No limits. More adventures
December, 2016
THE FALL BEHIND THE CLOUDS
CONTENTs
7 The Fall Behind the Clouds. ANGEL FALLS, VENEZUELA
13 Skyclying. DAVAO, JAPAN
15 Cappadocia from the sky. CAPPADOCIA, TURKY
19 TOP 10:
The Coolest Cenotes in the Riviera Maya. CANCUN, MEXICO
21 Kayaking. THAILAND
EDITOR IN CHIEF Esteban Dido CREATIVE DIRECTOR Komo Tutas DESIGN DIRECTOR Jodi Endo MANAGING DIRECTOR Val Mabel ART DIRECTOR Daniela Zambrano PHOTO DIRECTOR Cindy Nero PRODUCTOR COORDINATOR Adolfo Hitler PUBLISHER Alan Brito
STAFF CREDIT
LAN AND YOU.TOGETHER,FURTHER.
THE FALL BEHIND THE CLOUDS Angel Falls is the world’s highest uninterrupted waterfall. Located in Canaima National Park, the second largest national park in Venezuela, the waterfall tumbles from a cleft near the summit of table top mountain Auyán-tepu into what is known as Devil’s Canyon, 3212 feet (979m) below. The falls are a tributary of the Carrao River, itself part of Venezuela’s Orinoco River system. Considered among the world’s most dazzling natural wonders, Angel Falls are a truly unforgettable spectacle. Before the mid-1950s, the falls were an unknown wonder. Even the indigenous Kamarakotos Pómon tribe who occupied the valley beside Auyán-tepu stayed away, believing that Angel Falls’ remote location harboured malign spirits.
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ANGEL FALLS, VENEZUELA In 1933, air-borne American gold prospector James Crawford (‘Jimmie’) Angel discovered Angel Falls accidentally, flying over the mountain in his Flamingo monoplane while in search of a valuable ore bed. In 1937, Jimmie returned to the falls, his second wife, Marie, and acquaintances Gustavo Henry and Miguel Delgado also aboard his jittery, fixed-wing plane. Although Jimmie landed his plane successfully on Auyán-tepu’s heart-shaped summit, the plane’s wheels became submerged in mud, and Jimmie’s aircraft remained marooned atop the mountain until 1970.
For 11 days, the group trekked across rough terrain, having to ration their limited food supplies, until they reached a small settlement at Kamarata. The flora and fauna is unic from that zone, there is the only place you can find. Word spread of Jimmie’s exploits and the falls’ were duly named after him. The tale piqued international interest in Angel Falls and many scientific investigations followed.
“Canaima National Park was founded in 1962. In 1994, UNESCO named it a World Heritage Site.”
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Having reached the park, a popular way to get to Angel Falls is by boat, though visitors can also fly from Canaima airstrip to Canaima lagoon. Motorised canoes travel upstream between May and January.
Journey times vary, though, on average, it takes about five hours to reach the falls from camp. Winding waterways, edged with dense forest, teem with exotic wildlife; canoes zoom over boulders through rapidly flowing sections of river and those on-board are liable to get wet. From the lagoon, visitors then trek through lush, Venezuelan jungle, to various viewing
If the flow of the falls is gentle enough, tourists are encouraged to swim in pools formed by the plummeting water. Trips to Angel Falls can be booked in advance through various tour operators. Park lodges also run scheduled trips that can be booked upon your arrival at Canaima camp.If you are searching for the most amazing adventure, you are in the right place.
points.
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"The best view comes from The Deepest surface"
SKY CYCLE DAVAOS, JAPAN
Skycycle is not for the faint of heart. Aside from the height, you have to pedal your way through the cable which is 200 meters. That’s not all. You have to return back to where you have started once you get to the other end.
“THE WHOLE ROUTINE WILL TAKE ABOUT 4 MINUTES THE MOST,” Ocampo says. “That is, if you pedal fast. But if you do it slowly, it may take you about 6 minutes or so.” First it was Skyrider, then, Skycycle. Now, Eden Nature Park and Resort is adding another extreme attraction called Skyswing. “Skyswing can test your limits at the resort’s highest and fastest adrenaline rush,” says Brenda Ocampo, the resort’s marketing manager.
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Skycycle is biking on top of a cable that is 60 feet high! “It’s like pedaling your way through the sky,”
“Ride individually or in tandem, Skyswing will hoist you 80 feet above the ground. In its highest position, the ride reaches a maximum height of 95 feet.” This heart pumping-adventure was opened to the public during the Independence Day celebration last June 12. “This is the first of its kind here in Davao Region,” Ocampo informs. If you think swinging at 80 feet or more is dangerous, think again. “Safety is our paramount concern,” Ocampo says. “We have our trained attendants and operators to ensure your safety while helping you overcome your fears and experience the thrill of your ride.” “The thrill is significantly enhanced as you are secured with the body harness and safety gears especially ordered in France,” says Ocampo. “Feel the anticipation rise as In our case, we tried the 60-feet one, theharness and safety gears, the attendant explained to us what we need to know. Be sure to listen to the instructions he is telling.
SKYSWING If you think swinging at 80 feet or more is dangerous, think again. “Safety is our paramount concern,” Ocampo says. “We have our trained attendants and operators to ensure your safety while helping you overcome your fears and experience the thrill of your ride.” “The thrill is significantly enhanced as you are secured with the body harness and safety gears especially ordered in France,” says Ocampo. “Feel the anticipation rise as you are slowly elevated to your desired height.”
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CAPPADOCIA FROM THE
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SKY
Cappadocia is a landscape that you will have never witnessed before in your lifetime. This makes it one of the most popular spots in the world to go up in a Hot Air Balloon.
“1 HOUR OF AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE. IT FEELS LIKE AN ETERNITY”
As you take off for sunrise you will start to be hypnotised by the spectacular and surreal landscape that lies below you. You will gently drift over the fairy chimneys, through valleys scattered with pigeon houses, over orchards and vineyards. The different colours of the diversified landscape will leave you breathless. An activity not to be missed.
Standard Balloon ight has a 1 hour ight time with capacity of 16 to 24 people. You will receive a buffet breakfast and champagne toast on landing. Enjoy a hot air balloon ride over one of the most magical places on earth. Continually voted one of the best destinations in the world for hot air ballooning.
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BECAUSE
THEY CAN’T. SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES
XKEKEN CENOTE
Located just a few kilometres from Tulum on the way to Coba, this is one of the top diving spots in Riviera Maya. Although its name suggests it is only one big cenote, it really consists of several cenotes meandering along the verdant jungle oor and connected by wooden walkways. The color of the water is so clear that one can see fish swimming without even snorkeling.Gran Cenote is one of the most popular spots to snorkel. Its water is so crystal clear that a lot of the underwater life can be seen without going in a deep dive. Of course dives can also be arranged here.
IK KIL CENOTE
Instead of accessing the Underworld through a dirty backdoor in a cantina, pre-colonial Mayan tradition believed the gates to the beyond lay in cenotes. Just a few kilometers from Valladolid in the Yucatan Peninsula, the landscape is dotted with natural sinkholes, leading straight down into the earth. Unlike their unsightly name, the sinkholes are beautiful and filled with crystal clear, blue-green water. They are easily accessible and have become a tourist hot spot due to their proximity to spring break destinations like Cancun.
GRAN CENOte
It is arguably one of the most beautiful cenotes of Mexico.In order to reach the water you have to climb down 26 meters.The water is 40 meters deep while its diameter is 60 meters.Compared to other cenotes found in Mexico, Ik Kil has many facilities for visitors including a restaurant on site and even cottages where one can spend a few relaxing days. The waters of Ik Kil were consi-
dered sacred by the Mayans who performed here human sacrificing to their rain god.
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DOS OJOS CENOTE
This cenote is essentially a technical dive. Most of the dive is dark so light is required. There are 3 different water entrances to Chac-Mool system. On the side entrances there are Little Brother cenote and Kukulkan cenote. Coming through the main entrance it is possible to go directly to the Dome Room. It is possible to dive Chac Mool Cenote throughout the year. The average air temperature stays between 25-30C/77-86F. The average water temperature remains around 24-25C/77F. In the Doom Room a portion of the ceiling has collapsed and divers can surface and admire a lot of beautiful stalactites and some fossils. Coming from Kukulkan side, in sunny days, divers can see an amazing light show.
NOHOCH NAH CHICH CENOTE
It is named like that because of the two sinkholes of 70 meters in diameter connected by a 400 meter long passageway. There is more natural light here, thus it is a great place for everybody. The visibility through the water is amazing and snorkelling as well as diving can be practiced. Dos Ojos is the location of the deepest known underwater cave passage at a 118 meter depth. The whole cave system is at least 61 km long. The water temperature is ideal for snorkelling at a constant 24-25 degrees Celsius throughout the year. Cenote Dos Ojos is located just three kilometres off the Highway 307, 22 km north of Tulum and 50 km south of Playa del Carmen.
CHAC MOOL CENOTE
Nohoch Nah Chich is Mayan for Giant Bird Cage. It offers an excellent snorkeling trail amongst many air pockets and air domes. There are ladders available for safe and easy exits from the water. There are three directions where the downstream portions of the cave go. Cenote Noch Nah Chich represents one of the best cave diving and snorkeling experiences of the Riviera Maya. It offers shallow depths of 30 feet/9 meters or less, crystal clear water and an incredible amount of decorations to observe, enjoy and record with still or video cameras. It is an underwater experience you will not forget.
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KAYAKI Kayak phang nga In a land of heart-stopping seascapes, it’s hard to select the best kayaking. When judged by wealth of sites, though, Thailand’s most amazing adventure kayaking is in the Andaman Sea. Koh Yao Noi is a beautiful, friendly and little-known destination situated in the middle of Phang Nga Bay between Phuket and Krabi. Its location means that kayakers can visit day-trip sites which are too far to reach from Phuket, and are therefore uncrowded - often our kayakers will have the sites all to themselves.
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ING
inThailand Petroglyphs, spectacular karst scenery (limestone rock-faces rising vertically out of the sea), stunningly beautiful lagoons, hongs (hollow islands), squeaky-clean beaches, tropical wildlife, coral reefs and stilted Thai fishing villages await you. This is a big contrast with the over-run Koh Panek and James Bond sites accessible by day-trip from Phuket, which are too crowded during high season for most peoples’ enjoyment. Koh Yao Noi is the new kayaking destination, the best-kept secret in Thai kayaking, and should not be missed.
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LIVE A FULL LIFE
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FULL OF GREATNESS
L L I W G N I H T NO STOP YOU