Go&See Travel Magazine

the Digital travel magazine

India More than just temples, tigers and palaces

trips to Escape

11 of the best for 2014 in association with The Adventure Travel Show Also: • untamed Tasmania • Lemur encounters from Madagasar

PLUS

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Focal Point: A stunning collection of photographs from around the world

Kitbag: A quick look at traveller’s essentials, and quirky gadgets to make your travel experience all the richer

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E NC ’ VA GO m AD E ‘ .co IN OT how TS QU es KE 4! tur TIC E £ ven OK AV .ad BO D S w AN IT ww SPECIAL FEAT

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THE UK’S ONLY EVENT DEDICATED TO TRAVEL EXPERIENCES OFF THE BEATEN TRACK Featuring: Once-in-a-lifetime Travel Experiences I Small Group Adventures I Intimate Wildlife Encounters I Exclusive Expeditions I Exploratory Journeys I Remote Discoveries I Volunteering and Career Break Projects I Walking and Trekking I Safaris I Eco Adventure and more...

Over 100 FREE inspirational talks from world-renowned explorers, adventurers, guide book writers and expert expedition leaders.

SAVE £4* QUOTE “GO” FOR £6 TICKETS VISIT WWW.ADVENTURESHOW.COM

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DESTINATION PARTNER:

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More than just temples, tigers and palaces

TRIPS TO ESCAPE

and rainforest Lemur spotting with the team at rainbow Tours. Finally we fly to Tasmania trekking across this little visited island capturing some of the beautiful backdrops, and coming face-to-face with a Tasmanian Devil.

To accompany this issue we also offer our thoughts on travel inspired food and drink including a European inspired fragrant rose scented strawberry cocktail.

For the tech and gadget savvy, check out our kit pages with a collection of must haves to make your trip all the richer.

Please enjoy.

Send us your pictures and travelling tales @GoandSeeMag

goandseemagazine.com

11 of the best for 2014 in association with The Adventure Travel Show ALSO: • UNTAMED TASMANIA • LEMUR ENCOUNTERS FROM MADAGASAR

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PLUS

very warm hello from the Go&See team. It fills us with immense pride to bring you our first ever issue, and on that note a huge thank must go out to all of the team and contributors who have supported and inspired this project.

So issue one... We take inspiration from around the world inviting you to discover some of the most exhilarating experiences for 2014. We delve deep into India rediscovering why this beautiful country is more than just the clichés on a postcard, and also gear up for a trip through the Madagascan mountains

THE DIGITAL TRAVEL MAGAZINE

India

Focal Point: A stunning collection of photographs from around the world

Kitbag: A quick look at traveller’s essentials, and quirky gadgets to make your travel experience all the richer

Produced by Immediate Media Co Immediate Media Co also produces a range of other titles including:

MAGAZINE

abrand newyou.co.uk

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Welcome

Cover Image: Typical Mogul design palace domes at sunset, Rajasthan, India.

A brightly painted elephant at the Elephant Festival in Jaipur

Contents Focal point

San Francisco

Focal Point proudly in association with

Antarctica India San Francisco Easter Island

Hawaii

8 10 12 14

Colombia

Worldwide 11 trips to escape the crowd India Tasmania Madagascar

Easter Island

18 28 36 44

Kitbag The Hot 6 Our Fave Pick

50 52

p8

Reader Porfolio Europe

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Food & Drink Moroccan Lamb Tagine 56 Vibrant, warm and full of texture – welcome to Morocco

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Rose-scented strawberry cocktail

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Fusion of European elegance, and good old fashioned British ingredients

UK The Shetland Islands

70

p50

p12

Shetland Island London

Mongolia Bejing Afghanistan India

Vietnam

Sierra Leone Kenya

New Guinea

Madagascar

Tasmania

Antarctica

p70

p36

p44

Worldwide

Focal Point proudly in association with

The old romance of Victorian explorers discovering Antarctica, is one that needs to be seen to be believed. The notorious sail to Antarctica across the Drake Passage can be a tough one, but that is swiftly forgotten as you start to take in the awe of these giant beasts ‘iceberg right ahead!’. Antarctica is a proverbial hot bed of wildlife activity.

Penguins, blue whales, and playful seals pull your heartstrings amongst this domineering backdrop. But it is the scenery; the colours – those deep blues, greens, turquoises – that makes anyone with a point and shoot into the next David Bailey. Do it yourself – visit our friends at discover-the-world.com

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Antarctica’s Icy Ledge

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Taj Mahal at dusk You don’t have to be a spiritual person to appreciate the site of the Taj Mahal. As one of the worlds religious focal points, when softly lit; highlighted by deep burning oranges and warm earthy clays, it is a site to behold. A familiar sight you may think, with its elegance and misty reflections – it does not disappoint.

Do it yourself visit our friends at westernoriental.com

Focal Point proudly in association with

Focal Point proudly in association with

The Big Fog

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Words are sometimes surplus to requirements when accompanied by an image as powerful as this. The world famous, almost travel magazine favourite, the Golden Gate Bridge peering above the San Francisco fog. We really loved the city on the horizon, breaking through almost wrestling for some focus. It is the various composites that beautifully demonstrate the juxtaposition of one of mans greatest engineering feats being devoured by mother nature herself.

Simply stunning. Do it yourself – visit our friends at BritishAirways.com

Focal Point proudly in association with

Talking Heads of Easter Island 900 stone moai – long-faced figures.

Believed to represent their ancient ancestors, these beautiful and dominating sacred spirits continue to watch over the island. Do it yourself – visit our friends at intrepidttravel.com

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These monumental statues are a sight to behold. Polynesians first arrived on the isolated, 164 sq km Pacific outcrop of Easter Island around AD 300, the first Europeans didn’t arrive until in the 18th century.

Undisturbed they produced over

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Na Pali Coastline on the Hawaiian Island of Kauai

trips 11 to escape

the crowds Itching to get off the beaten track on your 2014 travels? Top tour operators have selected the 11 best trips for new and adventurous experiences Hike Hawaii’s dramatic trails Rising from the waters of the Pacific Ocean, the volcanic Hawaiian Islands are among the most diverse and rewarding of the South Sea destinations for hikers, with a unique ecosystem boasting more than 6,000 species found only on these islands.

Lace up your walking boots to explore white, green and black-sand beaches, giant craters, frozen lava lakes, grumbling volcanoes, stunning waterfalls and ancient rock art sites on World Expedition’s hiking tour. Trails lead to incredible viewpoints overlooking the famous North Shore of Kauai, through tropical swamps and cloud

forests, and across the stark lunar landscape of Haleakela National Park on Maui. There are also opportunities to relax on magnificent beaches and coral reefs, snorkel with sea turtles and swarms of colourful tropical fish, or spot humpback whales and pods of spinner dolphins.

What: Hawaii – Hiking the Aloha Isles Who: World Expeditions When: 10 departures in 2014 (14 days) How much: £2,290 (excl. international flights) Find out more: 0800 0744135, www.worldexpeditions.com/uk/index. php?section=trips&id=1234163

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 Discover Colombia’s

colonial charms

Delve into coffee plantations, remote ruined cities and enchanting colonial cities on Tucan Travel’s tour of South America’s fastest-blossoming destination. In Popayan, Villa de Leyva, and especially Cartagena, Colombia has true gems of the Spanish era – stately villas and winding alleys, magnificent cathedrals and castles, and an undercurrent of Latin rhythm to carry you along. History goes back much further here: at San Agustín, tombs dating from over a millennium ago sport huge, elaborately carved statues of gods and monsters, while at Tayrona a hike through steaming jungle reveals pre-Colombian ruins to bring out the Indiana Jones in you. Add fabulous beaches, fine scuba-diving, horse-riding and white-water rafting, stir and serve for a thrilling blend.

What: Best of Colombia Who: Tucan Travel When: 12 departures in 2014 (21 days) How much: £1,439 (excl. international flights) Find out more: 0800 804 8435, www.tucantravel.com/tour/itinerary/bestof-colombia/cbc

Descent Sierra Leone’s Moa River This tiny country perched on Africa’s western edge, blessed with white sand fringes and smiles, is recovering from years of unrest to become a growing travel destination. But Sierra Leone is more than beaches and blood diamonds. Secret Compass’s pioneering expedition traces the

Moa River from its source at the Guinea border to the Atlantic Ocean at Sulima, traversing the country’s south on foot and in traditional canoes, wild camping and experiencing village life largely unchanged for centuries. There’s wildlife, too: Tiwai Island is a community-run sanctuary where lush forest harbours rare primates including red colobus and chimpanzees, while endangered pygmy hippos grunts on its banks.

What: Descent of the Moa River Who: Secret Compass When: 8–23 February 2014 (16 days) How much: £2,299 (excl. flights) Find out more: 020 3239 8038, http://secretcompass.com/expeditions/ sierra-leone-2014/#!summary

Get multi-active in Antarctica The classic White Continent experience – a voyage to the Antarctic Peninsula across the Drake Passage aboard our Russian polar research vessel, the Akademik Ioffe, watching for singing humpback whales, leopard seals and penguin colonies – is given a twist on Antarctica Bound’s adventurous odyssey. For starters, expert photographers are on hand to offer advice on making the most of the photo opportunities in this wildest of environments, from sweeping

Antarctica’s unspoilt land, home to a plethera of wildlife

Experience Columbia‘s rich culture landscapes dominated by pristine icebergs to intimate animal portraits; you’ll tackle an expedition into the ice to put your newfound photography skills into practice in the field.

There’s a wide range of activities available, too: don hiking boots, snow shoes or cross-country skis to traverse the empty white expanses, or grab a paddled and head out on a two-night sea-kayaking expedition along the peninsula – gazing up at the star-strewn southern skies is an unforgettable experience.

What: Antarctica Off The Beaten Track Who: Antarctica Bound When: 8 November 2014 (12 days) How much: from £4,628 (excl. international flights) Find out more: 0800 678 5236, www.antarcticabound.com/antarcticoffers.php

Discover Mongolia’s wild west

Sierra Leone’s magestic Moa River

If Mongolia seems remote, its western reaches, inhabited by Kazakh tribespeople who still cling to traditional lifestyles and hunting methods, is another world entirely.

Goyo Travel’s tour flies to Bayan Ulgii province to experience Kazakh culture – camping wild and enjoying homestays alongside traditional eagle hunters, and trekking on foot and horseback among the

mountains, lakes and glaciers of Altai Tavan Bogd National Park. Take time to relax by Lake Khoton before heading back to Ulgii foran audience with a local shaman. The trip culminates with the celebrations of the Naadam Festival in Ulaanbaatar, with a huge parade, opening ceremony and the ‘noble sports’ of wrestling, archery and horseracing.

What: Wild West Who: Goyo Travel When: 30 June (15 days) How much: £2,520 (excl. international flights) Find out more: 01869 866 520, www.goyotravel.com/adventure.html

Go off-road and run wild in Kenya The annual Rhino Charge is an off-beat, offroad charity fundraising challenge involving dozens of tough, modified and plain quirky vehicles dashing around a wild area of Kenyan bush in a unique kind of orientationmeets-treasure-hunt game – a big event in the Kenyan social calendar. After the weekend Charge, Adventure Alternative’s trip takes off on a classic safari into the Masai Mara, watching for the famous game reserve’s most captivating wildlife – lions, leopards, cheetahs, zebras and huge herds of migrating wildebeest – as well as exploring part of East Africa’s Great Rift Valley. It 

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Breath taking views of a lesser seen Afganistan also visits some great social projects in the capital, Nairobi, and surrounding areas.

What: Rhino Charge Who: Adventure Alternative When: May 2014 (14 days) How much: £1,995 (excl. international flights) Find out more: 028708 31258, www.adventurealternative.com

Explore South India by bike A journey through India’s south reveals just why this diverse country is considered a subcontinent – there’s just so much variety, with bustling bazaars, ruined cities, swaying palms, cool tea plantations, wildlife reserves, sleepy backwaters and beaches… oh, the beaches! Exploring its varied landscapes by bike with Exodus offers the chance to really get off the beaten track and discover the hidden gems. Ride into colourful villages to experience rural life, cycle around old forts, religious shrines and Bandipur and Mudumalai National Parks in the Western Ghats, where you might encounter elephants, tigers and even leopards in the bamboo forests. Take the pace down a notch or too in chilled-out Kerala with a boat trip on the backwaters before a final coastal ride to Varkala, where stunning beaches await.

What: Cycle Kerala & Tropical India Who: Exodus When: Regular departures except May and June (15 days)

How much: from £1,859 (incl. international flights) Find out more: 0845 564 3765, www.exodus.co.uk/holidays/mik/overview

Ski the Himalaya in Afghanistan While Afghanistan isn’t the first place that might spring to mind when considering a skiing trip, there are plenty of reasons for venturing into this little-visited Himalayan country. The mountains in the Bamian region offer fabulous powder, pristine slopes, the chance to make the first ascents of peaks in the Hindu Kush, and options for ski touring on vast frozen lakes. This tour with Untamed Borders is led by an internationally qualified ski guide and a local Afghan guide, and includes trekking, skiing and climbing. These mountains are home to a number of welcoming minority groups, far removed from the troubled image and recent history of much of the country. Visit the remains of the huge Buddha statues that overlooked the ancient city of Shahr-e Zohak and the ruins of Shahr-e Gholghola, devastated by Genghis Khan eight centuries ago.

What: Ski Afghanistan Who: Untamed Borders When: 15 February 2014 (10 days) How much: £1,650 Find our more: 07532 139504, www.untamedborders.com/index. php?page=95

Close encounters with the majesty of India

Life of vietnamese florist vendor at small market in Hanoi vietnam

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Volunteer in Vietnam Combining exploration and sightseeing with volunteering can inject real meaning into your travels. Vietnam is a land with a fascinating history and spectacular landscape, but where volunteers with Kaya Responsible Travel can still make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged children and endangered wildlife. Absorb the colonial architecture, bustling markets and culture of the capital, Hanoi, before setting out for secluded hamlets of stilt houses among the rice paddies of Mai Chau, trekking through the mesmerising landscape. In Tay Dang, join your volunteer project at an orphanage to teach English to disadvantaged children, while learning the basics of Vietnamese with the help of your local contacts.

What: Childcare and teaching English in an orphanage Who: Kaya Responsible Travel When: as arranged (placements from two weeks) How much: depends on project and duration Find out more: 0161 870 6212, www.kayavolunteer.com/destinations/ country/Vietnam

Trek Mount Trikora on New Guinea An ascent of Mount Trikora, at 4750m one of this wild island’s highest peaks, doesn’t just offer the chance to tackle one of the world’s least-climbed mountains – you’ll also be keeping an eye (and ear) out for the ‘singing dog’. This rare creature was spotted here last year by one of Adventure Alternative’s guides, causing a big stir among conservationists – it was last seen 

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in captivity in the 1960s and was thought to be extinct. The expedition heads into the Maoke Mountains in the east of Indonesian New Guinea, delving into remote regions and aiming to repeat the exploits of the first mission to summit the peak a century ago.

What: Trek Mount Trikora Who: Adventure Alternative When: selected departures (18 days) How much: £2,195 (excl. international flights) Find out more: www.adventurealternative.com

Epic’s not an overstatement here: tackling 17 countries in 17 weeks, Oasis Overland’s monumental road trip whisks through Europe’s greatest hits – Bruges’ beers, Germany’s castles, Prague’s picturesque Charles Bridge, the Danube and Dracula’s lair – before crossing into Asia at Istanbul for the real overland action. Traversing Turkey, the tour visits Troy and wanders among Cappadocia’s fairy chimneys, heading into Iran for caravanserais, mighty mosques and labyrinthine bazaars. The Stans are next – the flaming gas crater and desolate Karakum Desert of Turkmenistan, beautiful Silk Road cities of Uzbekistan, wild expanses of Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan – before the final straight through China, visiting pandas, the Terracotta Warriors and the Great Wall.

What: London to Beijing Trans-Asia Who: Oasis Overland When: 17 weeks How much: from £4,195 plus US$2150 local payment Find out more: 01963 363 400, www.oasisoverland.co.uk/trips/CentralAsia/details/212/London-to-Beijing-17Weeks-Trans-Asia.html 

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Ultimate overland expedition – London to Beijing

The Great Wall of China, visible from space, but breath-taking up close These are just a selection of the trips available at the Adventure Travel Show, returning to London’s Olympia on 25-26 January 2014. For more information on these adventures and more, meet with the UK’s biggest collection of specialist travel operators under one roof at the UK’s only event dedicated to off the beaten track travel experiences and discover your journey of a lifetime.

find out more: www.adventureshow.com

‘Y’ hasn’t anyone thought of this before?

A tripod is one of the most debated tools for photographers and wildlife enthusiasts. They are cumbersome and take time to set up however every good photographer or birder knows they are necessary to improve and enhance the quality of the image or experience.

The benefits of a good quality tripod are endless...

• More careful and thoughtful composition.

• Rest heavy gear such as scopes or DSLR’s with long lenses.

• Create extreme close-ups and macro photography.

• Increase depth of field in your images by keeping the camera still in low-light environments when using slow shutter speeds.

• Increase the quality of your images by keeping the camera ISO low.

• Shoot HDR and panoramic shots that require exactly the same framing.

• Photograph objects at night-time • Take action shots with a camera timer • Hold other objects such as flashes, reflectors, etc.

• Shoot at difficult or impossible (hand-held) angles.

• Vibration-free videos

NEW Silk Road Series Tripod

Traditional Tripod Regular designs occupy more space

Y-Tube column saves 30% space*

Giotto’s wanted to change the negative experience associated with carrying a tripod and so have revolutionised the industry with the Silk Road series of tripods. The design has a Y shaped centre column, reducing the size and weight of the tripod by 30% verse more traditional shaped models. AND they’ve managed to do this with zero compromise to your camera/scope support. In a range of sizes and weight capacities you can be confident there is a suitable tripod for your needs.

Y-Tube

30 %S

ED PACE SAV

*vs Giottos MTL series

But which one?

Tripods can sometimes be a little intimidating and deemed ‘technical’, however the principles of choosing the best one for you are very simple.

There is usually a compromise that needs to be made between portability and stability depending on the type of photography you enjoy.

First thing to consider is the weight of your kit that the tripod will need to support. The Giotto’s Silk Road range starts at just 5kg, perfect for a Bridge/CSC camera or DSLR with lens. You need to ensure that the tripod legs you select have a weight capacity capable of supporting your combination of camera and lens plus the weight of the head you choose to put on top.

Next have a think about where you might be carrying the tripod as this can influence the material you choose. Carbon fibre models are lighter in weight than aluminium options and this makes them easier to carry. Carbon fibre is also renowned as being extremely strong and stable. However just as many people like the additional weight of having aluminium because it is deemed to be more stable, and if you are located in a studio or staying in a hide you are less likely to be concerned about the additional weight.

Another thing to consider is the centre column and required height. Larger tripods can get to a higher maximum height without the need to extend the centre column (this helps to reduce vibration

and increase stability). There are also two main types of centre column, vertical or 3-dimensional.

Vertical columns move up or down only and so are the quickest and simplest model to use for outdoor photography/ digiscoping.

Within the Silk Road series the column can also be reversed to position the camera underneath the tripod legs – perfect for macro shots. 3D centre columns have all the benefits of the vertical column with the added benefit of being able to move from its vertical position through a 180° angle and then lock where required. Combine this with the Silk Road variable leg settings (standard on all models) and you can easily position the camera exactly where you need to!

For more information about the products and their benefits see visit www.giottos-tripods.co.uk

Leg angle adjustment locks – 3 positions low, medium and high

Quick Easy Leg (QEL) Locking System – Extend or shorten a leg without taking your eyes of your subject and lock where required

Graduated Leg Markings

Thread – Ability to swap from 3/8” to ¼" makes this series compatible with alternate tripod heads

Premium quality aluminium or 8x multi-layered carbon fibre options

3D column option allows you to move through 180° and lock where required

Bubble Level (On vertical column tripods only)

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India

Far more than just temples, tigers and palaces, India’s variety – from cool Himalayan hill stations to the spice markets of the steamy south – dizzies and dazzles

western & orIEntal

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R

emote from ourselves in dream and in time,” said the writer André Malraux, “India belongs to the Ancient Orient of our soul.”

Somehow, we all have an inkling of what India is – yet this mystifying, captivating nation is many lands, not one, and must be visited to be even partly understood.

And now’s the time to go. With currencies working in favour of UK travellers, a visit to India has never offered better value.

Agra & the Taj Mahal Previous page: Temples line the Ganges at Varanasi.

Clockwise from above: Palace of the Winds in Jaipur; rickshaw driver in Delhi; Chinese fishing nets in Cochin; Bengal tiger.

Construction of the Taj – tomb of emperor Shah Jahan’s wife Mumtaz Mahal, inlaid with beautiful pietra dura – took some 20,000 workers, including architects and experts from France, Italy and Iran, over 20 years, being completed in 1653.

But though this masterpiece in marble is the centrepiece of a visit to Agra, the Taj is only one of three Unesco World Heritage sites here, the others being the mighty 16thcentury Agra Fort and the Mughal ghost town of Fatehpur Sikri, 40km west of Agra.

Varanasi Like Rome, India’s ‘eternal city’ Varanasi has a history stretching back over two millennia; also like Rome, it’s set alongside a mighty river, the sacred Ganges, and is an important religious centre packed with temples and shrines. But here the main attraction is not exploring grand monuments but people-watching: mingle with the throngs of devout Hindus who come to immerse themselves in the holy waters and see off relatives at the riverside cremation sites. Take in the timeless vistas with a dawn boat ride alongside the ghats to watch devotees pray and bathe.

Udaipur Graced by not just one magical palace but three, this impossibly romantic lakeside city nestling in the Aravalli Hills is a cream-coloured confection of ramparts and cupolas. The Lake Palace, seemingly floating in the middle of its eponymous mere, was built over 250 years ago by Maharajah Jagat Singh; today it’s an opulent hotel, perfect 

”

Nikhil Chhibber, India Product Manager

this page: western & orIEntal; opposite: www.shutterstock.com

“

I’ll always treasure my encounter with a tigress and her three cubs, leaping from one side of the track to the other in Bandhavgarh National Park.

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1 TAKE ME THERE

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Western & Oriental has been tailormaking holidays to India for over 30 years. The Heritage Golden Triangle tour takes in Old Delhi, the Taj Mahal and Jaipur.

8 days, from £1,749.

A Journey Through Kerala features Kathakali dances, the tea plantations and hill station of Munnar, Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary and the beautiful backwaters.

13 days, from £1,485.



find out more:

The ‘Pink City’ has more than its fair share of palaces and forts, too, from the rambling city palace to mighty hilltop Amber Fort – ascend by elephant, if the climb is too daunting – and whimsical Hawa Mahal, the ‘Palace of the Winds’: an

020 7666 1212, westernoriental.com

for sundowners or an intimate meal.

Overlooking Lake Pichola is the imposing City Palace, now part-museum, part hotel, while the Monsoon Palace perches in the hills just outside the city.

Cochin The spice trade brought wealth to Kerala’s most important port, and with it a wealth of overseas influences that still tinge its culture: cantilevered Chinese fishing nets – reputedly a legacy of immigrants from the court of Kublai Khan – Portuguese churches and palaces and Jewish synagogues. It’s an ideal base for exploring this serene southern state, taking a cruise on the backwaters or just relaxing on the fine nearby beaches.

Jaipur

3 ornate, rust-red façade of latticed windows through which the ladies of the court could discretely watch the world go by.

Shimla During the days of the Raj, when the searing sun of India’s hot season wilted the unseasoned Brits, the ruling classes escaped to this hill station, declared the ‘summer capital’. Enjoy a taste of that historical era – and that cool mountain air – riding the little ‘Toy Train’ up into the foothills and strolling the elegant Mall, taking in the Himalayan views.

Delhi The oft-touted cliché ‘bustling’ doesn’t do India’s diverse capital justice. It’s a heady mix of ancient monuments – the soaring, elegant Qutab Minar tower, imposing Red Fort, and stately Jama Masjid, India’s largest mosque – and Raj-era might, with Lutyen’s formal New Delhi the highlight. Add in thronging bazaars and delicious cuisine, and it’s a city break to rival all others. 

“

Listening to the bells, chants and prayers, and watching candles and oil lamps floating past on the holy Ganges, was one of my most spiritual experiences.

1

Watch sunrise over the Taj

Enchanting at any time, the Taj’s pale marble is transformed by the shifting hues of dawn into a truly otherworldly wonder.

2

Delve into a local market

Barter for bangles, bananas or blooms on a guided walking tour of a bazaar or spice market.

3

Explore hidden Calcutta

Discover the secret wonders of this former capital of the Raj, including markets and colonial gems.

4

Cruise Kerala’s backwaters

Sit back and watch local life unfold as you drift along sleepy channels past villages, farms and laughing children.

5

Learn to create Indian cuisine

Get to grips with local cuisine on a cookery course teaching special dishes using regional spices and techniques.

Images 1, 2, 3, 5: www.shutterstock.com; image 4: western & orIEntal

5

4

5 UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

”

Deepavali Gaind, India Travel Specialist

tailor-made india

2014

brOchure OuT nOW!

Visit westernoriental.com to order your copy.

SpecialiSt Knowledge | FirSt-hand experience | tailor-made expertiSe call our travel Specialists on 020 7666 1212 or visit westernoriental.com

ABTA No.Y1152

Part of Western and Oriental Travel Ltd

Kamchatka Expedition - August 2014

Bear Feast in the Far East

Enter a lost world to find yourself. Step off the trodden path to enjoy the explosive beauty of volcanoes, geysers and brown bears on this Photo Expedition to Russia's immense Kamchatka Peninsula.

Log on to www.toehold.in/kamchatka for the detailed itinerary.

Dec 2014 - Kutch, Gujarat

Wildlife Photography Expedition

Dec 2014 - Bandhavgarh

Royal Bengal Tiger Photo Expedition

Also exclusive itineraries for international travellers and photographers to many more wildlife destinations in India

, India

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Tasmania Australia’s ‘Apple Isle’ offers a feast of wildlife, with helpings of epic landscapes, history and active adventures to boot

Tourism tasmania & tim Dub

Tourism tasmania & john de la roche

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“

On a picture-postcard morning I stood at the edge of a glassy lake as five platypus fed and dived before us – and there wasn’t another soul to be seen.”

”

Susanna Housden, sales consultant

image opposite: Tourism tasmania & john de la roche; This page, clockwise from top left: Tourism tasmania & Mark eveleigh; Tourism tasmania & Anson smart; Tourism tasmania & bill wakefield

A Previous page: Cruise around Bruny Island.

Clockwise from left: The Painted Cliffs of Maria Island; Tasmanian devil; the ‘dismal swamp’ in the Tarkine; an endangered orangebellied parrot.

wilderness this special is worth fighting for – and in 1983, that’s what happened. This year it’s three decades since environmental campaigners successfully battled to save the Franklin River from damming, helping conserve a special portion of Tasmania’s World Heritage Area.

Thanks to them, you can explore a protected tranche of forest, rivers, mountain and coast that covers 1.4 million hectares – nearly a fifth of the island. Meet wombats and Tasmanian devils, paddle whitewater rivers and explore true wilderness.

Maria Island

the tarkine

strahan

The last major tract of temperate rainforest left on Earth is also the final stronghold for Tasmanian devils free from the insidious facial tumour disease that is threatening the species. The Tarkine, a huge swathe of forest, dunes and coastal heath, is a true wilderness where you can walk, camp and breathe the cleanest air in the world – in blessed solitude.

This tiny fishing town (pronounced ‘Strawn’) perches at the edge of vast Macquarie Harbour, a bay six times the size of Sydney’s. Strahan is the gateway to the Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Park and starting point for the historic West Coast Wilderness Railway to Queenstown and cruises along the Gordon River and to the former penal colony of Sarah Island. 

Once a penal colony, now a haven for wildlife, uninhabited Maria Island boasts a multitude of habitats – sandstone cliffs, beaches, forests and valleys – hosting all 12 endemic bird species and most marsupials, including a population of Tasmanian devils. Relics of the convict era remain – including Darlington’s Commissariat Store and the Coffee Palace – as do hints of tens of millennia of Aboriginal history. But the animals are the big draw – join a four-day guided walk to savour wildlife and heritage.

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TAKE ME THERE



Tasmanian Odyssey is the UK’s only specialist tour operator dedicated to this island state. An epic tailor-made tour includes watching for platypus and Tasmanian devils in the wild, the West Coast World Heritage Wilderness, a fourday walk through the Freycinet Peninsula and entry to two of Australia’s greatest cultural attractions.

12 nights, from £2950 (excl. flights).

find out more: 01534 735449, tasmanianodyssey.com

05/07/2013 14:34

 Bruny Island

Birdwatchers rejoice! This long, spindly outpost – really two islands linked by a narrow isthmus, the ‘Neck’ – is home to all 12 of Tasmania’s endemic birds, including a significant breeding population of the endangered forty-spotted pardalote. But that’s not all: look out for a precious mob of pure white wallabies, and watch for echidnas (less spiny here than on the mainland to the north) and ‘fairy’, or little, penguins. Despite its feeling of remoteness, Bruny is just an hour’s drive and short ferry ride from Hobart.

only breeding population of the critically endangered orange-bellied parrot – fewer than 50 pairs survive in the wild.

Mountain valley For wildlife sightings in a spectacular setting, head to the valley of Loongana hidden deep in Tasmania’s north-west, in the shadow of Black Bluff and a short hop from Cradle Mountain. Quolls and Tasmanian devils are regularly spotted among the porches of the reserve’s log cabins, while plump platypus are often spotted feeding in the stream during dusk wildlife tours.

Melaleuca

Flinders island

At over 6,000km2, Southwest National Park is Tasmania’s largest, a wilderness encompassing ancient temperate rainforest and rare species including the endemic Huon pine. Sitting lonely amid this vast tract of untamed land is the smalle Melaleuca, accessible only by seaplane, boat or foot on the 85km South Coast Track. Here you’ll find the world’s

Adrift in the Bass Strait off Tasmania’s northeastern tip, surrounded by 51 smaller islets, Flinders Island is a fabulous destination.

Hundreds of white-sand beaches line its shores, a spectacular mountain range looms inland, and there’s birdlife galore to watch.

Yet tourist numbers are tiny – it’s another wonderful place to escape the modern world and enjoy Tasmania’s natural wonders. 

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5 UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

1: www.shutterstock.com; 2: Tourism tasmania & Alastair Bett; 3: Tourism tasmania & scott sporleder, matador; 4: www.shutterstock.com; 5: Tourism tasmania & simon birch

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Drink in the views at Wineglass Bay

Sink your toes into the white sand on a walk along the Freycinet Peninsula.

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Sail with seals off Bruny Island

Take a boat trip with Rob Pennicott, watching for whales, albatrosses and fur seals.

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Gape at groundbreaking art

Take a scenic seaplane flight over Hobart for a visit to the extraordinary Museum of Old and New Art (MONA).

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Join a Quoll Patrol

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Learn about Tasmania’s wildlife on a tour with top bush guide Craig Williams.

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Go on a ghost hunt

Explore the ruins of the former penal colony of Port Arthur on a Paranormal Tour.

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A QUALITY OPTICAL EXPERIENCE

capture a world of exquisite detail

The telephoto power of digiscoping.

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Combine your DSLR, compact camera or even iPhone with our easy to use digiscoping adapters and our pure fluorite crystal TSN-880 series scopes to produce simply exceptional images.

Our telephoto lens with pure fluorite crystal optics is the perfect choice for the wildlife photographer on the move.

A unique, lightweight and compact modular system with focal lengths of 350mm, 500mm and 850mm offers unsurpassed portability and delivers breath taking levels of detail.

Kowa Optimed Europe Ltd, Sandhurst House, 297 Yorktown Road, Sandhurst, Berkshire, GU47 0QA | Tel: +44(0)1276 937 021 | www.kowaproducts.com

Worldwide

Madagascar The Red Island is a world apart, blessed with amazing animals and dreamlike landscapes. Explore its forests and mountains for encounters with lemurs, chameleons and more

www.shutterstock.com

T Left: The ringtailed lemur is Madagascar’s most iconic species – and one of the easiest to spot. Above: Traverse the Avenue of the Baobabs near Morondava in the west of the island.

he world’s largest chameleon.

300 species of butterfly. Weevils with giraffe necks and spiders that look like bird droppings. Lemurs mighty and minuscule, lemurs that dance and lemurs that sing, lemurs with bat ears and lemurs with ringed tails. Madagascar’s unique wildlife – more than 90 per cent of it endemic – is its big attraction, and also the focus of biggest concern. Mining and logging threatens fragile ecosystems, and nature-based tourism is one of the key defences against the loss of these marvelous creatures. Now’s the time to visit – to see amazing animals in the wild, and to contribute to their conservation.

Andasibe National Park The largest of the lemurs, the indri is also probably the loudest – and certainly has the most haunting song, a whale-like call that echoes through the forest. Andasibe is one of the few places where you’re likely to spot (and hear) the teddy-bear-like indri,

as well as 10 other lemur species, beautiful boas and diverse birdlife. Two other nearby rainforest reserves also harbour incredible biodiversity. To get the most out of a visit, lace up your hiking boots and delve into the moist forest with an expert guide – you might see huge Parson’s chameleons and golden-hued diademed sifakas (another species of lemur) and leaf-tailed geckos.

Ifotaka Mix culture with wildlife at this community ecotourism reserve where you can explore ‘spiny bush’ and dry gallery woodland.

The iconic ring-tailed lemur is a common sight, and you might also see the amazing ‘dancing’ lemur, Verreaux’s sifaka, perform its sprightly, two-legged foxtrot across open ground. There’s more than just mammals, though: birding is rewarding year round, and in spring and summer interesting reptile life abounds – watch for the critically endangered Madagascar radiated tortoise. A visit to a local village reveals insights into traditional lifestyles, too. 

Worldwide

“

The sounds created by a nocturnal orchestra of wildlife including geckos, frogs and birds sets the atmosphere for spotting the red eyes of a lemur.

”

Derek Schuurman, wildlife expert

Madagascar is home to about half of the world’s 150 or so species of chameleon. This Parson’s chameleon is munching on an insect in Ranomafana.

Rainbow Tours Pioneering Madagascar specialist, Rainbow Tours, has the most comprehensive programme of wildlife tours and tailormade holidays to all areas of the country, led by outstanding local wildlife guides.

find out more: 020 7666 1252, rainbowtours.co.uk

www.shutterstock.com

TAKE ME THERE

ď‚„

Worldwide

 Kirindy Special

Reserve

Another little and large show, this reserve is the place to see Madame Berthe’s mouse lemur – tiny enough to fit into an eggcup – and wander among hundreds of thousands of statuesque baobab trees. It’s also home to some of the island’s most sought-after animals: the bizarre fosa – Madagascar’s biggest carnivore, a cat-like relative of mongooses – the enormous Oustalet’s chameleon and the giant jumping rat.

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Ankarana Special reserve Ankarana is an otherworldly landscape dominated by fields of razor-sharp limestone pinnacles or ‘tsingy’, as well as impressive caves and sunken moist deciduous forests. The reserve is the place to spot several rare species regionally endemic to northern Madagascar – birds such as Coquerel’s coua and various vangas – as well as fosas, tenrecs (like spiky hedgehogs), big crocodiles, striped mongooses, bats and 10 species of lemur.

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Rhinoceros chameleon

This western seasonally dry forest protects a host of lemurs such as the acrobatic Coquerel’s sifaka, mongoose lemur and fat-tailed dwarf lemur – and it’s the only place to see the endangered (but very cute) golden-brown mouse lemur. Birders are in their element here: among the 129 avian species, highlights include the Madagascar fish eagle and Van Dam’s vanga. In the spring and summer months, reptiles are abundant and easily observed – a night walk might reward with sightings of rhinoceros chameleons. 

www.shutterstock.com

Ankarafantsika National Park

5 species to spot

Grows up to 27cm long; spot one in Ankarafantsika.

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Indri

The largest lemur has almost no tail but strong hind limbs and a haunting song.

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Fosa

It looks like a doggish cat, but Madagascar’s largest carnivore is related to mongooses.

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Leaf-tailed gecko

With flattened tail and excellent camouflage, these disappear on tree trunks.

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Verreaux’s sifaka

This pale, gangly lemur is known for its ‘dancing’ – it hops across open ground in a sprightly maneouvre.

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The indri’s whale-like calls ringing through the trees is Malagasy magic at its best.

Rachel Dobb, wildlife expert

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Kitbag

The Hot 6 All these things will make your journey that little bit more exciting, from the small ticket essentials to luxury immersive headphones, here are six of our favourites for the hand luggage.

Go Pro HERO3+ Black Edition £359.99



Capture every moment of your travels, see every experience from an amazing perspective – walking through the markets of Marrakesh suddenly comes to life like never before, or how about a candid journey downhill mountain biking? We love this latest edition, with sharper, superior image quality, and thankfully improved audio capture which was sacrificed with earlier GoPro models. Features video resolutions up to 4K, 12MP photos up to 30 frames per second, built-in Wi-Fi, SuperView™ and Auto Low Light modes. Waterproof to 40m.

Buy at www.gopro.com

Aquapac  Mini Whanganui £20.00.

An obvious product for any traveller- whether you’re trecking through rainforests or even canoeing this is a valuable essential. It turns your existing phone into a waterproof phone. Keeping your priceless mobile safe whatever life throws at you. Amazingly you can still use your phone whilst its tucked up!

Buy at store.aquapac.net

Quicksilver Beanie  Available at House of Fraser £30.00. Heads up! Beanie are an essential bit of kit, period. Use it to keep warm, or disguise the effects of a brief encounter with the local nector. All in all it’s a bit of fun. This is our favourite from a wide selection, cheaper alternatives are available from most high street fashion houses including River Island, but for superior quality spend a little more with this Quicksilver edition. Available in multiple colours.

Check out houseoffraser.co.uk

Holdall, Ted Baker Available at House of Fraser, £155.00.

For the serious traveller nothing beats a backpack, but we couldn’t resist including this for the ‘weekend’ traveller. Perfect for short stays with ample room for everything you’ll ever need – this bag offers brilliant value and a real strong degree of fashion. As ever with Ted Baker products this is very well made with a tight canvas weave and hard wearing leather corners for durable use – lovely touch with the ident tag. www.houseoffraser.co.uk

Micro Luggage Scooter £249.99 Stop press! We first saw this on an advert for the European MTV Awards – it got our curiosity, and we all said we must have one! This is a beautiful collaboration between Micro & Samsonsite – but its deeper than that, its fun and function in one! Built to the usual ‘tough’ Samsonite standard, but with an amazing scooter function – it wont be for all, but exercise the kid in you once in a while! Brilliant for short stays and small commutes from the station this is one of our favourites. Click here and check the video: micro-scooters.co.uk

Our fave pick

Beats Studio™ Over Ear Headphone £269.95 We were in two minds whether to include headphones as a travel buddy – should you really be immersing yourself in the world of your iPod when you are discovering new smells and sounds? And some will frown heavily, having the image of Beats tainted by every single Premiership footballer! But, they made it and when you have some down time between destinations, these beauties with their Adaptive Noise Cancelling technology, 20-hour rechargeable battery, and RemoteTalk™ will let you sit back and enjoy the sounds of home whenever you please – and in style! store.universal-music.co.uk

Kitbag

DIGISCOPE

KOWA TSN-IP4S iPhone Digiscope Finally amateur iPhone photographer meets Bill Bailey.

Combining the high quality camera and HD video functions of your iPhone 4/4s with the power and quality of a spotting scope or binocular to create an ultra compact, high quality super telephoto lens. The iPhone 4/4s

adapter marks a true innovation in the world of digiscoping and opens up this once expensive and technical hobby, to even the most basic and inexperienced user. With ease the adapter allows you to maximise the high photographic qualities of your iPhone’s camera with the super

optical zoom power of a scope or binocular. The results are truly spectacular!

For more information: kowaproducts.co.uk

Our fave pick

Food

Moroccan Lamb Tagine Vibrant, warm and full of texture – this is a beautiful conversational dish for those evenings round the table with friends and family INGREDIENTS 1 tsp cayenne pepper 2 tsp ground black pepper 1 1/2 tbsp paprika 1 1/2 tbsp ground ginger 2 tsp ground cinnamon 1 x shoulder of lamb, trimmed and cut into sizeable chunks 2 large onions chopped 2 tbsp olive oil 3 cloves garlic, smashed 570ml/1 pint tomato juice

2 x 400g tinned chopped tomatoes 115g/4oz dried apricots, cut in halves 55g/2oz sultanas or raisins 85g/3oz almonds 600ml/1 pint lamb stock 1 tbsp clear honey 2 tbsp coriander, roughly chopped 2 tbsp flat leaf parsley, roughly chopped

method 1. Into a small bowl, mix and combine: the cayenne, black pepper, paprika, ginger, turmeric and cinnamon. Place the lamb in a large bowl and toss together with half of the spice mix. Cover and leave overnight in the fridge.

2. Preheat the oven to 150C/300F/Gas2.

3. Heat 1 tbsp olive oil and 1 tbsp of argan oil in a large casserole dish. Add the chopped onion and the remaining spice mix and cook over a gentle heat for 11 minutes so that the onions are soft but not coloured. Add the crushed garlic for the final 2 minutes.

4. Heat the remaining oil and brown the cubes of lamb on all sides then add the browned meat to the casserole dish. De-glaze the frying pan with 1/4 pint of tomato juice and add these juices to the pan.

5. Add the remaining tomato juice, chopped tomatoes, apricots, dates, raisins or sultanas, flaked almonds, saffron, lamb stock and honey to the casserole dish. Bring to the boil, cover with a fitted lid, place in the oven and cook for 2-21/2 hours or until the meat is meltingly tender.

6. Place the lamb in a tagine or large serving dish and sprinkle over the chopped herbs.

Enjoy with friends and family.

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A beautiful conversational dish for those evenings round the table with friends and family

Drink

Rose-scented strawberry cocktail A fusion of European elegance, and good old fashioned British ingredients – create this sophisticated tongue-tingling cocktail for a refreshing and crisp party for your palate! A very simple composition, with a handful of ingredients but each playing a pivotal part in making this one of our favourites. Don’t be put off by rosewater, obviously this isn’t a steadfast of most people’s cupboards, but go seek it out online - it adds real depth and fragrance to a simple drink.

INGREDIENTS 100g strawberries, hulled and halved 50g caster sugar 2 tbsp rosewater chilled bottle of English sparkling wine

method Blitz the strawberries with the sugar and rosewater in a blender or small food processor to form a purée. Add a spoon or two to each glass, then top up with your choice of chilled bubbly. Serve with immediately with canopies, or as a dessert substitute.

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A fusion of European elegance, and good old fashioned British ingredients

Reader Portfolio

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The buildings tower above but allow for the late afternoon sun to filter down

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Reader Portfolio Take a look through the lens with Melanie Harris, as we travel across Europe visiting Barcelona, Bologna, Venice and then finally Paris Instagram @debbiesdaughter Website: www.debbiesdaughterphotography.co.uk

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Barcelona 1. In a city as popular as Barcelona it can be quite hard finding a quiet street, but this side street was just what I wanted to find. The buildings tower above but allow for the late afternoon sun to filter down. I’d always recommend getting off the tourist trail and get yourself lost – you never know what you’ll find.

2. I stumbled upon the Cathedral Garden wandering down a side street and looking into the greenery which looked so out of place. This is one of my favourite places in Barcelona. It was so serene and it felt as though you were in a secret garden in a secret city.

3. I love looking up in cities – you always see things from such a different angle. Whilst at the Barcelona Cathedral rather than take the standard tourist shot I wanted to capture the detailing and beautiful arches of the entrance.

4. Park Guell is a magical place not only because it was designed by Antoni Gaudi but also because it feels like you are out of the city and in a story book.

One of my favourite things about Park Guell is the stunning mosaic work. 

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Reader Portfolio

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The San Petronio Basilica is stunning – I personally love the outside more than the inside.

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Bologna

1. Bologna is full of terracotta coloured buildings and looking down are the Asinelli Tower shows this. I love that there is no clearly defined streets and that you can’t tell where one building starts and another one begins.

2. The cityscape of Bolonga is full of porticoes.

There are over 24 miles of them and although they are practical, they keep the residents of Bolonga dry in the rain, they are a key landmark within the city.

Always make sure you look above at the ceilings of the porticoes. They are intricately decorated with colours, paintings, words and historical scenes.

3. Whilst wandering around a little square I was a little unsure of where I was, and looking up to see if I could find my bearings I saw this sign, ironwork and the arc and just thought how well it captured the essence of Italy. When travelling round, always look around you at every angle – you never know what you might find.

4. The San Petronio Basilica is stunning – I personally love the outside more than the inside. The architecture is so different to any other Basilica I have ever seen. This picture was taken from the top of the Asinelli Tower. 

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Reader Portfolio

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Venice is one of the most beautiful cities to get lost in

Venice

1. Venice is one of the most beautiful cities to get lost in. No matter where you turn you find another canal, another bridge almost certainly different to the last one you saw, and another picture perfect scene.

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2. The best way to see Venice is from the water (and a trip along the Grand Canal is a must), be it by speed boat, gondaloa or water taxi. I took this photograph from a gondola. It features the stunning Santa Maria della Salute in the background.

3. For any trip to Venice you have to go to the Piazza San Marco. This shot is taken looking up at St Mark’s Campanile. You can climb to the very top and look down on the Piazza and canals. Another beautiful way to see Venice.

4. The Ponte di Rialto is the oldest (and in my eyes the grandest) bridge across the Grand Canal. When you are there you just cant take your eyes off it. As per most sites in Venice it is best seen from the water.

Along the bridge it is full of shops and travellers crossing over from San Marc district to San Polo district. It certainly needs to be on the top of your ‘must see’ list. 

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Reader Portfolio

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Paris certainly is the city of love

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2 Paris 1. Paris has many a beautiful bridge and this one is the Pont des Arts looking at Institue de France. The bridge is full of street performers, artists, tourists and most importantly lovers. Couples write their name or initials and attach the padlock to the bridge and then throw the key into the Seine as a symbol of their love.

Paris certainly is the city of love.

2. It’s hard to travel to Paris and not take a picture of the La Tour Eiffel. Every angle of this magnifiant landmark has been photographed and awed over.

I love the colours in this shot as reflects how I felt when I was wandering around Paris.

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3. This is one of my favourite pictures from my time in Paris. It was taken along the Seine and was actually an outside photography exhibition. However, I think why I like this one is because it just looks calming and what is more Parisian than an afternoon stroll down a sunlight tree lined street next to the Seine.

4. Another must in Paris is to look down the Champs Elysees towards the Arc de Triomphe de l’Etoile.

Although the cars on the road are hustle and bustle just standing there looking down at this beautiful sight you become lost in the magic of Paris. 

visit Melanie



My family’s moto is ‘To travel is to live’ and that is something I have lived by since my parents took my on my first overseas flight when I was 10 years old. Its also probably not a coincidence that it was my dad also introduced me to the world of photography. The two go hand in hand.

With smart phones and apps it is much easier to not only be a street photographer but also to edit, filter and enhance your pictures on the move.

I love this and for me it allows me show exactly how I see the world.

Instagram @debbiesdaughter Website: www.debbiesdaughterphotography.co.uk

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Want to discover the Arctic with an Adventurer?

If you’ve ever fancied yourself as a bit of an Amundsen, Intrepid Travel is offering you the opportunity to experience the Arctic with the experts. We’re running a one-off adventure accompanied by prolific polar explorer, Tim Jarvis.

Visit intrepidtravel.com/polar or call 0845 287 1023 to find out more.

UK

Shetland in winter A land where northern nature abounds throughout an unspoilt winter wilderness where often the aurora borealis dances through the night sky. The season that islanders celebrate a Norse heritage with the world renowned Viking Fire Festival, Up Helly Aa

UK

previous page: Richard Shucksmith; These pages and next page: B. Thomason

T Previous page: The Northern Lights (aurora borealis), visible in the Shetland Islands. Opposite: mountain Hare.

Above: Mid winter sunrise. Next page: Flock of common eider birds

he Shetland Islands in winter is a classic example of the wonderful wildlife we have right here in Britain during the winter months.

The unspoilt beauty of the Shetland landscapes is ever changing through the seasons but often in winter it is even more so. Although in the heart of winter there may be little more than six hours of daylight, on a clear day this light offers a purity and clarity that will take your breath away and often on such a crisp calm winters nights the skies can be brought to life with the aurora borealis.

From calm clear-skied frosty mornings to wild winter storms thundering waves onto dramatic sea cliffs, the weather is far from predictable. Throughout the isles wintering sea duck’s, wildfowl and waders arriving from the Arctic abound as does the highest density of Eurasian Otters in Britain, active by day along beautiful and remote coastlines. There is beautiful blend of adventure, excitement and tranquillity found in winter in Shetland whether you are a walker, naturalist or wildlife enthusiast that is totally unique.

Shetlands Northern Isles Otter watching – the Shetland Islands are renowned for being home to the highest density of otters in Britain, a large majority of which inhabits the shores of the north of the islands.

Bluemull Sound Winter bird watching – the seas separating the islands of Yell, Unst and Fetlar is known as Bluemull Sound which is home to some of the largest wintering rafts of eider and long-tailed ducks in Shetland, and also regularly hosts rare Arctic visitors such as white-billed diver and king eider.

Lerwick, Shetland main town Urban wildlife watching and Shetlands Viking Fire Festival, known as Up Helly Aa. The festival is a celebration of the islands Viking heritage, it attracts visitors each year from all over the world.



UK

TAKE ME THERE



Shetland Nature Established and operated by a native Shetlander inspired by a lifetime of knowledge of the islands and their wildlife and by collaborating with like minded companies, concentrating solely on the islands, offering a truly unique and authentic Shetland experience.

Experiences include: winter wildlife watching holidays or day tours, otter watching tours & holidays, Up Helly Aa Viking Fire Festival & winter wildlife, and nature & landscape photography workshops. Prices from £200 per day for bespoke guiding or £795 for a short holiday.

find out more: 01957 710000, www.shetlandnature.net

UK

1 ď‚„ Hermaness

& Eshaness

Landscape photography and coastal walks. The seascapes, rugged cliffs, sea stacks, and lighthouses of both Eshaness and Hermaness offer breath taking and dramatic opportunities for coastal walks, and landscape photography where you can enjoy some of the Islands most iconic vistas.

Shetlands Central Mainland Winter bird watching and wildlife.

Throughout the open moorland and higher ground good numbers of red grouse and mountain hare are found whilst the sheltered inlets and bays hold good numbers of wintering slavonian grebe, great northern diver and red-breasted merganser.

Shetlands South Mainland Winter bird watching; the south mainland of Shetland, particularly around the Loch of Spiggie, RSPB reserve hosts good numbers of wintering wildfowl such as whooper swan, wigeon, teal, mallard, tufted duck and goldeneye. ď‚Ą

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5 UNIQUE EXPERIENCES

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Tracking the wild otter

Spending a morning with a family of wild otters along a remote Shetland shoreline learning about their ecology, captivating behaviour and how to read the signs, and view responsibly.

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Up Helly Aa

The world renowned Viking Fire Festival. Watch the parades of islanders in full Viking regalia throughout the streets of Lerwick culminating in torch lit procession of over 1,000 and the burning of a Viking long-ship.

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Walk out across Hermaness National Nature Reserve to the northern

extremity of the British Isles, overlooking Muckle Flugga lighthouse – a stark contrast from the intensity of a summer seabird colony, the combination of deserted cliffs, beauty and open space is truly breath taking.

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1: B. Thomason; 2 & 4: David Gifford; 3 & 5: Richard Shucksmith;

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Watch one of the largest wintering congregations of Arctic breeding long-tailed ducks in Britain from a purpose

built bird hide watch these stunning and charismatic Arctic sea duck at close quarters.

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Discover the islands cultural and archaeological heritage through island

hopping visits to ancient buildings and historic sites, tales of folklore, myth, legend and life in Shetland in times past and present.

The Cotswolds | OS Explorer Map OL45

Capture the beauty around you.

With hiking boots, an OS map and a camera, the stunning British countryside is yours to enjoy, every single day.

Ni c k y

Nicky Busby, Hiker and Photographer

ordnancesurvey.co.uk/cfile

Get your OS Map | Paper | Online | Mobile

With you every step of the way

Al Harrington

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Wildlife encounters of a different kind Joint venture safaris play a key role in sustainable conservation and the long term survival of endangered species and offer you the rare chance to experience conservation biology in action

Nancy Gibson

Tigers, African Wild Dogs, Wolves & Mountain Gorillas Bespoke safaris with research naturalists and experts in animal behaviour are informative and all-encompassing wildlife safaris and offer you the best experiences of seeing endangered species in the wild

African Wild Dog Conservation Safari, Zimbabwe

Tiger Encounters

with Steve Leonard, Patron of PDC & Dr Greg Rasmussen, Research Director of PDC

with tiger specialist Stephen Mills

7 – 18 June 2014 • £8,495.00 • 6 - 10 guests

Join tiger specialist Stephen Mills in Bandhavgarh & Kanha National Parks in India, where he has filmed and recorded data on tigers since the 1970s. Everyone who has travelled with Stephen has seen a tiger – testimony that travelling with an expert in tiger behaviour & someone who knows the parks intimately offers you the best chance of seeing tigers in the wild.

Visit Painted Dog Conservation’s research projects, rehabilitation centre and education facilities in Mana Pools and Hwange National Park with TV vet and PDC Patron Steve Leonard and Research Director Greg Rasmussen. Enjoy Zimbabwe’s amazing wildlife and The Victoria Falls.

This safari financially supports the work of PDC and the survival of this endangered species.

Ethiopian Wolf Conservation Safari with Prof Claudio Sillero, Director of EWCP

5 – 15 November 2014 • £7,000.00 • 4 – 7 guests Accompany Claudio Sillero, Director of EWCP and help collect data on wolf packs and new pups in the Bale Mountains. Wolf watching is done on foot, horseback and in 4x4 vehicles. Your participation on this unique expedition in to the world of Ethiopian wolves financially supports the work of EWCP and the survival of this endangered species.

4 – 16 February 2014 • £5,995.00 • 8 – 10 guests

Close Encounters with Mountain Gorillas, Rwanda & Uganda with naturalist & wildlife film-maker Stephen Mills 23 September – 2 October 2014 • £10,995.00 • 6 – 8 guests Join research naturalist and wildlife film-maker Stephen Mills on three tracking forays in search of habituated Silverbacks and their Mountain gorilla families, as well as Golden monkeys in Rwanda and Uganda. Visit the Dian Fossey research centre and observe lions and other wildlife along the Kazinga Channel in Queen Elizabeth National Park.

spencerscotttravel.com safari@spencerscott.co.uk or 01825 714310

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encounters

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forget

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