Skeleton Fish
Skeleton Fish
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G LOOMIS SKELETON FISH BEANIE HAT, VERY COOL!!!! $18.00 |
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G LOOMIS Skeleton Fish CAMO Hat in OLIVE G Loomis rod $20.00 |
Namibia
Its natural beauty and unique outdoor attractions make Namibia one of the most eye-catching destinations in Africa. Since gaining independence from South Africa in 1990, the country has been transformed into a tourism hub, relying on the local travel industry for much of its business.
Eco-Tourism
If you happen to be a supporter of the “go green” philosophy, Namibia might just be the place for you. Eco-tourism is big in this part of the world as the locals focus on preserving their natural sanctuaries. So while touring the great eastern desert and plains, you can rest assured that your money is being put towards conservation funds. There are many lodges and reserves in the vicinity to accommodate eco-tourists who are eager to explore different geographical landscapes and climates.
Cape Namibia Route
The Cape Namibia route is recommended to anyone looking to traverse South Africa’s Cape region through to the Namibian capital, Windhoek. This exciting route was launched in 2007 and has attracted nature enthusiasts from all over the world. During the drive from Cape Town to Windhoek you will be spoilt with endless spectacular sights, throughout the rural countryside of the Northern Cape to the Southern region of Namibia.
Along the way you can set your eyes on the West Coast National Park, Cederberg mountains, Western Cape wine routes and Namaqualand flowers. The sights on the Namibian leg of the trip are just as captivating and include the likes of the Orange River and spotting rare Desert Horses. Iconic stop-offs are as follows:
- Ai-Ais Hot Springs
The Ai-Ais Hot Springs Spa at the southern end of the Fish River Canyon was recently renovated to offer visitors an even more enjoyable stay. Drop in after a hike along a nearby trail to unwind in the thermal baths and heated swimming pool – the ultimate form of relaxation.
- Lüderitz
This snug coastal town features a variety of hotels, guest houses and self catering lodges, while you also have the option of taking a day trip in and around the town. If you are feeling adventurous, you might want to embark on a guided tour of the eerie Kolmanskop Ghost Town. This former diamond town now stands practically empty and seems to be forever struggling with the sand dunes of the Namib Desert.
- Giant’s Playground
Here you will encounter interesting rock formations that date back millions of years. It took on this name because it looks as though the rocks have been arranged on top of one another by some larger-than-life force. The maze site which is made up of endless boulders will keep you entertained for hours.
- Walvis Bay
This famous whale-watching town lies 30km south of Swakopmund and boasts an enormous natural lagoon with an overwhelming seabird population of 120’000. Among these are numerous pelicans and flamingos that are joined in summer by 200’000 migratory birds.
Outdoor Oasis
If you enjoy visually-striking landscapes then Namibia is the ideal getaway spot for you. Each piece of ground you cover will bring new and unusual delights, including the rugged Fish River Canyon, chilling Skeleton Coast, Namib Rand Nature Reserve, soaring sand dunes of Sossusvlei, and wetlands of the Caprivi Strip.
Get in touch with one of the local guides if you wish to explore the lagoon in the vicinity of Walvis Bay, which is ideal for bird-watching or kayaking. If you enjoy trekking as a hobby, look no further than the variety of fascinating trails on offer. Passionate hikers can enjoy the 80 km trail through the Fish River gorge, one of the most highly-regarded trails in southern Africa. You can even explore the concept of a “walking safari” in the northern Damaraland district, which offers breathtaking views of the wilderness.
If you want to move on from the tranquil to the more adventurous, Namibia caters to adrenaline junkies too. Swakopmund on the West coast is the adventure capital of the country, offering visitors endless activities such as sky diving, quad biking, horse riding, sand boarding, 4x4ing, and many more. Reputable tour companies located across Namibia can help set up a custom tour to suit your tastes.
About the Author
Monika Moser writes for Around About Cars a leading Cape Town Car Hire company.
Extreme Climbing Laos
Off the Beaten Path – Rock Climbing in Laos
It is February 2002 and I have come to Laos as a member of a German-American expedition to put up new rock-climbing routes. We are doing this mainly to encourage rock-climbers to come to the country, so that they will have a fabulous time whilst spending the cash that this lovely country so desperately needs.
I am apprehensive about being back in ‘Lane Xang’, the ‘kingdom of a million elephants and a white parasol’. My first trip here in 1996, reconnoitering Lao mountains for rock climbing potential, was somewhat less than a huge success. At that time the country was not yet fully open for tourism and was still in the process of shrugging off its fearful past. In Vang Vieng, where I am now, we saw more AK-47s than umbrellas. Armed men put paid, at gun-point, to one of our climbing trips. Whether they were terrorists or freedom fighters depends, of course, on your politics.
I made one or two tentative attempts to try to find out who they were and what the grenade launchers were in aid of, but to no avail. During another trip we found a human skeleton, right where we intended to start climbing. We debated what we should do. Finally we tried to ignore the skeleton and climb, but it didn’t feel at all right: we accepted defeat and returned to Germany. On the plane home the far-below clouds became a mirror for my feelings: I couldn’t resign myself to never again experiencing the beauty and tranquillity of Laos and the kindness of her people – I vowed to return.
Hopefully we’ll have better luck in putting up new climbing routes this time. The job consists of attaching a series of bolts to the rock-face, one every two or three metres. Alert and properly-equipped climbers who attach their ropes to these bolts can ascend in perfect safety as, when they fall off, their descent will be arrested by the attachment of their rope to the bolts.
When we climb a route for the first time there are no bolts to secure the rope to, so we must attach the rope instead to small metal nuts which we wedge into cracks and to loops of rope which we sling around rock spikes. It is a scary business, as the nuts and rope-slings can and sometimes do rip loose when a climber falls from too great a height.
We spent the last few days thrashing through the jungles around the little town of Vang Vieng, looking for steep, clean rock-faces. Eventually we found a huge cave called Tham Nam Them, whose stunning 50 metre-high walls are perfect for hard routes. Just getting to the rock-face was an adventure. After a 20 minute off-road ride in a truck we waded through a big river to reach a jungle trail, which led to the entrance of the cave. The climb was on the other side of the 300 metre-long cave, in which there is a chest-deep river. We carried everything above our heads, while watching out for snakes; we saw lots of them, including some 15-foot-long king cobras.
My surgeon’s salary back in Germany enables me to live life in the fast lane, climbing, skiing and partying as much as I want. Until a few years ago this was enough for me, but more recently the pleasures of self-gratification have paled and, to find meaning in my life, I now like to take five months a year off to serve as a volunteer at a hospital near Vang Vieng. During the week I work hard at the hospital, and on the weekends I work even harder to get the Vang Vieng climbing scene started.
Right now, halfway up a new route, this work seems to be too much for me. My muscles scream in protest. I scream in protest, at what I can tell is about to happen. I have been hanging on by two fingertips to a tiny ledge for too long, trying to throw a sling around a rock spike. Lactic acid overcomes my muscles, my fingers uncurl and gravity takes control. Falling off rockfaces is something I’m used to and which I’m usually unconcerned about. But today is different, as I am setting a new route. I have not managed to attach the rope to a bolt as there are none in place yet. Instead I have secured myself by wedging an 8-millimetre chunk of iron into a small downwards-tapering crack. I have already fallen off at this spot three times and on all occassions the small metal wedge has held my fall, but it is a scary experience to fall off onto such flimsy safety equipment, as I know that if the metal wedge is ripped from the rockface by the force of my fall, then I will hit the ground – at speed. A strangled whimper comes from my mouth. Two seconds later I am dangling at the end of the rope, with nothing wounded but my ego.
I am desperate to give up, but can’t. I know it’s only my pride, but my wife Isa is with me and last night I bet her a month’s washing-up duty that I could do it. She starts to sound panicked. She tells me to forget my silly one-sided bet, that when we get back to Germany she will be on permanent washing-up duty, if I will only agree to come down.
Eventually I do what she says: what we are doing is quite dangerous enough without making it more so by succumbing to silly testosterone displays. Today has scared me witless, bashing my slightly-superannuated bones against the spikey, almost untouched and so loose limestone, whole chunks of which often come off in my hand, sending me on not-so-leisurely and unplanned trips southwards.
I have got as used to falling off when a handhold gives way as it is possible. What I will never get used to is a huge big lump of limestone falling off from under my feet. It‘s a uniquely scary feeling to be following a bike-sized boulder down a rock-face. It feels as though both you and the boulder are destined to continue the plunge to its conclusion and it is the hugest of reliefs when you feel the rope tighten around your waste and arrest your descent. It’s even more of a relief to then look down and see that your wife has not been squashed flat.
Many people have asked me why I do something so dangerous. Other than the opportunity to get into the outdoors with a good group of friends and undertake a physically and mentally challenging sport, I have a theory. I know that, while climbing, I totally forget about everything except the problem at hand. This is a common thread in adventure sports: by intense concentration and involvement in the present moment you achieve a release from everyday problems and worries. I personally prefer the longer release afforded by climbing to the much briefer moment which for example sky-divers gain. I regularly spend hours in this state of self-forgetfulness through intense concentration. Maybe the sky-divers’ and base-jumpers’ brains are wired differently from mine. Perhaps their brains need adrenaline in an intense, short burst, while I prefer my terror to be a lengthy and drawn-out experience. The way I see it, why should I be content with only being scared witless for a few moments when I can choose to be petrified for most of the day? I suppose I ought to point out to those of you who were, until you started reading this article, considering climbing in Laos and are now thinking that you’d rather climb into Parkhurst jail or maybe don a straight-jacket and then free-climb London’s Post Office tower blindfolded, that the rock-faces there are now as safe as anywhere, thanks to the assortment of intellectually-challenged adrenaline-junkies who have done the scary stuff for you already.
You can now climb in Laos without wading chest-deep across snake-infested rivers, and you won’t get hurt unless you behave foolishly. There are about 100 bolted routes of all grades, including some spectacular multi-pitch routes. I hope you will come and enjoy the climbing, not just so that the Laos economy can benefit from your spending power, but because both novice and experienced climbers will love the climbing here, in SE Asia’s most unspoiled country, peopled by the friendliest people it’s ever been my privilege to get to know.
If visiting Thailand, why not visit one of the country’s currently best three beach destinations:
Koh Lao Liang: http://www.andamanadventures.com/kohlaoliang.shtml
Ao Nang: http://www.andamanadventures.com/ao_nang.shtml
Railay/Tonsai: http://www.andamanadventures.com/railay-tonsai.shtml
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About the Author
The author runs Andaman Sky Co., Ltd, specialising in climbing and diving trips to Thailand’s best beach destinations.
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G LOOMIS SKELETON FISH BEANIE HAT, VERY COOL!!!! $18.00 |
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G LOOMIS Skeleton Fish CAMO Hat in OLIVE G Loomis rod $20.00 |
