Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea

Ever since the anthropologist Bronislaw Malinowski wrote about the courtship and marriage ritual of Trobriand Islanders in the 1920s, in books such as “The Sexual Life of Savages in North-Western Melanesia”, these islands have been visited by people interested in the unique cultural expressions of the islanders and the opportunity to see life relatively unchanged … Continue reading Trobriand Islands, Papua New Guinea

Tepui table-top mountains, Venezuela

There are 115 such tabletop mountains in the Gran Sabana region in the south-east of Venezuela where the highest concentration of tepuis are found. The precipitous mountains tower over the surrounding area by up to 1,000 meters. On top of the mountains grow various types of forests with a wide variety of orchids and bromeliads … Continue reading Tepui table-top mountains, Venezuela

Mt Wilhelm and Highlands, Papua New Guinea

Mount Wilhelm (4,509 metres, 14,793 ft) may be considered the highest mountain in Oceania (including Australia and New Zealand). A Seven Summits list sometimes include Mount Wilhelm. Mount Wilhelm received its name in 1888 when a German newspaper correspondent, Hugo Zöller, climbed the Finisterre Range, south-east of Madang, and named the Bismarck Range after the … Continue reading Mt Wilhelm and Highlands, Papua New Guinea

Climbing Fansipan – highest peak of Indochina

Last 2 weeks in a small company of friends we traveled across Vietnam. One of the main goals for our expedition was to reach the so-called Roof of Indochina, the highest peak of Vietnam and Indochina – Fansipan. We did not expect the climb to be so heavy. The trail was very steep and mostly … Continue reading Climbing Fansipan – highest peak of Indochina

Angkor temples – 7th wonder of the World

Temples of Angkor – Seventh Wonder of the World, Worlds largest historic site was built in 12th century by Khmer ruler  Jayavarman II.  It was hidden in jungle until 20th century, when it was re-discovered and renovation started. Unfortunately all renovation works were canceled during red Khmer period and today some pieces are re-assembled and left … Continue reading Angkor temples – 7th wonder of the World

Iquitos – city in middle of Amazon jungle

In 1750 Jesuit mission was established in very centre of Amazon jungle. Maybe it would never became a city, if in beginning of 20th century rubber boom did not start. That was time when rubber trees were cut in enormous quantities. Iquitos became one of major ports from where rubber wood started its 3600 km … Continue reading Iquitos – city in middle of Amazon jungle

Searching for savage in North jungle of Laos

Some informed people told us that a real and authentic primitiveness in Southeast Asia can be still found only in the north uplands of Laos. Arriving at Bangkok, we immediately looked for options to go further north. So we bought tickets to the first local flight, that would lead us north – to the provincial … Continue reading Searching for savage in North jungle of Laos

Kalimantan rain forest and orang utans

    Kalimantāna, agrāk saukta par Borneo, izrādās ir otra lielākā sala pasaulē. Tā slavena ar pirmatnējiem lietus mežiem, zelta raktuvēm un Indonēzijas galvenās eksporta preces – eļļas palmu plantācijām. Salu pārsvarā apdzīvo islāma ticīgie, tādēļ nevienā no pilsētiņām, ko apmeklējam pa ceļam, nav iespējams nopirkt alu. Bet mums taču pēc pāris dienām Līgo vakars!!! … Continue reading Kalimantan rain forest and orang utans

Hiking active Merapi volcano – MOVIE

    Merapi ir viens no aktīvākajiem pasaules vulkāniem. Mēs kāpām laikā, kad bija jau izsludināta priekšpēdējā bīstamības pakāpe pirms visa novada evakuācijas. Un novads te ir teju 1 miljons iedzīvotāju! Mēs izgājām 1:00 naktī Nākamajā rītā devāmies cauri džungļiem uz aktīvo vulkāna nogāzi. Te pēdējā izvirduma laikā lavas upe nonesa ciematu ar 10 000 … Continue reading Hiking active Merapi volcano – MOVIE

Canary Islands: Volcano Teide and La Gomera

    Kopš mūsu iepriekšējās vulkānu pieredzes – seškilometrīgā El Misti vulkāna Peru, bija pagājuši jau veseli seši mēneši. Sāka jau pietrūkt tuksnešaino un pēc sēra smirdošo kalnu .. tomēr, kad virs mākoņiem iznira Teides perfekti piramidālā smaile, jutāmies atkal savā elementā. Tenerifes sala, ko virs okeāna izcēlis Teides vulkāns, no putna lidojuma izskatījās pelēka … Continue reading Canary Islands: Volcano Teide and La Gomera

Coca leaves, Virgin Carmen and demons: how 5 Latvian visit remote village festival in Andean mountains

    Publicēts Čemodānā. Ir 4: 45 rītā. Mēs, pieci klejotāji no Latvijas, stāvam uz Andu kraujas 4500 m augstumā. Debesis ir pielietas zvaigznēm, kuras nekad nav redzētas mūsu puslodē. Pēc 10 minūtēm tur, tālu apakšā virs Amazones džungļiem leks saule. Pamale kļūst gaišāka un mēs beidzot ieraugām kosmisko skatu visā tā burvībā – zem mums stiepjas bieza mākoņu sega, … Continue reading Coca leaves, Virgin Carmen and demons: how 5 Latvian visit remote village festival in Andean mountains