Florida

One place to get your heart racing is on some of the world’s most impressive rollercoasters and rides, and there is no better place to find such rides than Florida. Not only is Florida home to the magical kingdom of Disneyworld, with features Tomorrowland, the Indy Speedway and Splash Mountain, it’s also home of Universal Studios and the 335-acre Busch Gardens. Busch Gardens has several stomach-wrenching rides, such as the monster inverted steel rollercoaster Montu, and the fastest wooden double rollercoaster in the world, Gwazi. There are several water rides in the park too, including the Congo River Rapids, Stanley Falls, and the Tanganyiki Tidal Wave. After Busch Gardens you can head to the newest addition to Universal Studios, the Islands of Adventure. Described as the most high-tech theme park in the world, the Islands of Adventure gives you the chance to defy gravity and to experience the world’s first inverted dual rollercoaster.

Bolivia

A holiday in Bolivia may sound harmless, and in most cases it is, that is unless you plan to take your hire car from the Bolivian capital of La Paz to the town of Coroico via The Road of Death. This 38-mile stretch is the most dangerous road in the world, and has held that title since 1995. The road follows the equatorial forest zone and is comprised of just one lane that rarelly exceeds 3.5 metres in width. The road is especially treacherous on rainy days. Even though it is paved, after some rain the road just becomes a muddy mess. The route is seldom travelled by vehicle these days. It’s best experienced by foot or cycle.

Kenya

Kenya is home to a variety of animals, from the cute and cuddly to those that will cause you to ponder your position on the food chain. Kenya is a beautiful country, considered by many to be the ‘Jewel of East Africa’. If you visit, you’ll see why. The country is awash with some of the most outstanding beaches that Africa has to offer. Pure white sands and coral reefs are common. It’s aso home to over 50 reserves and parks. From desert and mountains to forests and marine parks, each has a selection of safaris to choose from. It’s not only Kenya’s wildlife that’s diverse; its population consists of over 40 different tribes, each with it’s own unique lifestyle. If its adventure you’re after, then Kenya is a destination worth considering.

Nepal

Asia is home to the Himalayas and with that the world’s highest peak, Mount Everest. The peak offers extreme mountain climbing opportunities as well as intense ski slopes. However, at 8,848 metres high, you’ll have to be well prepared and be willing to use your survival skills. The mother of all mountains has been both kind and treacherous throughout the years. If you’re looking to conquer the summit, make sure you’re up for the challenge by properly preparing yourself with the correct training and equipment.

Brazil

From large mountains to one of the longest rivers in the world, the Amazon has its fair share of perils, as well as astonishing beauty that attracts adventurers from around the globe. At just over 4,000 miles in length, the Amazon River is the fastest flowing river in the world, accounting for around one fifth of the planet’s total river flow. For those looking to enjoy the wildlife, the river, along with the Amazon rainforest, is home to more than a third of the world’s species. Just watch out for the alligators. Plenty of jungle adventure tour companies operate out of Manaus, the main city in the Amazon with a surprisingly large population of 2 million people.

Photos courtesy of  Raphael Goetter, Szymon Kochanski, frederic.salein,  Se7en Summits, and Juan Ferr Alvarez (in that order) on Flickr.

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ExWeb reported today that a Russian expedition is stuck at the Kangchenjunga base camp, because their gear has gone missing. The team of nine climbers have been stuck at base camp with only the gear that the brought themselves. The porters were not only carrying climbing gear, but also tents and warm sleeping bags, among other items. According to Lena Laletina from Russian Climb, because food is running out and the team needs warmer clothing, the situation is becoming critical.

The disappearance of the equipment is more than mildly suspicious. The situation is not clear, but, the Adventure Blog reported, “the porters they hired misplaced the gear while en route, and turned back at some point, leaving the team stranded without their supplies.”  Call me paranoid, but is it not more than a little bit difficult to misplace nine peoples’ giant bags of gear on a trailside?

If you happen to run into a dozen or so bags of climbing gear (or the porters for that matter) on your way up Kangchenjunga, the Russians would greatly appreciate it if you would contact Lena at info@russianclimb.com.

The missing gear is not only a loss for the team, but for all serious climbers. Kangchenjunga, which is located on the border between Inda and Nepal, is the third highest mountain in the world. The Russians had planned to work with in tandem with two other teams to fix ropes and build three high camps on the mountain. Now, that project may be in jeopardy.

However dire the situation may sound, at least everyone is safe. The worst case scenario for the Russians is that they will not complete their climb, and will have to hike back down and call their insurance company.

And, of course, go looking for those porters.

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