Huacachina

 Only 5 km from Ica lies the desert oasis of Huacachina. It is a small lake with medicinal water, lying in the middle of a spectacular sand desert which make You think you are in the Sahara.

Beautiful Bishop’s Castle - Medieval Castle in Cowboy Country

Colorado, San Isabel National Forest – the heart of what many call Cowboy Country. Yet stray of the beaten path and you come across Bishop castle – a 160-foot high structure that weighs in at an estimated 50 thousand tons. Incredibly, it is the work of a single man – Jim Bishop. Strangely though, if you are a tourist to the state, you will not find a mention of Bishop Castle on any official brochure.

That’s a shame because the place is magnificent. You might be forgiven that for believing that you had stumbled upon the home of the Colorado branch of the Addams family or perhaps a set mock up for a Tolkien inspired movie. With the wrought iron, dragon’s head and formidable masonry it even has the look of a post apocalyptic stronghold for survivors. Yet it is a family home.

The castle, although a home, is open to the public all the year round. All you have to do to visit it to sign a guest book, releasing Mr Bishop from any liability if you plummet one hundred and sixty feet to the ground or something falls on your head from a similar height. There is no insurance at the castle – as it is effectively a working construction site. Like many other castles of history, this one you enter at your own peril.

However, you won’t be cast in to the dungeon or hang, drawn and quartered at the baronic whim of Jim Bishop. A 90 minute drive away from Colorado Springs, the castle is still in the process of construction and donations are most welcome. It is certainly an ambitious project and must have cost a great deal. It is made of local stone which Bishop quarried from the adjoining national forest land (with permission).

The castle is full of eye catching features. The extensive wrought iron suspension bridges and walkways that grip its towers give it an air of eccentricity and creeping functionality, of ideas tossed back and forth and of a history that belies the fact that construction only started in the last year of the 1960s.

Perhaps the most noted feature is the dragon’s head which sits atop the castle. You can imagine a medieval metal worker hammering the sheets of iron in to this shape but it is in fact made from recycled hospital meal trays. This wonderful feature has utility though – the smoke from the fireplace comes out of the dragon’s nostrils.

The owner, Jim Bishop, had not envisioned this structure from the get go, however. At the tender age of fifteen he bought the land – not quite three acres – with the idea that he would build a family cabin. Over forty years later the cabin has grown somewhat – to the more than occasional chagrin of the local authorities.

However, it is easy to imagine the glee that many visitors (if not the Bishop family themselves) feel when they catch sight of the castle for the first time. It is like the adventure playground that should have been built in your neighborhood in your youth. To say that there is plenty of clamber space is one of life’s great understatements.

The interior is something else too. Stained glass gives the heart of the castle a warm glow. If a state displaced Dorothy was visiting she would surely know that she wasn’t in Colorado anymore. The light which cascades in to the castle through its enormous windows, many of which are stained, bathes it in the kind of light you might associate more with cathedrals than with castles.

Mr Bishop is well known in the nearby town of Pueblo as, to put it mildly, something of an anti-government eccentric. Yet while some construct bunkers (which frankly shows a lack of imagination), Jim Bishop has built a castle. Although his father helped for the first year or so of the project, since then it has been his hands alone which have shaped the place.

Zoning laws have meant that Mr Bishop and the State of Colorado have not always seen eye to eye. This is the major reason that the castle does not feature in any travel brochures for the area – and the unease between man and government can be seen on many displays at the castle.

 

Countries to Look for Adventure Travel in 2021

Adventure travel is growing in popularity and many more travelers are planning to take trips that incorporate activities that are a little more on the daring side. For those of you who love to break a good sweat when you’re on the road, here’s a look at some of the best countries for an adventure!

1. Thailand

Thailand and adventure are two sides of the same coin. The best adventure tours in Thailand are many, you can enjoy snorkeling in Bali, zip-lining through the jungles in Koh Samui or sailing in a gondola down the Mekong River. Make your way to Pattaya for some kite surfing, scuba diving and skydiving.

Adventure activities: Water Sports, Boating, Scuba Diving, Zip-lining, Kiteboarding, Rock Climbing

2. Australia

Australia is just a paradise for adventure seekers, it is a delight for adventure questers, giving an amazing adventure opportunity to the adventure enthusiasts. Australia can’t help but lure travelers to the endless outdoor activities, both on land and at sea.

Adventure activities: White Water Rafting, Shark Diving, Bungee Jumping, Hang Gliding, Climbing And Abseiling, Adventure Caving, Blue Mountains Trekking, Cliff Camping, Kite Surfing, Skydiving, Canoeing, Mountain Biking, Zorbing, Scuba Diving, Camel Riding

3. India

Due to a diverse topography, adventure tours in India are of different types. Due to its massive size, India is blessed with a diverse landscape. Wildlife sanctuaries in India beautifully preserve and portray the rich biodiversity of the nation. Trekking enthusiasts are sure to find immense pleasure while planning for trekking in India. Bike tours in India let your wilder side free and helps you wander on the roads like never before.

Adventure activities: Trekking, Motor Bike Expeditions, River Rafting, Hot Air Ballooning, Scuba Diving, Wildlife Safari, Camping, Paragliding, Rock Climbing, Kayaking

4. New Zealand

Adventure sports in New Zealand is famous all over the world for providing one of the most thrilling and satisfying experiences. Bungy, skydiving, caving, canyoning… New Zealand has every adventure activity and extreme sport you can think of – and some you’ve never even heard of! All set to a backdrop of mind-blowing landscapes.

Adventure activities: Jet Boating, Rafting, Heli Skiing, Canyoning, Off roading, Caving, Zip Lining, Zorbing, Bungy Jumping, Skydiving, Kayaking, Mountain Biking, Horseback Riding, Hiking, Sailing, Cycling, Milford Sound Experience, Whale Watching, Glacier Flights

5. Spain

When people say Spain, the first things that comes to mind is Tapas. Besides the mouthwatering cuisine, fascinating culture, and incredible architecture, Spain is also a mecca for adventurers and lovers of extreme sports. Spain is home to a vast and diverse landscape where things like rock climbing, canyoning, trekking, and cycling are readily available for those who seek it.

Adventure activities: Air sports, Bungee jumping, Canyoning, Coasteering, Diving, Dog Sledding, Freeride skiing, Kitesurfing

6. Costa Rica

A tour of Costa Rica offers a breathtaking array of sights and adventures with lush rainforests, pristine beaches, and a plethora of wildlife. Your Costa Rica vacation might include adventures like whitewater rafting, a rainforest canopy tour, relaxing at the beach, or exploring the rainforest from one of Costa Rica’s ecolodges.

Adventure activities: Whitewater Rafting, Hiking & Trekking, Zip Lining – Canopy Climbing, Snorkeling, Sea Kayaking, Rainforest Wildlife Viewing & Adventures

7. Germany

For first-timers, a trip to Germany may be all about the beer, bratwurst, and lederhosen in Munich. But for travelers who prefer a bit more adrenaline beyond food, drinks, and sightseeing, the country has much more to offer. Go skiing in the Bavarian Alps in the southeastern part of the country or settle in for water sports and a wellness routine on the rugged islands of the Baltic and North Sea.

Adventure activities: Bungee Jumping, Gliding, Hang gliding, Helicopter tours, Hot Air Ballooning, Indoor skydiving, Microlight flying, Paragliding

8. Greece

Experience the most unique outdoor and adventure holidays in Greece through your favorite activity: hiking, cycling, sea kayaking, sailing, rafting etc. Dive into the turquoise waters of Corfu. Kayak around the white rocks of Milos. Climb to the top of Mount Zeus, and peek inside the god’s hidden cave.

Adventure activities: Sailing, Surf, Air Activities, Hiking, Scuba Diving, Rafting, Sea Kayaking, Rock Climbing, Skiing

9. Italy

Italy is surprisingly filled with many hidden gems perfect for those that enjoy adventure. The Italian Alps are an adventure paradise in the Summer. The ski slopes become bike routes and hiking trails where you can enjoy nature. Climb active volcanoes in Sicily. Experience being a gladiator in Rome.

Adventure activities: Skiing, Snowboarding, Mountain biking, Sailing, Hiking, Windsurfing, Paragliding, Rafting, Kitesurfing

10. Brazil

Brazil tempts travellers with myriad adventures, from exploring epic kite-surfing conditions along the curvy Atlantic coastline to tackling trails, paddling tributaries and clambering up towering trees in the sweaty embrace of the Amazon – a wilderness so enormous it still contains lost cities and tribes that have no contact with the outside world.

Adventure activities: Diving, Trekking, Cycling, Mountain Biking, Paddling, Surfing, Kitesurfing

 

Taichung - A Village Full of Color

It is hard to believe that one person can change the fate of an entire village. 86-year-old war veteran Huang Yung-fu did just that. 

Huang lives in a village in Taiwan that has been suffering from the same problems as most villages in recent years: abandonment and house demolition. 

However today none of these problems are not visible in the settlement thanks to Huang's colorful paintings. 

The walls in almost every building in the village and the streets are covered with simple paintings by Huang depicting plants, animals, birds and TV personalities. 

Considering the fact that he started painting two years ago, his achievement is quite large and commendable. The settlement is now a tourist attraction in Taiwan and appears in local tourist guides as a "place worth visiting".

 

Do You Know About This Floating Cinema in Thailand

Where do you go when you want to watch the latest flicks but are mile

away from the nearest town or cinema? You build a floating cinema of 

course, and that is what has happened here on the rocky shoreline of 

Yao Noi island, Thailand.

The Archipelago Cinema which literally floats on water. Thankfully the 

waters around the shoreline are very calm and smooth so you will be 

able to sit in peach watching your film. Don't let the dramatic scenery 

distract you...08 more images after the break...