Arctictropic Blog

Archive for the 'Ancient Culture' Category

Huangzhou Hike

Tuesday, May 17th, 2011

ArcticTropic attempted this post last week, but photos would not upload properly in the People’s Republic, even with, or perhaps because of, the proxy server. The purpose of this trip was not exploration, but rather business meetings taking place in office towers in major cities. This morning hike in Huangzhou, one of China’s secondary cites – smaller – meaning New York sized at about 9 or 10 million people was one of few outdoor excursions .

WIthin the city limits are large forested expanses surrounding West Lake. In the hills above the lake is a pagoda surrounded by shrines the Buddha – which were smashed with sledgehammers by fanatical Red Guards during the Cultural Revolution in 1967.

The brick pagoda – about 200 years old. It was probably too difficult to destroy with sledgehammers.

A sloping staircase through the mountain.

A peddler’s village.

The thoughts of the Chairman are always with us !

All Points East

Monday, March 7th, 2011

A word from a sponsor …………

All Points East has been offering exciting small group and family adventure holidays to South East Asia for over 10 years.  Whilst we recognise there are ‘must see places,’ we also realise that the modern day traveller has a desire to uncover each country’s best kept secrets – off the beaten track.

With exciting itineraries to Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Vietnam, Yunnan, Malaysia, Borneo and Sri Lanka, All Points East has a proven philosophy – to provide small group tours that ensure genuine interaction with local people.

Winners of the 2010 Tourism Authority of Thailand Green Award, we have a commitment to local communities and to ensuring that our tours have respect for the people and places we visit.

As much as possible we stay in smaller, locally run hotels and guest houses, eat in local restaurants and use local style transport.  Guides and agencies used are considered friends rather than business contacts.  In keeping with our commitment to the communities we visit, our group sizes are usually a maximum of 10, very occasionally 12.

If this style of travel is for you and you want to get to know the real South East Asia, we would love to show it to you.

Video From The Great Wall of China at Jinshanling

Thursday, March 18th, 2010

Video from the 10 KM trek along the Great Wall on March 5,2010. One of the best things about climbing in winter is that there are no tourists ! Other than the occasional post card vendor , I saw no one !

Great Wall of China

Friday, March 5th, 2010
The 10 KM trek along the Great Wall from Jinshanling to Simatai is
especially challenging. The steps are treacherous, often with gradients of
80 degrees. One needs to be in top physical condition and not suffer
vertigo. The temperature today was no higher than 20 F ( -7 C) with a wind
howling down from Mongolia.

Posted via email from arctictropic’s posterous

Winter Palace

Friday, March 5th, 2010
God of the East and the Celestial Calendar . The Year of The TIger began
on February 14th.

Posted via email from arctictropic’s posterous

The Chairman Welcomes You To Forbidden City

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
Chairman Mao gazes eternally upon the masses entering the Forbidden CIty.

Posted via email from arctictropic’s posterous

Snowy Forbidden City

Wednesday, March 3rd, 2010
A fresh snow covers the the courtyards of Old Cathay.

Posted via email from arctictropic’s posterous

Eritrea

Tuesday, February 23rd, 2010

Eritrea, located on the Red Sea has turned it’s entire 837 mile coast into an environmentally protected zone. One can dive in the clearest waters of the world. One of the benefits of isolation is the lack of overdevelopment and blighted reefs so common in other parts of the world.The Dahlik Archipelago is just off the coast. ArcticTropic links to two Eritrean destinations an invites other providers to join us in marketing themselves to our high – intensity adventurers..

Iran Adventure

Tuesday, February 9th, 2010

While President Ahmadinejad is dead set on fanning the flames of war with the Western World, we must remember that Iran is beautiful adventure destination. There are many adventure programs operating now though it would not be surprising to see fewer trips in the coming months. In a few years, when peace arrives, Iran will be a great place to go, just as Vietnam is today.

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Ethiopian Easter

Thursday, April 9th, 2009

Orthodox Easter in Ethiopia is the real thing. No bunnies or chocolate eggs here ! As Ethiopia had been cut off from the rest of the world for nearly 1000 years, the rites and rituals are nearly the same as when Christianity arrived in 400 AD. This mass is at a church in Lalibela. ArcticTropic links to 3 destinations in Ethiopia.