Travel Around Planet

Archive for September, 2010

Camping In Inner Mongolia

In the summer it is a scalding expanse of desert in the spring verdant grassland; but in the winter Inner Mongolia is a white kingdom few travelers beyong the occasional Mongol nomad brave to enter.

Indeed the traditionally nomadic lifestyle of the native Mongolian reflects the regions unforgiving climate. To quote the usually intrepid Lonely Planet guidebook chapter on Inner Mongolia “from December to March forget it!”

Occupying 12 of Chinas landmass in a majestic arching slope of over one million kilometers Inner Mongolia borders 8 other Chinese provinces in addition to the colossal countries of Mongolia and Russia to the north.

Today Mongolians make up only 17 of the provincial population. And while leatherskinned warriors on armored horseback may no longer pose a threat to the Chinese the mainland is now seeing a second Mongolian invasion this time in the form of sand.

The vast Gobi Desert which already consumes Inner Mongolias northwestern border is dramatically expanding at a rate of 10000 square kilometers per year and is calculated to turn 40 of the Peoples Republic into a veritable wasteland evinced by the apocalyptic sandstorms from the north that assault Beijing during the summer months

But vacationers to Inner Mongolia Nei Menggu in Putonghua need not concern themselves with such things as environmental catastrophes for in winter the gold sands of the Gobi slowly give way to white as frost slowly veils first the north and then the entire province.

Arriving in the Inner Mongolian capital of Hohhot pronounced Ho huh ha ta one finds that it truly is a “Blue City” as its Mongolian name implies but with a comparatively modern ambiance nonetheless.

The urban skyline falls behind the horizon as our journey via steam train progresses across the frozen plateau to the more rustic northeast. Following electrical lines from village to village the trains icetrimmed windows reveal an otherwise barren countryside dotted with red brick homes stacked with chimneys continuously exhaling their coal smoke.

This is the pastoral life of Mongolian miners farmers and shepherds hibernating for the winter nary a sole outside save the occasional caravan of camels led through the snowy waste by men as furry and indistinguishable as their charge.

The flatlands give way to hills of white birch and sinuous rivers of blue ice. Veering north the train then burrows into the Greater Khingan mountain range which forms a natural provincial border separating Inner Mongolia from the plains of Manchuria to the east.

Passing frozen Hulan Hu Chinas fifth largest lake and the Hulunbuir grasslands now blanketed in snow it comes as a pleasant shock to discover that the busiest land port of entry in the mainland is located here in the far reaches of Inner Mongolia. The Manzhouli crossroads situated directly on the borders of China Mongolia and Russia and the TransSiberian Railway is a fascinating fusion of northeastern cultures.

Shops hotels and restaurants are of distinct Russian personality and advertise in both Chinese and Russian script while the streets teem with rugged importexporters and big blonde Russian tourists extravagantly attired in plush fur coats pelt scarves and omnipresent ushanka hats.

But the final and most remote destination comes during the return trip south through tundra as vast as the sky above the snowscape spotted with resilient brush windswept fences and adobe villages of iceglazed rooftops untilXanadu Kublai Khans summer palace.

While the name Xanadu invokes an air of mystery to those who have never been there is in fact no “snowwhite mares with sacred milk rich and beautiful meadows” as observed by Marco Polo nor Samuel Taylor Coleridges oftcited “stately pleasure dome.”

Xanadu otherwise known as Yuanshangdu today is less an eternal world than a set of dilapidated stone walls and towers buried in centuries of dirt and weeds leaving the fantasies of a romantic Mongolian city to be written by the opiumaddled. Chinas tourism bureau has all but deserted the ancient area for literally greener pastures and according to locals it is a rare day when even one visitor can be found walking the venerable grounds during the winter months.

But the sheer desolation of Xanadu is exactly its attraction. Walking among 11thcentury ruins mantled in dazzling whiteness one is left completely alone to enjoy an untouched history and uncorrupted serenity that is otherwise not found in todays China.

In the immortal words of disco queen Olivia Newton John “Now we are in Xanadu!”

Tom Carter a freelance writer and photographer from San Francisco has lived in P.R.China the past two and a half years. He is currently backpacking through all 32 Chinese provinces.

Getting there

Daily flights from Hong Kong to Hohhot connecting in Beijing via Air China Cathay Pacific and Dragon Air 6 hours 7000 HKD round trip.

Daily trains from Hong Kong to Beijing 24 hours 800 HKD. From Beijing to Hohhot 12 hours 300 HKD

To reach the bordertown of Manzhouli daily trains from Hohhot to Hailaer approx 40 hours 270 HKD for a sleeper. From Halaer to Manzhouli via shuttle bus or express train 3 hours.

There are no official tours or direct routes to Xanadu. From Hohhot or Hailaer get off at Sangandali and then take a shuttle bus to Zhenglanqi simply called Lanqi by the locals. From Lanqi a private taxi can be retained for approx. 100 HKD for a round trip to Yuanshangdu 30 minutes away.

About the writer:  China photographer Tom Carter is the author of ‘CHINA: Portrait of a People’ a definitive 600page book of photography coming soon from Hong Kong publisher Blacksmith Books.

Florida Yacht Charter Top Five Marinas To Dock Your Yacht

Todays upscale marinas are offering more than just dockage they are now providing a full range of amenities that enhance the yachting experience. With new acquisitions multimillion dollar renovations and some of the finest amenities most upscale marinas are making the Florida Yacht Charter into a grand experience.

Since Labor Day has passed the majority of luxury vessels will be migrating south to the Florida Region. For those booking a Florida Yacht Charter some of the ports of call are just as important as the boat itself. Listed below are the top five marinas in the state that cater to the most elite ships on the water.

Rybovich Marina Palm Beach FL

The Rybovich name has been a cornerstone in the South Florida luxury sport fishing industry since the 1940s. The name has been synonymous with some of the sports most innovative vessel construction and design. The facility located in Palm Beach has been a pillar in the Palm Beach Riviera Beach community for decades.

The facility has recently completed a 100 million dollar renovation that built a stateoftheart megayacht service facility and marina. The marina will boast a 600 Ton Marine Travelift making it the only one of its kind on this side of the hemisphere. The lift has the capability of hauling vessels up to 240 feet in length. It is largest transient dock in Florida with highspeed fuel. The marina also has a waterfront restaurant retail shops and available commercial office space for lease.

The marina features floating concrete docks up to 230 feet with dockage for vessels up to 250 feet. The facility is open 7 days a week and is secured by a staff 24 hours a day. There are concierge laundry restroom and shower facilities on site as well as trade shops which feature the latest technology. This marina is the ideal location for travelers captains and crewmembers to relax.

Sunrise Harbor Ft. Lauderdale FL

Westrec is one of the largest owner operators of marinas in the U.S. It has an impeccable proven track record when it comes to efficient marina management and Sunrise Harbor in Fort Lauderdale is no exception. Sunrise Harbor offers the mega yacht community a stateoftheart marina with amenities services and leisure activities for the entire family. This upscale marina includes several areas for families to kick back and relax poolside. The health center includes top of the line fitness equipment with sauna and therapeutic massage facilities.

Once you dock at this marina you are within steps of Fort Lauderdale beach first class resorts luxury shopping on Las Olas or the Galleria Mall and fine dinning at five star restaurants such as Seasons 52 Capital Grille and the Blue Martini. This marina has everything youll need on land or sea to enjoy your Florida Yacht Charter vacation.

The Galleon Resort Marina Key West FL

The Galleon Marina is one of the finest places in the keys to dock. The resort and marina offer exclusive amenities for their guests including a pool private beach sauna and exercise room. This marina is also located in one of the most highly protected harbors in the Keys. The Galleon Marina is breakwater shielded and provides specially engineered docks for maximum protection.

This facility is proud to host some prestigious races such as the World Championship Power Boat Races the Clearwater to Key West Yacht Race and Audi/Yachting Race Week. For those who want to be in attendance for the action may charter and book to dock during one of the race weeks or any other festivities that Key West has to offer.

Old Port Cove Marina Yacht Club Palm Beach FL

Old Port Cove Marina is one of the major marinas in Palm Beach Florida. The Marina recently went under major renovations to its facility that allow it to accommodate vessels from as small as 30feet to megayachts up to 190 feet in length. The marina is reopening this Fall for dockage. The renovation plans for the marina include the replacement of all current docks piers and pilings with beautiful new stateoftheart hard wood decked floating docks. The marina features new power pedestals with electric cable phone WIFI and the convenience of in slip pumpout. It is located just off Coast Guard Channel north of the Palm Beach Inlet the marina is minutes from some of the finest fishing and cruising grounds in Florida and is an excellent “jumpingoff” spot to the Bahamas.

In addition to the phenomenal dockage facilities the Old Port Cove Yacht Club is ideal for guests to dine and be entertained. This five star establishment has first class service that hosts formal evenings on a regular basis.

The Harborage Yacht Club Marina Stuart FL

This marina is located in one of Floridas most serene locations. There are over 150 yacht slips available. Complimentary valet service is provided for guests from their slip to the yacht club or spa. This stunning facility combines beauty and elegance with necessity and security. Located in Floridas Sailfish Capital the Harborage provides a complete suite of luxury amenities that cater to the most discerning yachtsmen.

Noted as one of the gems along the Treasure Coast this marina attributes to the ultimate Luxury Yacht Charter experience. For those looking to couple luxury with the adventure of Floridas lively waters. The Harborage is an optimum retreat from life on the water.

About the writer:  eYachtCharter.com is a full service Luxury Yacht Charter firm with travel and yachting news resources and a comprehensive directory of sail and motor yachts located in exotic destinations worldwide.

Skiing In Banff: A Guide For British Tourists

Mount Norquay Sunshine Village and Lake Louise make up the three ski areas of Banff. All three resorts are unique in their own way with Mount Norquay being the closest to town a quick 15 minute drive from downtown.

Mount Norquay is particularly popular with ski racers and locals who like steep fall line skiing; this is what the resort is really all about. Although the ski area is relatively quiet with a spacious and charming lodge the skiing is not really suited to beginner and novice skiers. Unless you are a competent parallel skier the trails at Norquay will seem daunting. My advice as a former ski instructor in the area would be to recommend this resort to “seasoned’ skiers” who like the challenge of steeps bumps and hard pack conditions.

Sunshine Village is the next resort closest to town and can be found by driving West on Highway 1 towards Lake Louise. The drive takes approximately 30 minutes but can take longer on stormy days. Once you arrive at the car park you must ride the gondola to reach the ski area. This takes about twenty two minutes normally. Sometimes on very cold days Often in December and January the gondola will not run first thing probably for safety reasons. There are also occasions when windy conditions affect the time duration of the gondola ride.

he skiing conditions at Sunshine Village are generally excellent from early December and often earlier until late May. This is primarily due to its location and relatively high altitude which is comparable to high elevation European resorts.

Most British tourists who visit Sunshine Village fall in love with the scenery light snow and skiing. The resort is of average size compared to European and US resorts and the trails are suitable for all levels except experts. If you are a “die hard” skier who has skied some of the serious resorts of the world you may find Sunshine unimpressive. This is because the trails are relatively short and not particularly steep. Delirium Dive is the one exception but this area is often closed for much of the season for safety reasons.

If you are a beginner skier you may find the learning area small and often crowded on weekends and holidays. However once you graduate away from this area you will find many enjoyable “green trails” to keep you happy.

For Intermediate skiers who make parallel turns or semi parallel turns Sunshine Village is a perfect place to ski. The vast majority of trails here are ideally suited for this level of skier who will love the wide open slopes and great conditions.

Sunshine Village is a truly beautiful resort to see and ski at. Most people who come here have a positive skiing experience and except for the cold weather December and January particularly it is hard to fault Sunshine.

The last area that makes up the ski areas of Banff is Lake Louise. Lake Louise is particularly good for intermediate to advanced skiers. Although the ski area is relatively big most of the trails are not particularly suited for beginner and novice skiers. The initial learning area however is very good with the exception of the Tbar lift which most beginners and novices dislike. However once this area is mastered usually between one and three days the next step is relatively large.

Although there are many “green trails” on the front side and backside of the mountain most of them are not particularly easy. What compounds this problem is that the front side is often hard packed and scraped due to the artificial snow that is made here. The backside does not suffer with this problem however the only trail down the mountain is a narrow path which is often intimidating for novice skiers.

For most intermediate skiers Lake Louise is normally a wonderful experience with an abundance of long trails. In my opinion the better skiing is to be found on the backside particularly the Larch Area. Advanced skiers will also love the backside particularly on a “powder day”.

To sum up my analysis of the three areas and where one should ski when visiting Banff this is my recommendation.

Mount Norquay

Mount Norquay is ideally suited to competent parallel skiers and not beginner or novices.

Lake Louise

If you are a first time skier Lake Louise has the best learning area of all three mountains. Except for the Tbar lift most beginner and early novice skiers make good progress here. Lake Louise is not so good for the same skiers after two days of learning as the next step up the mountain is quite challenging for most. Many of the Lake Louise “green trails” are steep narrow or hard pack. The front side of the mountain especially lower down nearer the bottom is often icy and hard packed due to man made snow. The backside of the mountain is usually much better for most levels of skier.

Sunshine Village

Sunshine Village is ideal for most skiers except experts. The resort has a small beginner area that gets busy on weekends and holidays. The scenery and snow at Sunshine Village are breathtaking and except for the early season December and January when it can be very cold Sunshine skiing is hard to fault.

If you are a competent parallel skier I would suggest you try all three resorts and decide for yourself which is your favourite. Happy skiing this winter.

About the writer:  I am a professional ski teacher and graduate of Recreation Management. For twenty three years I have been involved with skiing in one form or another. At present I live in Banff Alberta where I am activley involved with my websites www.stuffuknow.com an informational site about Calgary and the Rockies and www.theskicoach.com a site about a new innovative ski improvement product.