Sail the Indian Ocean

DREAM ADVENTURE 28: Sail the Indian Ocean/Visit Madagascar

excerpt from National Geographic "25 Best New Trips for 2010"

Known for its 70-plus species of lemurs, Madagascar has the market cornered in trips focused on exotic leaping animals. But few travelers are aware of the country’s marine life. Enter Kumuka Worldwide, whose first-of-its-kind sailing trip plunges into the coral-filled Indian Ocean while hitting a cluster of little-visited islets just off the main island. Starting on Nosy Be, the largest of Madagascar’s outer islands, you’ll travel by dhow—the traditional sailboat used by African and Arabian traders for millennia—from one deserted beach to the next, camping on white sand by night, and kayaking, snorkeling, and fishing by day. The first port of call is Ambavatoby Bay, where your chances of seeing a whale shark (massive, spotted, and up to 60 feet long) are unusually high. Nosy Iranja is up next, a hawksbill turtle breeding reserve prime for sea kayaking. Then it’s on to Nosy Tanihely, whose soft corals, lobsters, and eels make for prize snorkeling sights. Of course, you wouldn’t want to leave without at least glimpsing a lemur; Nosy Komba, or Lemur Island, is one of the last stops. In the wake of the political unrest here last spring, animal poaching—specifically lemur poaching—has become a growing problem. But Kumuka is keeping close tabs on security (at press time, the U.S. State Department had lifted its travel warning) and knows tourism is one of the best ways to help protect wildlife. “By seeing lemurs, clients learn firsthand that they’re a more valuable commodity alive than dead,” says Kumuka’s Steve Murphy.

Outfitter: Kumuka Worldwide; kumuka.com
Price: $805 ($)
Length: 8 days
Departs: April–December

Lots to do in Florida

DREAM ADVENTURE 27: Visit Florida

There's a lot I want to do in Florida. South Beach would be an awesome town to explore with the big nightlife scene. And the beach. Perhaps swimming with the dolphins?

Then, of course, there is Disney World, Universal Studios, Sea World and all the other Disney affiliated parks: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks

Five day tickets to Disney World are about $70 a day for a 5 day pass to any park with the Park Hopper and Water Park offers included coming to about $250 for the 5 days.

Visit the Monkey Jungle!

"Where humans are caged and the monkeys run wild!  

Visitors today are immediately welcome by the Java monkey troop, now numbering in the 80’s. The Java monkeys forage through the Jungle eating natural foods. This experience with the monkeys continues to be a highlight of Monkey Jungle. The Java monkey is a skilled diver in the wild, collecting crabs and other shellfish along the riverbanks and mangrove swamps. Scheduled feedings at MONKEY JUNGLE show off these water skills as animals dive into a pool to receive fruit from the guides.

As part of the park’s continuing effort to promote the understanding of primates, MONKEY JUNGLE has given a new look introducing audiences to the lifestyle of the orangutan. Always unpredictable, the audience often witnesses impromptu acts by these lovable apes.

A total of 30 species of primates are represented at MONKEY JUNGLE including gibbons, guenons and spider monkeys. The Golden Lion Tamarin is native to the Brazilian jungle. Threatened with extinction, MONKEY JUNGLE proudly participates in an international effort to save the tiny creature."

Visit the Miami Zoo, with over 2,000 animals and more than 1,200 plants.

 

After all that city entertainment, I'd definitely want to visit the Everglades. The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee. Water leaving the lake in the wet season forms a slow-moving river 60 miles (97 km) wide and over 100 miles (160 km) long, flowing southward across a limestone shelf to Florida Bay at the southern end of the state. Writer Marjory Stoneman Douglas popularized the term "River of Grass" to describe the sawgrass marshes, part of a complex system of interdependent ecosystems that include cypress swamps, the estuarine mangrove forests of the Ten Thousand Islands, tropical hardwood hammocks, pine rockland, and the marine environment of Florida Bay.

 

How could one go to Florida without checking them out. Maybe not Bear Grylls style but kayaking would be AMAZING, hiking and of course I'd have to go visit the alligator farm!

If I've piqued your interest, check out the National Park Service website for the Everglades.

 From October to May in Key West and Miami, you can learn to kiteboard.Check it out for yourself at TheKiteHouse.com. I think if I added any pictures of kiteboarding in Florida it'd make all the other things look way less awesome in comparision.

Last but certainly not any less epic, CAVE DIVING! 

"Few people ever witness the strange sights of these underwater chambers—fossils, sunlight beaming in from holes in the cave ceilings, and even ancient mastodon tusks—because the only way to see it all is by donning a mask and flippers. Cave diving is rife with potential dangers. The good news is beyond good training, all it really necessitates is a little nerve.

Test the waters at Ginnie Springs Cavern, a beginner cave that Jacques Cousteau once described as “visibility forever.” It requires only an open-water diver certification. From an aquamarine, cypress-lined pool, descend and enter a chamber called the Ballroom, 130 feet (40 meters) long and 55 feet (17 meters) deep. There you can see water’s artwork in the limestone formations and feel the force of 30-plus million gallons of water per day pouring out of the inner cave entrance.

To graduate to the 6.5 miles (10 kilometers) of passageways in the Devil’s cave system, take a cavern or cave certification course at Ginnie Springs. Claustrophobes be forewarned: The tiniest swim-throughs require divers to take off their tanks to squeeze through. But the reward of these contortions is witnessing a vast watery underworld, some of which still remains unmapped." - National Geographic

photo by Nat Geo photographer Wes C. Skiles

 I can't think of Florida without thinking of Will Smith's song Miami... I'd definitely have to rock that while getting ready to go out.

sea kayaking and snorkeling in Ha'Apai

DREAM ADVENTURE 26: Go kayaking and snorkeling in Tonga's Ha'Apai islands

WHEN: July
LENGTH: 13 days
COST: $5,500
HIGHLIGHTS: tropical islands, coral reefs, humpback whales



Itinerary:
*WildernessTravel.com

Days 1-5
Foa / Nuku’namo / Uoleva Islands

From a comfortable resort set on a private beach, we paddle to nearby islands to snorkel among spectacular reefs with an amazing geography of caves, canyons, vertical walls, and colorful coral gardens. We also enjoy outings aboard a sailing catamaran in search of humpback whale encounters. We observe these marvelous cetaceans breaching and spy hopping, then with snorkel, mask, and fins, slip into the water to swim alongside them! Our underwater show may reveal elaborate courtship displays and the haunting echoing songs of the humpback. On Sunday morning, we attend an island church service and hear a chorale of Tongan singing, one of the most beautiful sounds in the world.

Days 6-9
Uoleva / Uiha Islands

Traveling as the ancient Polynesians did, we paddle to a series of remote islands for incredible snorkeling in pristine waters, island explorations on foot, picnics on deserted beaches, and visits to isolated villages where the way of life remains unchanged. Our base is a rustic hideaway on a white-sand beach beneath swaying palms.

Days 10-13
Uiha / Foa / Ha’ano Islands

Sea kayaking along an isolated chain of reefs and islets, we rendezvous with our catamaran for a sail to Uiha Island for an authentic Tongan feast of roast suckling pork, fresh root vegetables, reef fish, and vegetarian dishes—all steamed in a traditional underground oven called an ’umu. The next day we snorkel in aquamarine waters with visibility exceeding 95 feet; it’s easy to view the large schools of fish, along with huge table, brain, and soft corals. Paddling to Ha’ano, we enjoy some of the best snorkeling in the Tongan Islands. We see plenty of reef fish, including Moorish idol, butterfly fish, wrasse, and clown fish, and might even catch a glimpse of the elegant stingrays and sea turtles that inhabit these extraordinary reefs. Depart on Day 13.

Maui Eco-Retreat/Learn to kiteboard

DREAM ADVENTURE 25: Visit Maui, Hawaii and stay at Kahua O'Malio





Kahua O'Malio's retreat philsophy: The Ecstasy Of Retreat

Most of the furniture and buildings are made out of bamboo. Their energy is generated entirely from solar panels. For backup sources they ues only bio diesel made from corn, hemp or sunflower oil. Their water is pumped up from 460 foot wells connected to an underground aquifer. They do not use any agricultural chemicals in maintaining our beautiful grounds. All organic yard and kitchen wastes are disposed in a compost bin where it slowly breaks down into very rich, fertile compost. The recycle. The keep bees and chickens for eggs there. It's right next to the ocean and only 15 minutes from town. Rates under $200 a night.

I've never been to Hawaii but when I do and travel to Maui, this is the place I want to stay.










DREAM ADVENTURE 25 1/2: Learn to kiteboard on Kanaha Beach on Maui.


*Nat Geo

ActionSportsMaui.com -- they offer other sport lessons too besides kite boarding like surfing, windsurfing and others.