With a splash our guide hit the water. The dragons heads turned simultaneously and with a unified hiss they started towards us. Their ungainly doggy paddle was both amusing and unnerving at the same time. We were not expecting them to get this close. Our guide had assured us it would be safe to enter […]
Author: Adventure O'Clock
Travel Photos: Dubai Miracle Garden – A Blooming Desert Oasis
Walking through the towering Jurassic Park style gates, we were confronted with an overwhelming scene, an explosion of colour akin to stepping into a kaleidoscope. Gigantic birds, their wings carpeted in flowers, stood proudly among the trees, which dripped with red and purple petunias. Golden sunflowers surrounded a herd of giraffes, each unique and sprouting […]
Bathing In Bath: Britain’s Hot Spring Resort
Some cultures, like the Romans and Greeks, are famed for their cleanliness and love of bathing. Us Brits on the other hand are better known for being filthy. Even Queen Elizabeth I bathed just once a month, whether she ‘needed to or not’! Despite its poor reputation, Britain has had a hot spring resort for […]
Zazen In Kamakura: Taking The First Step On The Path To Enlightenment
As we approach in the pre-dawn gloom, the foreboding metal gates of the temple are chained shut, an unexpectedly tangible barrier on our path to enlightenment. Buchi san guides us to an unlocked side gate and we creep into the tranquil gardens, careful not to disturb the air of calm. Among the shadows, silent shapes […]
Travel Photos: Diving With The Bizarre Critters Of Tulamben
Beyond the black sand beaches of Tulamben, on the coast of Bali, tufts of coral and brightly coloured sponges cling to the otherwise sparse volcanic slope. For those taking the time to look, these are the best places for divers to find the weirdest and most wonderful critters. Seahorses are just one of the many […]
Agra: Exploring The Taj Mahal And Shah Jahan’s Legacy
The crenellated sandstone walls rising up behind the wide moat were supposed to be impregnable but no one ever dreamed of an assault such as this. The arrow slits and murder holes that once spelled doom for invading soldiers now assist the progress of the advancing scourge. The ornate gates, built to withstand the onslaught […]
Maldives: Why Bother With Male?
The Maldives is renowned for pristine white beaches, year round sunshine and a plethora of luxury tourist resorts. In contrast to the rest of the country however, the capital of Male is one of the world’s most densely populated cities. 140,000 people live on an island less than 6km2 but surprisingly Male doesn’t feel crowded. […]
Bakewell Tart: A Quest for the Best
Like all of the greatest discoveries, Bakewell’s famous pastry was created by accident. A hapless cook was tasked with baking a strawberry tart for visiting noblemen but bungled the recipe. The resulting concoction was a resounding success however and Bakewell pudding was born. More recently, Bakewell Tart has stolen the limelight as the king of […]
Jaisalmer: Camel Trekking On The Silk Road
The camel edged nearer and nearer until it was peering over my shoulder, a little too close for comfort. It smiled at me, bearing its perfect yellow teeth before leaning in and clamping down on my arm. It chewed thoughtfully as we plodded along until I managed to wrestle my arm away. I had thought […]
Racing the Leviathan: Whale Shark Snorkelling In The Maldives
We leapt into the water, dragging our fins on as we went, each following the person in front like lemmings plummeting off a cliff. A cursory look below the surface and already we could see that nonchalant smile approaching. The rest of the paddle shaped head came into view so peppered with white polka dots […]