An eight hour flight from Miami to Santiago,Chile bought ArcticTropic from a late rainy season tropical wave to a delightful Southern Hemisphere spring morning. As we approach Santiago, one can see the icy cold South Pacific Ocean in the distance.
Above, the final approach to SCL. What was supposed to be a one hour layover, turned out to be 3 hours as the flight was delayed due to the Puyehue Volcano erupting once again. Though 670 km south of Santiago, the ash cloud spreads far and wide. We are informed the Mendoza airport is closed and the flight may be cancelled. ArcticTropic began investigating connections by bus, but at 1 PM ,it was announced that a window had opened and we ad to board quickly.
Up over the Andes, a crossing we have made many times.
Warm spring sunshine is softening the snowpack, providing ample water for the vineyards below.
On the Argentine side, the volcanic dust cloud was apparent. I was surprised we were allowed to fly. Volcanic ash can freeze jet engines and make a plane drop out of the sky !
Disembarking our flight at MDZ.
Early evening, about 8 PM riding north through the desert from Mendoza to San Juan.
Volcanic sunset. Tomorrow’s north winds will blast away the dust and send temperatures soaring.
This past June ArcticTropic and family took an extended Western journey covering California,Arizona and Nevada. One of our stops was Death Valley, the second hottest place on Earth – with an all time high of 134 degrees. In Libya 136 has been recorded, but Death valley has 130 + temperatures more often.
In general there is almost no vegetation. Years can go by without any significant rainfall. Water can arrive in the form of floods from far away cloudbursts or snow melt.
As it was only June the temperature was just 110 in the shade, 130 in the sun. This picture was taken at 8:30 in the morning.
The lowest place in North America, 282 ( 87 m) feet below Sea Level.
Dried up sea bed – all salt.
Those who don’t plan in advance will pay through the nose at the only gas station.
Hong Kong is not all high rises. Much of it is rural farmland close to Shenzhen in the New Territories. The Southern part of Hong Kong Island is reminiscent of Hawaii. Just 20 minutes from the Shau Kei Wan MTR station via double decker bus is Shek O, an expatriate village by the sea.
At the end of a 2 km trail , there is a peaceful overlook upon this rocky point.
At night the Star Ferry is one of the best ways to see the incredible nighttime skyline of both Hong Kong Island and Kowloon.
On May 15th, I flew China Eastern from Hangzhou to Guangzhou. Guangzhou Airport is massive – it appeared several times bigger than JFK or LAX. Cargo terminals make up most of that – almost anything one buys in a Home Depot or Pottery Barn or any other massive chain was made within 50 miles of Guangzhou. The city itself is massive – Manhattan coud fit into the corner of a smaller neighborhood. Above is the TV Tower – about 1480 feet.
Nearby is a tall Pagoda – dwarfed by theTV Tower.
The Pearl River from the TV Tower.
7:30 AM Monday May 16th. Primary schoolers stand for assembly , which includes patriotic songs, speeches by teachers , awards to students. In general these children are about 2 years ahead of American children in math and science.
The Shanghai Trade Fair Mart across the Pearl River.
CPU’s and keyboards en route to California.
It seems that all cheap souvenirs , tchachkes, bricabrac , momentos and swag are made in Guangzhou. These cups can be ordered by the container load at 20 cents a piece.
Shanghai had changed a lot in the 14 months since ArcticTropic had last visited. There were 3 new buildings , all taller than the World Trade Center, all built in two years or less.
THe 120 mile ( 190 km ) trip from Hangzhou to Shanghai took 45 minutes on the Bullet Train -at 343 kph – 212 mph.
Crossing the Huangpu River from the Bund to Pudong.
Just completed – building on right – the Shanghai World FInancial Centre , at 429 m ( 1614 ft.) the 3rd tallest building in the world.
View from the top – last year’s tallest structure – the CCTV Tower. ( See March 2010)
No matter how high – windows always have to be washed – especially in smoggy Shanghai.
In the next few weeks ArcticTropic will convert to becoming a more mobile friendly platform – suitable for iPad,IPhone and Android. We are interested in speaking to developers who might help us.
Valarie D’Elia - the Travel Reporter for NY 1 – New York City’s 24/7 All News Station is airing a summer travel feature – “ Warm Up To Cool Ideas For Extreme Temperature Travel ” Along with great clips from Havana, Iceland and New York State is footage shot by ArcticTropic while skiing at Portillo,Chile last August. Portillo is the premier ski resort in the Southern Hemisphere – now enjoying 27 inches of fresh powder that fell over the weekend. Be sure also to check out Valarie’s site – Travel With Val – for the best travel deals all over the world.
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.
Last week’s trip up Victoria Peak, Hong Kong. ArcticTropic has now returned to Hong KOng from the People’s Republic , so we are now able to upload photos and video. Several new posts appearing soon.
