amazon Rainforest. Inaccessible by road, Iquitos is a large city set in the middle of that jungle. Apart from the laid-back atmosphere and the friendliness of the locals, the first thing we notice are the unmuffled motor-taxis blaring their horns down every street. The second thing we notice is the river. At twilight, the silent water turns from pink to silver, and fishermen wave to us from their boats. Fishing on the Amazon River at Iquitos The next [...]

Many of us who are privileged enough to live in the developed world take some basic services for granted. Immediate access to clean drinking water is perhaps the most useful advantage to our health and welfare that can be desired. The fact that water is piped directly to our kitchens, bathrooms and laundry rooms is one thing. The convenience that hot water comes out of one faucet is another. But, the benefits of being able to drink water straight from the tap water are far-reaching and life-altering.   “Blue are the life-giving waters taken for granted. They quietly understand” - [...]

Mountain biking on Vancouver’s North Shore is like riding in a dream. Epic trails wind through emerald forests with the shimmering Pacific Ocean as a backdrop. The rainforest, as such, sees more than its share of precipitation and cedar features endemic to the region are found on every trail – some more daunting than others. A foggy eeriness shrouds the forest when the clouds set in. Notched hulks of ancient stumps – many burned hollow by past wildfires or sprouting new growth – appear as ghosts in the mist and stand as testament to their stolen grandeur. However, on [...]

We are homebodies who love to travel, and have found that house sitting is a great way to get the best of both worlds. It offers opportunities to explore a city or region in detail and become immersed in a culture. We have done dozens of house sits over several years all over the world, and made friends with many neighbors and locals who we would never had met if we were staying in hotels. For twenty years we had pets at home, and we find that house sitting allows us to enjoy their company without the travel-limiting responsibility [...]

An internet search for La Paz snorkeling will produce pages of excursions offered by local tour operators. But, if you want to hang out at a beach and snorkel on your own, there isn’t a lot of information available. Many tourists (and locals) don’t realize that beautiful beaches with clear and calm turquoise waters - perfect for snorkeling – can be found very close to the city. We have spent several months exploring La Paz and its beaches, and have compiled a list of our favorite snorkeling beaches. They are in order of closest to furthest from downtown La [...]

Environmental degradation is a serious global problem that cannot be ignored, especially when we travel. Although basic environmental awareness and protection may seem like afterthoughts in a western economy, they are enlightened by developing-world standards. Below are some socially conscious travel tips to help lighten your environmental footprint wherever you may be.   Leave Some For The Fish Given the world’s dwindling supply of fresh water, and the political and military conflicts brewing over a country’s right of access to this dwindling supply, it is in everyone’s best interest to use as little of it as possible. Ask yourself, “Do [...]

Most of us travel to make ourselves better or browner, and our time and effort are used to learn, see and experience as much as we can. We travel to exotic places to benefit from the culture and surroundings, but do the local culture and environment benefit from our presence? Although we may leave some money in the local economy, we also leave the impression of being too rude, demanding, immature, opinionated, cheap, drunk, inconsiderate, or all of the above. This reflects on all the tourists who come after us. The cultural responsibility of the socially conscious traveler is [...]