Heading to Apollo Bay on a late Friday afternoon I thought I’d follow a mud-map I found online leading to Wild Dog Falls in the Otway Ranges. It had been raining so I thought I’d save my boots for the following day’s trek by wearing thongs. After half an hour of walking, cutting through spider webs, following ribbons tied to trees through dense rainforest I realised I was being attacked by leeches. Not having any idea whether I was on the right track and how far I had to go, I headed back to the car because the light was fading and I was getting sick of stopping every few minutes to flick the leeches away from crawling into the crevices of my toes and up my legs.

I returned the following morning with proper footwear and the whole day ahead of me to descend into the Upper Wild Dog Valley in search of the falls. I used up the last roll of Ilford FP4 Plus film (expired 1995!) that came with my Pentax 67 and developed it with R09 One Shot. As you can see quite a lot of debris has come over the top here – the water stripping the bark from the freshly felled tree at the base of the falls would make for an interesting time lapse.

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Alex took this picture and I know it’s blur but I like how Lampchop expressed his love to my mama

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All photos, above, may not otherwise be reproduced, distributed, cropped, re sized, or otherwise altered without the written permission of the contributor. All photos represent the sole opinion of their individual authors and contributors and don’t express the opinion of Samsung Digital Imaging Co., Ltd., Samsungimaging.net or the opinion of any affiliates unless specifically marked as such.

All photos, above, have been shot with the Samsung ST500(TL220), which has been provided by Samsung Digital Imaging Co., Ltd.

I was eager to take my new 70-200mm f2.8 VRII lens out for a test drive this morning so I headed to an area where I regularly see Moose, however on my way there I noticed the sky slowly starting to turn pink on the horizon. I knew that where I was heading was not really ideal for capturing a sunrise shot so I made a quick decision to head to Vermillion Lakes, where I knew I could get something. Unfortunately I arrived just as the initial light show had died down, but I was fairly confident that it would have a second wind, so I decided to set-up anyway. By the time I had hunted down the shot I was after the sky began to light up again. I didn’t get to take the 70-200mm for a spin but came away with a half decent shot of Mt Rundle from Vermillion Lakes.

Yellowstone is the coolest place in the United States. I challenge you to find a cooler place.

Chapter 17. And if you’ve never been to Yellowstone, make plans to go immediately.

Located roughly 800 kilometers south of Bangkok and 65 kilometers northeast of Phuket, Krabi is one of the Thailand’s most enchanting destinations. Sprawling over an area of about 4705 square kilometers, Krabi is a province, placed on the Strait of Malacca, and is bordered by Surathani and Phang Nga to the north, the Andaman Sea to the south and the west, and Nakorn Si Thammarat and Trang provinces to the east.

With its unbeatable natural scenery, mysterious caves, lush green forested hills, rubber and palm plantations, unspoilt beaches, and well-organized infrastructure system, Krabi has now become one of the most sought after destinations in the world.

Many of the visitors, especially the Scandivians, touring Thailand spend majority of their times in Krabi. During the winter as well as Christmas, many westerners including Europeans flock here to escape from the extremely cold climate of their home country, since Krabi maintains its mild sunny weather even during the coldest months.

Krabi boasts of some of the best beaches in Thailand. No matter you want to relax, or to engage in a number of fun-filled as well as adventure activities, or just to take a stroll to savor the incredibility of the surroundings, Krabi’s beaches render all that a visitor would really want to have.

Most popular among the beaches in the destination are Ao Nang Beach, which is a paradise for enjoying such water sport activities as scuba diving, trekking, and kayaking; Railay Beach, which serves as an excellent spot for wannabee rock climbers.

Pra Nang Beach, which is a great destination for snorkeling and canoeing; Klong Muang Beach – a perfect destination to take a moonlight stroll as well as to enjoy excellent dining; and Nopparat Thara Beach, a scenic beach fringed with casuarina trees, which is popular among picnickers. In deed, with these incredible beaches, Krabi is a mecca of water sport activities. Apart from these, Krabi is home to more than 200 islands, Phi Phi Don Island, Phi Phi Lay Island, Koh Taleng Beng, Koh Lanta Yai, and Mu Koh Hah being the prominent.

However, attractions in Krabi are not just restricted to its beaches and islands. But, before discussing about other attractions in the region, it is important that you should have clear idea on each district of the region. The province of Krabi is made up of eight amphoes or districts including Amphoe Mueang, Khao Phanom, Ko Lanta, Nuea Khlong, Ao Luk, Lam Thap, Khlong Thom, and Plai Phraya, each of which comes with an array of sights.

Amphoe Mueang is home to such incredible attractions as Khao Khanap Nam, 100 meters high hill that rise from the water; Tham Sua, otherwise known as Tiger Cave; Tham Sadet, which is a gorgeous cave with unique stalagmites and stalactites; and Fossil Shell Beach.

Most popular among the attractions in Amphoe Khao Phanom is Kho Phanom Bencha National Park, occupying an area of about 50 square kilometers and covering some regions of Amphoe Ao Luk, Amphoe Khao Phanom, and Amphoe Muang. Some of the highlights of the park are Namtok Huai To, Namtok Huai Sa-de, and Namtok Khlong Haeng.

Perhaps the first attraction that comes into your mind when you hear about Amphoe Ko Lanta is Mu Ko Lanta National Park, which consists of several islands. Ko Lanta Yai is the park’s main island. Included in the attractions of Amphoe Ao Luk is Than Bokkhorani National Park, which is about 45 kilometers from the downtown Krabi. Few among the attractions in Amphoe Khlong Thorn are Wat Khlong Thorn Museum, Namtok Hin Phoeng, Thung Teao, and Namtok Ron.

In short, no matter you are a history buff, spiritual traveler, sightseer, or adventure lover, Krabi has something for everyone. Understanding the tremendous increase in the number of travelers year after year, a large number of accommodation options have been developed here, of which many of them are five star and three star facilities.

An array of options is also available for budget conscious travelers. Just browse through the internet and you can easily find a number of choices, from which you select an option according to your taste and budget. Many of the hotels provide facilities to make bookings online. All you have to do is to inform them your likes and preferences, and rest they will take care.

Ooh, we’re comin’ up on one of my favorite places in America: Yellowstone!!

Chapter 16 for your reading pleasure.

POACHERS see this rhino as their way to get rich quick – for its horn is now worth more than gold for the first time in a decade.

India is a hub for many adventurous activities. There are many opportunities within India for sports lovers and for those who are in love with wildlife and safaris.

India is known for its flora and fauna. It’s flora population consists of around 7.6% of all mammalian, 12.6% of all avian, 6.2% of all reptilian, 4.4% of all amphibian, 11.7% of all fish, and 6.0% of all flowering plant species. It has 1250 species of birds and 410 species of mammals. The wildlife of India is its asset and should never be missed by true nature lovers.

Wildlife India Tour Packages are a must for the people who do not want to miss any chance to view the gems of nature. India is one such land, which has dense forests, free flowing rivers, deltas, basins, deserts and snow capped mountains. Thus wildlife forms a major part of any India Tour Packages.

Since ages India has been trying to conserve its rare species and animals. Many initiatives have been undertaken to preserve tigers in India, which are falling short day by day. Many areas serving animals since years have been converted into wildlife sanctuaries. For the utmost delight of wildlife lovers, India has 80 National Parks and 441 wildlife sanctuaries and national parks.

The major wildlife sanctuaries in India are Ranthambore wildlife sanctuary, Corbett National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Gir National Park and Sunderbans National Park.

Major wildlife sanctuaries are Bharatpur Wildlife Sanctuary and Sarisika wildlife Sanctuary and they from a very important part of India Tour Packages.

You can enjoy the thrilling ride inside these forests through a forest Safari. The safari can be organized in a jeep, on elephants, on camels, on horses, depending upon the place you are visiting.

The animals you can view while on safari can be innumerous, and depending on your luck you can also see a Royal Bengal Tiger. Royal Bengal Tiger is the most sought after animal amongst the travelers in India. It is the largest living animal amongst the cat family and is know for its royal and graceful style.

The other animals found in India are the Black Buck, Snow leopards, Indian Elephants, Greta India Rhinoceros and King Cobra.

Before arranging any Wildlife India Tour Packages, one should make proper arrangements for Safaris in the dense jungles of India. There are many things of utter importance which should be packed along with your normal clothes. They are binoculars, torch, cotton socks, hat and sun glasses. If you are visiting India during summers, then remember that the climate during summers proves to be harsh. To protect yourself from the scorching heat, do not forget packing sunscreen, painkillers and mosquito repellants.

Thus Wildlife India Tour Packages can be filled with fun and surprises. There are a huge variety of animals to see in India. All the wildlife sanctuaries and National Parks have provisions for boarding and lodging. You can stay in proper hotel rooms, tents and cottages.

Thus to enjoy a proper India tour package, get your tour booked in advance through a well known tour operator. Many tour operators are available online, which can even customize your tour.

Location Report – Death Valley National Park

Storm approaching the Racetrack Playa in Death Valley © Mac Danzig

If you immediately think of nothing but extreme heat and barren desert when the words “Death Valley” come to mind, you most likely haven’t experienced this incredible place first-hand…  Yes, the heat is ridiculous in the summer at the valley-level areas of the park, but DVNP has way more to offer than the stereotypical idea of extreme heat and sand.

As of the time this writing, I have been to Death Valley for Photography nine times and if I have anything to say about it, there will be many more trips in the future.  Every time I have visited, I have come back with usable images no matter what conditions the weather provided and each time I have seen something completely new.  In addition, every single excursion to this beautiful place has had a profound effect on me.

Death Valley National Park is the largest National Park in the lower 48 states, covering 5,262 square miles.    On any given day, you are likely to see and experience a plethora of Natural Phenomena.  From snow-capped peaks, to rolling sand dunes, to Ghost Town remains and everything in between.  Death Valley is, in my opinion the most geologically diverse Natural area in North America and that is a notion that definitely lends itself to success in photography.

Those of you who are familiar with my work know that I am a huge fan of remote places.   I have gone out of my way to go ‘out of the way’ as much as possible.  Death Valley absolutely fulfills the need for solitude and desolation, as long as you are willing to do a little (or a lot of) driving beyond the main tourist areas.   Keep in mind that all of these great spots are very far from each other, for the most part and I recommend either an extended stay, or exact planning of your time to get the most out of your visit.   For example, the Badwater area includes Artist’s Palette, numerous salt flats and the incredible Devil’s Golf Course. They are all within 20 mins of each other, and fairly close to the two hotels in the area, but nowhere even remotely near the Racetrack, Wildrose Charcoal kilns, or any of the high-altitude overlook views.

In this article I will only cover the sections of the park I am familiar with, and of those, the ones I believe to be the best areas for good photo ops.

Here is a link to a google map I’ve made of the area. I will link again to it at the end of the article.
View Death Valley Photography spots in a larger map

The Racetrack Playa

Might as well start with my favorite spot in the entire park and probably one of the most remote areas in all of Death Valley; The Racetrack.  This basin is an ancient dry lake bed with an amazing textured floor that includes the phenomena of the infamous “sailing stones.”

"110 Degrees" © Mac Danzig

Although the road to get to the Racetrack from both North and South is very rough, winding, and filled with large, loose natural gravel rocks that are quite sharp in spots, chances are you’ll see a few other folks (even in passenger cars) during a September or April trip when the weather is the most comfortable.     If you go during the colder months, there’s an excellent chance you’ll have the entire area to yourself.

Words can’t really describe the feeling you get at the Playa.  Especially if you are the only one there…  Bordered on the West by the Last Chance Range, and on the East by the Cottonwood mountains, a feeling of solitude is experienced naturally.   The silence itself can be immense and profound.  Every experience I’ve had at this location has left me longing to return again.

My advice is to spend at least 24 hours here if possible.  There are a few first-come-first-serve campsites just south of the Racetrack that will leave you easy access for sunrise and sunset light.  And if you’re a nocturnal shooter like me, spending at least 1 night here is a must.

Moonrise on the Playa © Mac Danzig

In addition to the lake bed itself containing the “sailing stones” is the “Grandstand”: a protrusion of black basaltic rock that sits 75 feet above the floor at the northwestern corner of the playa.   This is easily seen from the road or anywhere in the area, really.  And if you are looking for a good star-trail foreground subject or an interesting focal point beyond the normal shot, the Grandstand may be a good bet.

"First Light of the Day" © Mac Danzig (The Grandstand can be seen at the horizon below the mountains, center-left)

When walking out on the Playa, distance is not always what it seems.  You may find yourself heading towards a vague landmark while looking for rocks with trails to photograph, and end up spending triple the amount of time you expected to get to an area that seemed fairly close.  This isn’t necessarily a negative though (unless you foolishly visit in the dead of summer) because the more time spent here, the better, in my opinion.

Light is best in early morning, once the sun has broken over the Cottonwood range, but great sunsets can also be had here as well, just remember that the mountain range to the east is quite close to the playa, and actual evening light sets behind it earlier than you may anticipate.

And of course, night time shooting is excellent here.  During a new moon, you are far away enough from light pollution that the stars really stand out.  The Racetrack is perhaps one of the best places in Death Valley to photograph the night sky.

"Galaxis" - A shot of the Milky Way from the Racetrack about 1 hour before sunrise. © Mac Danzig

Getting there can be a bit of a struggle, depending on your vehicle and your patience for rough back-roads.  A high-clearance 4wd vehicle isn’t 100% necessary to get here, but having one will make your trip a lot more comfortable, safer and many times quicker.   Always carry a full-size spare, no matter what kind of car you take here.  The large, sharp natural gravel can flatten any tire, and in many areas of the road, there is no ideal place to pull-over and change a flat.

The Racetrack can be accessed from either the north or south, but the northern route is probably the best for most situations.

Coming from the north, you will pass Ubehebe Crater, (a half-mile wide volcanic crater that is estimated to be over 5000 years old) just before the road turns to dirt and becomes very rough and rocky.   Although not as immediately photogenic as you’d imagine, Ubehebe is definitely worth a stop to look at and experience.   On certain days, the wind at the top of the crater picks up so high that you can literally lean your entire body weight over the edge and be supported.

The first 30 miles or so to the track via Ubehebe is windy 1-lane gravel.  The last 4 miles before you reach the Playa turn from rocky to washboard… The kind of washboard road that will vibrate the eyes out of your head if you ride too fast on it.  This is another reason to have a vehicle with the kind of suspension that can handle these roads.

"Desert Floor" © Mac Danzig

Once you get there, my suggestion is to take a few moments to really absorb the atmosphere before you begin shooting.   There are 3 parking areas (north, middle and south) that have easy access to walk directly onto the playa.  Keep in mind that in order to find some good rock trails, you must be prepared to do some hiking out onto the lake bed.  There are no sign or trails, just a giant, wide-open playground with limitless photographic potential.

Sand Dunes

© Mac Danzig

There are three major groups of dunes in Death Valley:   Mesquite dunes (near Stovepipe Wells), Panamint dunes and Eureka Dunes.

By far the most accessible of the three is the Mesquite Dunes.  Unfortunately it’s also the most visited and therefore the most footprint-littered.   During the months of April/May and September, these dunes a lot of tourism.   Depending on recent wind and rain activity, you’ll sometimes have to hike quite a way during these peak months to find untouched sand, but it’s still an amazing location.  If you stop by here, you’ll be close to Stovepipe Wells, which contains a small convenience store, gift shop and over-priced gas, if you need it.

Regardless of the season or current wind conditions, it’s always a good idea to protect your equipment in the sand dunes.  There are only two times that I’ll put a uv filter on the front of my lens – shooting near splashing salt water, and shooting near large bodies of sand.    Hiking to find the right spot to shoot can take a long time and end up being more of a workout than you bargained for.   The soft sand is really hard to traverse and I’ve found myself and my gear submerged into the sand on more than one occasion.   Always keep what you’re not using zipped up in your bag.  Take great care when changing lenses – any stray grains of sand blown into the camera body can cause a post-processing nightmare.

The thermometer on my compass reads 111.4 F. This was during May right before sunset.

Hiking the dunes at night is an awesome experience.  Because of how disorienting an area like this can be, (especially at night) I always carry a GPS with me, even if there’s a full moon.  All these rolling hills can blend together and finding your way out can be real pain.

If you want a less-traveled location, check out either the Panamint Dunes or the Eureka Dunes on the North end of the Park.   If you are coming from Big Pine, CA, Eureka Dunes can be visited on the way to the Racetrack.  They are much larger and more interesting than the Mesquite Dunes, in my opinion.

"Moonlit Hourglass" © Mac Danzig

Furnace Creek and Vicinity

Furnace Creek, is pretty much the only “town” in Death Valley.   It includes a visitor’s center,  two campgrounds, the only two hotels in the entire National Park and the only real restaurant.   If you station yourself here, you’ll have relatively close access to the Badwater Salt Flats, the Devil’s Golf Course, Artist’s Pallette and Zabriskie Point.

© Mac Danzig

Zabriskie Point is an overlook area that also includes a primitive hikable trail system.   From the overlook you an see the salt flats as well as Wildrose Peak across the Badwater Valley.  It’s mostly a sunrise/early morning spot, but great shots can be had here at sunset and nighttime as well.   Don’t expect to have this place to yourself unless you go sometime during the off-season.

To see a panorama I made of Zabriskie Point hosted on Gigapan and gain a better idea of the view point, click here.

sunrise over Zabriskie Point © Mac Danzig

The Badwater Salt flats are one of the main attractions for people staying at Furnace Creek.  Badwater is the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere.  Most people visiting here will stop off at the parking lot with a little boardwalk.  I suggest driving a little further down and pulling off of the road to find some un-trampled areas of the flats.

"NaCl Earth" - Badwater Salt Flats © Mac Danzig

The Devil’s Golf Course is a rather unfortunately-named section of Badwater that is my personal recommendation as a must-see if you’re in the Furnace Creek area.    It’s a salt pan with huge, random, jagged formations of salt that formed when the body of water there evaporated.  (Much of Death Valley NP was underwater at one time and discoveries of fish fossils are still being unearthed at higher elevations in the park).     Seriously, be careful when you walk on this.  The floor here is sharp and not as brittle as you might think.  It would suck pretty bad to get cut open by a lump of serrated salt.

DGC can be an excellent evening location once the sun lowers behind the mountains, especially if there are good groups of clouds present to catch the light.  Sunrise of course lends itself to this location very well too.

"Salt and Storm" - Devil's Golf Course © Mac Danzig

Overlooks

Beside all of the ground-level geographic features, there are plenty of high-altitude overlooks spread throughout the park.  Many of the overlooks are truly amazing depending on what kind of light you have, but they are all very far from each other (Dante’s View, Augereberry Point, Telescope Peak, Father Crowley Point, etc)- Depending on how much time you have to spend, most likely you will only be able to get one or two of these in. Also, many times in DV, the light is hazy, even in early morning and late afternoon, so the lookout style points of interest may not end up being photogenic.

This is a telephoto view from Father Crowley Point, located on the eastern side of the park. From this vantage point, you are looking towards the West at Panamint Valley. Seen here is the snow-covered Panamint Range, 4000 feet above the arid Panamint Dunes below.

Dante’s View is a great early morning/sunrise location that looks northwest above the Badwater basin.  If you enter the park from the southwest, via 190 fwy, it’s easy to get to…  If you want to hike beyond the parking area here, you can go 4 miles one way to the Mt. Perry Summit, which is absolutely worth it, in my opinion.

Traveling through the Panamint mountain range gives some more opportunities for overlooks.  Telescope Peak is the highest point in the park and is accessed by a 14-mile round-trip hike starting at Mahogany Flat Campground.    In order to get up here, you’ll need a high clearance 4wd.  This entire area is really photogenic and includes the Wildrose charcoal kilns on the way up the mountain.  These are the best-preserved kilns in the west.   The road turns from paved to dirt a few miles before the kilns and once past the kilns, turns very steep and rocky.  Keep in mind that there is snow up here well into spring and the road isn’t really maintained.  This is a good opportunity to get a some shots of the charcoal kilns with snow covering them and chances are, you won’t see many other people.  These are best photographed in the early part of the day, because the sun washes out the sky from mid-day until evening when looking west here.

A quick snapshot of the Wildrose Charcoal kilns up in the Panamints.

Another overlook to check out if you’re in the Panamint range, near wildrose, is Aguereberry Point.   I’ve only ever been there in winter, where the unmaintained dirt access road was covered in snow, but even then, it wasn’t too treacherous.  From Aguereberry Point, you can see all the way across the west half Death Valley National Park.  The silence up here is beautiful and only occasionally broken by whistling wind.

On the way to Aguereberry Point (named after miner Pete Aguereberry) is the Eureka mine and remnants of Pete Aguereberry’s home.  Unfortunately, the Park service has deemed the mine unsafe recently and denied access to it, but hopefully some restoration will change that.  You can still have a look at the old house where Pete used to live as well as some other decaying remnants.

Eureka Mine © Mac Danzig

If you find yourself in the Panamint Valley or near Panamint Springs, Darwin Falls is a decent little spot to visit with a short hike through a wash to get there.  It is another prime example of the geological diversity in the area.  You’ll want a high clearance vehicle to get to the trailhead.  Keep in mind that during the summer months, the falls may be dry. (or so I’ve been told)

Darwin Falls © Mac Danzig

One example of the sporadic Death Valley weather was seen by me first hand one day in the winter.  It was warm in the Panamint Valley during the morning hours.   By mid-day, a strong storm came by and flooded the valley floor.  Extremely strong winds arrived afterward and created waves on the large pools of water that had been formed by the rain.

© Mac Danzig

By this time, the temperature had dropped almost 20 degrees even though the sun was still bright.

Unpredictable weather is a staple of Death Valley in the winter months.

Ghost Towns and mining remnants in the area

In addition to the Eureka Mine previously mentioned, are plenty of ghost towns (and pieces of ghost towns) scattered throughout the park here and there.  The ones worth visiting in my opinion are Ballarat and Panamint City (on the southeast side of the park) and Rhyolite- which lies in Nevada and is actually just outside the park boundaries on the Northwest side.    Rhyolite is a perfect location to stop by if you are coming from the 95 fwy and using Beatty junction to enter the park.  This old gold rush town is not hard to get to, and contains some of the most well preserved structures of any ghost town I’ve visited.   The now-deceased Cook Bank, who’s frame and foundation are made of cement, is still standing.  It’s roofless now and pieces keep coming down over the years, but the front wall should be there for a while unless there is some real seismic activity.

"Sundial" - the remnants of Cook Bank in Rhyolite, Nevada - © Mac Danzig

Rhyolite was a pretty happening place in it’s heyday.  If you’re familiar with ghosts towns, you’ll know that there isn’t much left of them in most cases, so this old place is a welcomed change.  There is also a cemetery near by which has quite a few old grave sites.

If you happen to be heading from Rhyolite towards the Racetrack, or even Stovepipe Wells and you have a good high clearance vehicle (and extra time), try taking Titus Canyon- just west of Rhyolite.  It’s a beautiful drive and will lead you through the grapevine mountains just after passing the ghost town of Leadfield.  This will take quite some time, so plan accordingly.

Wildlife

Animals are often hard to come by in DVNP, but a little time spent in the park should reveal a few of the park’s more visible creatures.  There are plenty of native animals that have eluded me, but one has to remember that Death Valley and the desert in general does not harbor many creatures who make their living grazing out in the open.

© Mac Danzig

Still, you are sure to come across wildlife in many different parts of  the Park if you’re willing to spend some time searching.  I personally wouldn’t plan a photography trip to Death Valley for wildlife alone, but it’s a great idea to bring the telephoto and keep it handy.

Burro family seen near Surprise Canyon © Mac Danzig

Wild Burros can be seen throughout the eastern side of the park and if you hike into the mountains, you just might come across some Bighorn Sheep.

Bighorn Ewe in Happy Canyon near the trailhead to the ghost town of Panamint City © Mac Danzig

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If you haven’t been yet, hopefully you’ve now gained a better idea of what you can do here.  If you’ve already visited, maybe this will spark your interest to return.

I personally cannot imagine my photography portfolio without this place and I owe much of the experience I’ve gained to it.

As far as I’m concerned, there is no place like it on earth.

Below is a map of the area I’ve made with placemarks that correspond with this article’s featured spots.
View Death Valley Photography spots in a larger map.

I plan on hosting a few photography workshops in the near future at Death Valley, with an emphasis on night time long exposures.  Please check back on the blog in early 2010 for updates and schedule.

Thanks for reading.

-Mac

The Great Smoky Mountains National Park still remains the most popular national park for every road trip planner. It is situated on both sides of Tennessee and North Carolina. Attracting over nine million adventurers and sightseers every year, it is the most visited national park in the United States. This summer, grab your gear and head off to the massive Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Planning your summer road trip will make you realize that there are so many things to do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. You would most certainly want to experience all of them. The size of the park might pose as overwhelming, but the Smoky Mountain Heritage Driving Tour will surely help you discover the park at your own pace on a self-guided automobile tour. Take your time driving yourself around to seek out landmarks, mountain culture and heritage, the captivating aura of the neighborhoods and, of course, the history of the Smoky Mountains.

If you are looking for a unique way to wander around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, then the English Mountain Llama Trek is perfect for you. The llama treks also allow you to move at your own timetable as you are welcome to arrange them for varying lengths of time. You have the option to choose a trekking trip with a picnic or even an overnight stay at one of the cabins and/or campgrounds affiliated with English Mountain Llama Trek. Children six years of age and older can join the treks as long as they are accompanied by a responsible adult.

You can also spice up your summer road trip with an adventurous biking tour around the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The Smoky Mountain Bicycle Tour offers guided and self-guided tours to everyone. Mountain and road bikes are offered for touring the mountains, the historical sights and other scenic areas in and around the park.

There are also horseback riding opportunities in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. Walden Creek Stables’ Mountain Adventure Trail promises nothing but the best time. The four-hour ride will take you through the valley, across the streams and to the top of the mountains where you can enjoy the most breathtaking views.

Note: During the summer months, the horseback rides are scheduled as early as 9 a.m. Should you wish to take the tour at an earlier time, arrangements can be made prior to your desired schedule.

Dare to challenge yourself physically on this summer road trip by conquering the bubbly and frothy whitewater. Raft yourself away with Rafting In The Smokies, which offers you the chance to experience the waters of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park in a very scenic and exhilarating way, even if you have no prior rafting experience. Reservations are highly recommended, especially during the summer.

After the very exhilarating whitewater rafting experience, cool off and relax with the Smoky Mountain Angler, the oldest fly fishing guide and outfitter in Gatlinburg. The Smoky Mountain Angler is authorized to give fly fishing guided services in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. These services are offered to both professional fly fishermen and beginners.

The things you can do in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park definitely spells out the words fun and adventure. You can bank it as one of the best summer vacations any road trip planner will have in his or her lifetime!

The province of Phang-nga is located some 788 kilometres from Bangkok. It covers an area of 4,170 square kilometres.

Phang-nga is a province with two characters – land and sea – and packed with national parks that guard magnificent scenery with immensely different attractions.

Most famous is Ao Phang-nga National Park, a geological wonder filled with islets, sunken caverns and startling rock formations rising sheer out of the sea. The bay is extremely sheltered ideal for expeditions of sea canoes to explore the many fascinating caverns with their own eco-systems.

Phang-nga’s andaman coast offers parks of a different kind. The island groups of Surin and Similan are renowned for their beautiful unspoilt beaches and spectacular underwater scenery, attracting divers from around the world. Khao Lak is a coastal park full of birds, mammals and scenic waterfalls, with a number of hotel developments after Tsunami disaster in December 2004.

Source: TAT

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I am going to be a zombie by the end of this weekend, but I am bound and determined to finish on time.

I WILL WIN NANOWRIMO!!

Chapter 15. I’m going to bed.

National Park Bantimurung in Maros regency is nature tourism the proudest people of South Sulawesi. The location is in Kars hill or a valley of steep limestone with tropical vegetation. Not surprisingly, this area also became a limestone mining area as a cement raw material. Unfortunately this kind of activity, if continued would be very damaging nature and potential of tourism itself. Tourism Object geographically Bantimurung an area of 6619.11 km2 reach. Cool air and natural beauty, coupled with the sound of water gurgling waterfall that falls from a height of 15 meters and 20 meters wide, making Bantimurung as a flagship tourist attraction. Nature Bantimurung the famous waterfalls and the butterfly is approximately 30 km from Makassar City. If using a private vehicle, takes about an hour. If you are from the airport, mileage slightly closer, about 35 minutes by private car or public transportation called banana-banana. Waterfall When entering the area Bantimurung, from a distance travelers are greeted with the writing on the wall of the hill Kars. Then upon arrival at the gate of this recreational park, a pair of ornate gate welcome giant butterfly on top with a friendly welcome, after which followed a statue of an ape who also jumbo. This indicates Bantimurung original habitat of butterflies and monkeys. Year 1856 – 1857 Alfred Russel Wallace spent most of his life here to examine different types of butterflies. According to Wallace, Bantimurung is The Kingdom of Butterfly “Based on the British study was 150 species of butterflies here,” said Abidin, park ranger tours. To keep the butterfly from extinction the local government to make breeding in this location, and certainly be an attraction for tourists who visit. In addition there is also the Museum breeding butterflies as the information and data center butterflies that live in nature Bantimurung Adidin explain species of butterflies in the butterfly museum Bantimurung also has two caves that can be used as a special interest tours, Cave Rock and the cave of dreams. Stone Cave to get to the prima stamina required, although the manager has made the steps as high as 10 meters. Travels far enough and could only be within walking distance about 20 minutes. But after arriving at around Goa Batu, all exhausted soon paid off with a splendid view danu with a small waterfall so beautiful. Not to mention the beauty of the cave with stalagmite along staglaktit and 30 feet hall. Similarly, Dream Cave picture, only the size and a longer passage that distinguish it with the Rock Cave. To enter the cave, of course, necessary lighting. But do not worry for you who do not bring light. In front of the cave’s mouth has been available rentals petromaks lights at a cost of Rp. 25,000 to Rp. 50,000. Complement the natural charm of the existing managers deliberately create additional facilities such as musalla the design follows the contour of the local natural stones. There are also car bombs, bathing pool, flying fox, sometimes spontaneous performances live local bands, and a number of other facilities. To enjoy the coolness and beauty Bantimurung, visitors pay a levy on tickets for Rp.5.000 for adults and Rp. 3500 children. For those of you who want to linger here, available lodging facility with a price range between Rp. 40,000 to Rp. 60,000 plus television facilities in it. As a souvenir, do not forget to buy souvenirs in the form of butterflies that have been preserved in a frame with a varied amount. Butterfly beautiful variety of colors that can decorate the walls of your home at an affordable price.

This article was originally published on ecopolitology.org– a website covering the politics of energy and the environment.

While it’s not news to most of us who work in or follow international conservation, Peru’s El Comercio newspaper ran a story today about how only 8 park rangers patrol Alto Purús National Park. Alto Purús is the largest national park in Peru and the third largest in all of South America.

Alto Purús “protects” 2,724,263 hectares of tropical rainforest (~ 6.7 million acres). The math’s not too challenging on this one. That’s almost a million acres for each of the 8 rangers to patrol.

Click here to continue reading on ecopolitology.org

I can’t believe I have less than a week left to write the rest of this story.

Chapter 14. God help me.

Hetch Hetchy Moonrise

Discover Yosemite’s best-kept secret, Hetch Hetchy Valley.

John Muir once described Hetch Hetchy as “a wonderfully exact counterpart” of Yosemite Valley. It is a funny twist of nature to create a valley this close to Yosemite Valley that looks so much alike. Today the infamous O’Shaughnessy Dam blocks the flow of the Tuolumne River, flooding the entire valley with 300 feet of water. The San Francisco Bay Area needs the dam to satisfy its insatiable hunger for power and water. A lot of controversy surrounds the dam and the accompanied destruction of a pristine valley within the borders of Yosemite National Park.

Despite the controversy, Hetch Hetchy is a fantastic destination for day hikes, backpacking and of course, photography. One of the easiest and by far the most popular day hike is the 5 mile round trip to Wapama Falls. The falls plummet 1400 ft from the northern cliffs of the valley, an impressive sight, although not easy to capture in photographs. The easy and pleasant round trip hike offers good views of the dam, the reservoir and the falls.

The reservoir leads to fantastic opportunities for photography. Imagine an entire Yosemite Valley standing on a mirror surface.

I cannot help admiring the remarkable engineering accomplishments of such an immense undertaking and the determination people showed at the turn of the century to accomplish such mammoth projects like O-Shaughnessy Dam. Comparing it to the quibbles of modern day projects and the projected costs of necessary repairs on the Bay Bridge, I must bow to the people constructing the dam.

Only a tiny fraction of visitors to Yosemite come here, although I believe that number will increase rapidly in the near future as crowds simply spill over into this fantastic place. There is also a slight chance that one day the reservoir may be drained to restore the valley.

Visit this little known corner of Yosemite today and claim your photographs.

How to get there

The Hetch Hetchy turnoff (Evergreen Road) from Highway 120 is at  37°48′54.02″N 119°52′31.16″W just outside Yosemite, west of the Big Oak Flat Entrance Station (Hwy 120). The exit is clearly marked, but you need to pay attention since there is only a single sign.

Hetch Hetchy Parking Area(click to enlarge)

On this first map, I have marked some good spots for photography near the main parking lot.

Hetch Hetchy Wapama Falls Hike (click to enlarge)

On this second map, you can see the trail destination of Wapama Falls in relation to the parking lot. The distance from the dam to the falls is approx. 2.5 miles.

GPS position

37°56′47.18″N 119°47′15.13″W

How to photograph Hetch Hetchy and Wapama Falls

Hetch Hetchy O'Shaughnessy Dam

The drive into the valley is just as exciting as the drive into Yosemite Valley from Highway 120. The narrow winding road suddenly reveals a view of immense beauty.  I immediately was awestruck by the beauty of this sight and had mixed feelings about the dam. Although this man-made lake destroys the valley floor beneath it, the water provides a unique opportunity to photograph this magnificent valley presented on a mirror. The reservoir is beautiful in its own right. In the photograph at the start of this page, I was even able to capture the reflection of the moon as it rose above Kolana Rock. I took this photograph from the dam, which doubles as the main viewpoint into the valley and the spot where you can watch the sun set (obey the closing hours listed below).

Wapama Falls

You can photograph the dam either from the parking lot west of the dam or from the trail to Wapama Falls and Rancheria Falls. Both views give you a unique perspective. The side light, illuminating the trees, drew my attention during the late afternoon, as I returned from my hike. I stopped briefly, set up my tripod and took the photograph above. The lighting in the canyon at this time of the day is dim, requiring a tripod or a lens with image stabilization (IS,VR,VC,OS).

A tripod is a good idea for other reasons. In fact, I took all images on this page with the help of a tripod. This allowed me to shoot in relative darkness (first two images), slow the flow of the water in the third image and compose the high dynamic range photograph shown below. I struggled to get a decent composition of Wapama Falls. I ended up climbing underneath the footbridge and almost fell down a crevasse, but I was not too happy with the results. The waterfall is too large for any useful composition from this close distance. I found the compositions from the opposite shore more interesting.

Wapama Falls Footbridges HDR

Fortunately, Dani pointed out a pleasing composition looking back towards the footbridge. With the low winter sun forcing me to shoot against the light, I decided on a wide-angle composition to take advantage of the star streaks they create. Deliberately including the sun, I took three photographs and combined them in Photomatix.

Best Time of the Day and Best Season

Currently the entrance gate hours are:

• 7am to 8pm for April
• 7am to 9pm May to Labor Day
• 8am to 7pm Day after Labor day to October 31
• 8am to 5pm November to March 31

You need to obtain a wilderness permit for overnight backpacking trips. Plan sufficient time to return to the entrance gate, the punishment for tardiness is severe. Upon your entry, the ranger will hand you a numbered parking permit and will note your license plate and the number of people in your party to ensure everyone returns safely from their trip and leaves in time.

Time required

We hiked to Wapama Falls in under one hour, passing other hikers. You are on the safe side if you schedule 3 hours hiking time (90 minutes each way) and about 1 hour for photography at the falls and on the trail.

Equipment

• Tripod
• Cable Release
• Split ND filter
• Bear Spray (find it at the Bass Pro Shop in Manteca or other outdoor stores)
• Bear Bells
• Mosquito Spray
• Sun Lotion
• Water (it gets hot on the trail as the water reflects most of the sunlight back at you)
• Picnic  (don’t store smelly food in your car, which attract bears, use the bear safe containers at the backpackers parking)

Fees

The entrance fee is the same as at other Yosemite NP entrances, $20.

Difficulty Getting There

Bears, rattle snakes and Poison Oak are among the most obvious hazards.

Close Locations

• Yosemite Firefall   Horsetail Fall
• Views of Yosemite Valley
• Yosemite Valley in Fall
• Merced Grove
• Wildlife of Yosemite
• Mirror Lake
• Yosemite Falls, Sentinel Bridge and Swinging Bridge
• Vernal Fall and Nevada Fall Trail
• Glacier Point, Sentinel Dome, Taft Point
• Tioga Pass road
• Tuolumne Meadows
• Mariposa Grove
• Columbia SHP
• Locke Historic Town

Useful Resources

Day Hikes in HH (NPS.GOV)

Hetch Hetchy Brochure (this is how it could look after moving the dam)

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I recently cycled 110 kms through the hills of Cape Otway as part of the Rainforest Ride – Cycle for a Cure but found it to be a bit of a cakeride in comparison to one I’d completed a couple of months prior. I managed to coax a University friend, Daniel, to circuit French Island with me. It was the beginning of Spring, we had had quite a lot of rain (by Melbourne’s standards) and I was in search of fields of blooming wildflowers, wild orchids and shlurping swamps. Fortunately Daniel is an easy going bloke with a long fuse and forgave me for the journey that nearly left us stranded for a night.

The day started well – we got the bikes to Stony Point and onto the ferry to Tankerton with no issues. Once off the ferry, we headed out in a clockwise direction, first to The Pinnacles for an elevated view of French Island and the mudflats that encircle it. As soon as we got off the Coast Road, we hit undulating sand tracks in the National Park that were impossible to ride up. It was here that we were met with a scourge of mosquitoes that seemed to follow us wherever we went, making the entire ride extremely frustrating. In my haste to leave I’d forgotten to fill my bottle and pack repellent. It was 30 degrees in the sun and the thick jumper I was forced to wear gave me a greater thirst for water I didn’t have and diverted the mosquitoes to cheap face bites instead.

So after pushing the bikes through chest high grass, keeping an eye out for tiger snakes, we walked into bone dry swamps only to find empty shotgun cartridges. Being chased back out by blood deprived mosquitoes, we pedaled on to Gartsides, a depressive abandoned pastoral property in the north-east corner that seemed to be being slowly reclaimed by the scrub. Daniel laid his bike down here, unknowingly on top of a bull-ant nest, to check out how much I’d underestimated the distance we had to cover and began cursing like a trooper when one bit him on the ankle. I threw his gear away from the nest during his fit of rage but a few ants hung onto his bag and as we continued on, he was bitten again on his back.

At this stage we were ready to leave. We’d cycled only 30 kms, were on the complete opposite side of the island and had not seen a living soul after leaving the ferry. After coming downhill on the West Prison Boundary Track we met a topless crazed German backpacker and a suspiciously friendly Chinese girl on pushbikes. The German guy conveyed to us that he was working in some sort of chain gang on a nearby farm to help with his travel visa, literally with a gun to his head! I couldn’t understand what the Chinese girl wanted but she was waiving for us to follow her – possibly to drug us and steal our kidneys. We declined and headed West on the aptly named Mosquito Creek Road.

I was so dehydrated by this point I couldn’t even salivate. I tried to force myself to eat a cheese roll but I was really only shoveling sawdust into my mouth. Being faced with a sizeable hill to climb I flagged down a linesman who appeared from the dust a Datsun with fake turf glued to all its panels had generated driving past. I asked if he could take us as far as he was going West and looking in his tray, seeing it was full, said, just hang off the back of the truck, I used to do it when I was a youngin’. I took the right side, Daniel the left and he towed us for a few kilometres up the corrugated gravel road at 40 km/h. While I had my eyes peeled for potholes, Daniel was having a hard time holding onto the tray because he kept losing his hold as he hit patches of sand. That lift was all we needed because the rest of the ride was downhill to the general store, where I passed on the hard earned thirst temptation for an ice cold sports drink. After a brief stop at the cricket oval we arrived back at the Tankerton Jetty with ten minutes to spare before the last ferry of the day.

In no way am I surprised that people had serious development plans for French Island: an International Airport, a causeway to Tooradin, a bauxite mill (aluminium smelter), factories and housing for over 3000 people, a toxic waste plant and (best of all) a nuclear power station. At the same time, I can also see the reasons for two-thirds of the island and its surrounding marine environment being granted National Park status. It’s so unpleasant and inaccessible that it keeps people away, thereby allowing for the preservation of its uniqueness.

This is just another shot taken from the Gloucester River Falls area on the Gloucester River in the Gloucester Tops section of Barrington Tops National park.

This photo shows just one of the many numerous smaller falls along this section of the river.

I’ve just been to Borneo and the land of sweaty and insect-infested jungle, rare and unusual monkeys such as the Probiscus or orang-utan and even (previously) cannibalistic tribal groups.

Mother and baby orang-utan, Semenggok Rehabilitation Centre

I’m in the process of updating photos to my website on this amazing region in East Malaysia. My favourite so far is this one of a female orang-utan with her baby. The baby was quite nervous about the watching crowd and shrank into its mothers hairy armpits but the mother drank milk and ate fruit without batting an eyelid.

At the rehabilitation centre the animals are fed twice a day because the forest simply can not sustain the numbers there. Some travellers felt the centre was little more than a glorified zoo because while the animals were free to come and go as they pleased they had also become dependent on the food provided. My feeling was at least they were safe from poachers and deforestation by staying near the centre. And the guaranteed opportunity of seeing a semi-wild orang-utan was too great a chance to pass up.

I’ll be uploading more images of Borneo over the coming weeks to this page.

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Feel free to email Jo at admin@visitedplanet.com with your comments/thoughts/photo aspirations.  See and learn more at www.visitedplanet.com

I decided to head out for a morning shoot last weekend before going snowboarding. It turned out to be a ripper morning. I spend about half an hour following these Bull Elk along a frozen inlet within the Vermillion Lakes area of Banff National Park. I actually felt fairly comfortable being so close to the Elk. That was until one of them decided to bloody ice skate straight toward me. It was entertaining to see, but once he made it over the other side I had a feeling I had overstayed my welcome. So off to the ski hill I went where I was blessed with waist deep powder. A perfect morning