Join my journey to the corners of this world
I once thought Las Vegas’ moto was the Dollar sign. I was wrong. When it comes to obscene opulence, nothing compares to Miami. In this Floridian town, spending cash IS a spectator sport. 25 years ago, a one-hit-wonder named Meja sang “It’s all ’bout the money.” In Miami, the description still holds true. Sustainability? Go to hell!
Now, let’s party!
White sandy beaches, lush green rain forests, and black towering cliffs. Seychelles ticks all the marks on the “exotic tropical paradise” checklist. The tiny archipelago is one of those tranquil places where the only risk you’re taking is being bludgeoned by a falling coconut. Still, you’ll be forgiven for missing Seychelles altogether. The island nation is just a petite speck of land in the middle of the vast Indian Ocean. It was first stumbled across by the Portuguese sailors some 300 years ago. Lucky for us, navigation systems had improved since. It took our 787 jetliner less than 6 hours to land on precisely the right runway at Mahe International airport (which shouldn’t be too difficult as there’s only one runway). And while getting around is easy, understanding the locals’ language could be a bit of a challenge. Lucky for us, we ended up at Takamaka Beach. Great hangout, by-the-way.
Looking back, the most irresponsible thing I’ve ever done in my life was riding a beat-up Royale Enfield motorcycle through Northwestern India. Nothing compared to the sheer terror and utter irresponsibility. Not diving the infamous “Blue Hole” in Sinai, climbing the Kilimanjaro, participating in amateur car racing, climbing up half of the Annapurna round trek on a tiny off-roader, flying a helicopter in the IAF, and all the other silly things I’ve attempted to do during my time on this earth. No, nothing was as viscerally stupid, life-threatening experience as doing India on Two wheels.
I did it and lived to tell the tale. Below is how I did it.
Continue reading “The complete survival guide to riding a motorcycle in India”
Climbing Mt. Meru is not for the faint-hearted. But it is highly rewarding. From the massively deep, moon-like crater in the center of it, to the razor-sharp giant rim that surrounds it, Meru is all about extremes.
It’s 6am, 3 degrees south of the equator, and the sub-zero winds
are beating hard. Tired, broken, and exhausted, I glimpse as the first orange rays of sun wash the peak of the mighty Kilimanjaro. I then slump breathless against a frozen rock crevice and pass out for 10 minutes.
Welcome to Mount Meru, voted as the most rewarding and scenic climb in Africa. While I don’t know much about that research, what I do know is that ascending Mt. Meru is the most beautiful climbing trek I’ve done in my life. Yeah, that simple. I also know that despite the above titles, almost no one will follow. Below are all the reasons why you should (and why you’ll never).
There’s an unreal amount of angry lightning all around. Strange, it was sunny just an hour ago. I’m stuck inside a rented Hyundai in this northeastern corner of Texas. Then, the radio broadcast stops abruptly for what must be the single most terrifying public announcement for someone stranded in commute. “Severe weather warning, 100 mph winds, inch, and a quarter hail. Risk to cars, trees, rooftops, and mobile homes. Stay inside concrete or masonry buildings, keep away from windows. Effective until 7:30pm”. Great! A Tornado warning in the middle of a bumper-to-bumper traffic jam. Welcome to Dallas. There’s more to come.
It’s 15 degrees below zero, we have a full set of high-durability thermal wear, half a pack of energy bars, It’s dark, and we’re wearing goggles. Let’s hit it!
Remember that famous scene from Trainspotting? The one in which Ewan McGregor dives into the worst toilette in Scotland only to be transported to an aquatic paradise? This is what diving a Cenote is.
I have been diving for 30 years and have more than 300 scuba diving in my logbook, but diving the Chak-Mool and Kukulcan Cenotes in Yucatan, Mexico, is like nothing I’ve ever done. It’s so radical, so different and so delirious it almost unreal. But it is real, and it’s better than drugs.
This is why:
Continue reading “6 reasons diving a Cenote is better than drugs”
With more than a thousand Kilometers of great driving roads, little traffic (if you know where and when to go), and few and short connecting sections, the 130 Kilometers (85 Miles) area between Baden-Baden and the Swiss border is the quintessential petrol-head’s playground.
But to unlock this “drivefest” extravaganza you need the right key.
Read below.
Continue reading “Back to Black. Black Forest’s complete driver’s guide – part II”
Growing up in Israel, I was always told by my elders “there aren’t any places to drive here.” Years have passed, but not the attitude of the folks around me. “What would you do with your sports car? Stand in traffic all day?” they asked, looking at me with a mix of bewilderment and contempt.
Having driven almost every road in this small country, all can say is BOLLOCKS!
Israel has many fantastic driving roads if you know where to look for them.
Continue reading “Israel’s top 10 hill climbs”
This is me. And behind me are the High Himalaya’s. More specifically the Northern Nilgiri range of Nepal’s Mustang district. This is a place of enormous vistas, tiny Tibetan hamlets, and temples completely lost in time. Most of the few people who venture out to experience Mustang, do that through their feet. Personally, I believe there’s no better way than to do it riding a motorcycle. Putting it another way, this is – by far and large – the best road trip you can ever take.
Period…
Having stated the above, there few things you probably should know before venturing out yourselves.
Continue reading “6 essential rules you must know before doing Nepal off-road”
