Raul
-
6 Cool Things to Do in Madrid
More Details: 6 Cool Things to Do in MadridIn this post, I will share with you some unique cool things to do in Madrid – whether you only have a few hours as you are only passing through, or have more time in the city. They are not the ONLY things to do in Madrid but, at least, they are a little off-the-beaten-path.…
-
Hiking in Nepal: On the Way to Namche Bazaar! (Day 2)
More Details: Hiking in Nepal: On the Way to Namche Bazaar! (Day 2)On Day 2, we left our teahouse in the tiny spot of Tok Tok (9,000 ft / 2,800 m) at around 8:45AM to head, following the route to Everest Base Camp, to Namche Bazaar, a rather bigger town than most in the area (actually, THE biggest). This would have us climb over 2,000 ft in…
-
Hiking in Nepal: Lukla to Tok Tok (Day 1)
More Details: Hiking in Nepal: Lukla to Tok Tok (Day 1)My trek in the Himalayas followed the route to Everest Base Camp. I only had two weeks’ vacation so I was short one week to make it all the way to “EBC” since my visit to Nepal included an extra number of days to help in the re-building of a school that was destroyed during…
-
Kathmandu’s Great Boudha Stupa – Still There after the Earthquake
More Details: Kathmandu’s Great Boudha Stupa – Still There after the EarthquakeOne of the most beautiful sites in Kathmandu, Nepal is its Great Boudha Stupa (or Boudhanath Stupa). First and foremost, it is a beautiful statement of faith, the largest such Buddhist structure in Nepal and the largest outside of any in Tibet. That Kathmandu’s Great Boudha Stupa is pleasing to my eyes is a far…
-
Images of Another Northern Town – Husavik
More Details: Images of Another Northern Town – HusavikHusavik is certainly not the most visited spot in Iceland as many tourists tend to stick to Reykjavik, the South Shore and the Golden Circle and Husavik lies well in the north. But, when I visited Iceland last year, we had opted to spend three days in Akureyri, much closer to Husavik. That was such…
-
Building a School in Kumari, Nepal
More Details: Building a School in Kumari, NepalPrior to my trek in the Himalayas along the route to Everest Base Camp, I spent 3 days in the village of Kumari, Nepal thanks to Trekking for Kids‘ work to support this village. The village, as many places in Nepal, was severely impacted by the April 2015 earthquake that struck the country. The recently-built…
-
Flying into Dangerous Lukla Airport in Nepal
More Details: Flying into Dangerous Lukla Airport in NepalI recall seeing a few years ago a TV show about the world’s ten most dangerous airports. Tegucigalpa, St. Maarten and a few others made the list. And so did Lukla, Nepal. Lukla is the typical starting point for anyone trekking along the route to Everest Base Camp, or to other points in the Himalayas.…
-
The Carmel Mission: Quiet and Beautiful
More Details: The Carmel Mission: Quiet and BeautifulDuring a recent business trip to San Francisco, I made a visit of a few days to friends who live near Campbell, CA. I took the Caltrain down to San Jose – an easy and relatively cheap (at around $9 one-way) way to get out of San Fran towards Silicon Valley. While their kids went…
-
How Does One Pack for A Trek in Nepal?
More Details: How Does One Pack for A Trek in Nepal?In about 6 days, I leave on a trip to Nepal. Once again, I will be trekking with Trekking for Kids to improve the lives of children around the world. This is a special trip for several reasons, one of which is the devastation from the April 2015 earthquake calls for the world’s support for…
-
Exploring Chile’s Glaciers by Boat Tour
More Details: Exploring Chile’s Glaciers by Boat TourOne of the highlights of visiting Chile’s Patagonia is seeing the many glaciers in the area – what an incredible sight! Some of the glaciers can be hiked, like the Grey Glacier (something I did in a trip a few years later when I hike the W circuit around Torres del Paine). Other glaciers one can…
-
Views of San Francisco from My Hotel
More Details: Views of San Francisco from My HotelOn my trip to San Francisco this week, I picked the Marriott Marquis on 4th and Mission as my hotel while I attended a conference in the city. It seemed well situated and nice, at least on the website photos. I did not miss with this property and you can read my review in TripAdvisor…
-
Puerto Natales, Chile | Starting Point for the Torres del Paine
More Details: Puerto Natales, Chile | Starting Point for the Torres del PainePuerto Natales is an outpost town in Chile that is entry point to the Torres del Paine National Park. It is about 150 miles northwest of Punta Arenas and serves also as an entry point to the glaciers that kiss the water in this part of Patagonia (Grey, Serrano, Balmaceda, etc.). A small southern town…