5 of the most beautiful national parks around the world

28 Dec 2018 3 Comments

by Globe Runner in Africa, Australia, Outdoor Tags: , , , , , ,

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If you want to see some of the most beautiful natural sights in the world, then you’re going to want to head to national parks. Pretty much every country in the world has its own national park, which is an area that has been protected by the state for people to enjoy – and to preserve wildlife in some cases. Want to know where the best national parks are in the world? Here are just five of them.

Joshua Tree National Park

Over Thanksgiving weekend this year, my children and I went to Palm Springs in California, where we got to visit the stunning Joshua Tree National Park. There are so many things to see and do in this national park that we stayed from 10.30am until 3.30pm – although we could have stayed a lot longer! Grab a map and make your way to all of the best spots in the park, including Ocotillo Patch, Cholla Cactus Garden, and the Jumbo Rock Campground. Oh, not forgetting Skull Rock, of course! There really is so much to see here; I’d recommend staying all day if you have the energy.

Serengeti National Park

If you want to see some of the most jaw-dropping wildlife on the planet, you simply have to head to Serengeti National Park in Tanzania. One of the must-sees here is the Great Migration, where millions of wildebeest and zebra make their way across the plains to seek new pastures. You can go on a safari trip much more affordably now than in the past, then finish off with a trip to some of the gorgeous beaches of Zanzibar in Tanzania.

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Yellowstone National Park

Often considered one of the best national parks in America, Yellowstone is a sight to behold. As the first national park in the U.S. (established back in 1872), this is the place to come if you want some history with your nature. Make sure you head to the Old Faithful Geyser and also keep an eye out for the local wildlife. Many people report to see antelope, bison, bears, elk, and wolves here.

Khao Sok National Park

If you ever find yourself in Thailand, it is definitely worth checking out Khao Sok National Park in the southern part of the country. The dense jungle is unlike any of the other national parks on this list, and it’s also home to the world’s largest flower, the Rafflesia. If you’re really lucky, you might catch a glimpse of a majestic tiger or two while you’re here as well. One top tip if you’re visiting Thailand is that insurance is a legal requirement, so make sure you’re covered before you head off.

Fiordland National Park

Located in the southwest of South Island in New Zealand, Fiordland National Park is a true beauty. Head to the glacier-carved fiords of Doubtful and Milford sounds, look up at the stunning Mitre Peak, and see the reflections of the Earl Mountains in the Mirror Lakes. There are plenty of walks and activities here that could keep you busy for days.

It was hard to pick just five beautiful national parks around the world, but I think this is a good selection. What do you think? Do you have any others to add to the list? Let me know in the comments.

 

 

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6 Essentials For Your Winter Travels

28 Dec 2018 2 Comments

by Globe Runner in Off the topic, Outdoor Tags: , , , ,

A winter vacation is something magical, isn’t it? It’s always something that sounds like the perfect getaway until you work out that it’s not just the cold temperature that you have to face, but the possibility of snow, hail, icy rain and cutting winds. Difficult weather conditions require the right attire to manage them all and that means…it’s time to shop!

You need to be prepared when you are on your way to your winter vacation. Preparation is the key to success and you need to be prepared. You don’t want to have the wintry, chilly weather to prevent your vacation from being the winter wonderland that it should be. You should be looking to get some gorgeous winter boots from Filly Flair Boutique and then figure out where to get some chunky knit socks to fill them and keep your feet warm. While these are both nice things to have, they’re not going to be the essentials for the winter vacation you’ve been planning for some time. There are some things that are luxuries and others that are a must and we’ve got six of those musts below:

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  1. Down Jacket: The very first line against the cold wind is a good jacket which is lined with down. They’re excellent insulators and can make sure that you stay protected against the harsh winds. If you’re somewhere that snows a lot, it can look beautiful, but it’s not going to be dry, and a down jacket is waterproof so you won’t end up getting soaked.
  2. Thermals: They’re not sexy, but my goodness these are warm! You wear them under your clothing and they trap your body heat so that you can keep as warm as possible against the winter conditions. Opt for woolen ones if you’re going somewhere particularly freezing as these will work out the best.
  3. Scarves: No matter your winter vacation, you need a variety of scarves. You can wear them inside and out, cashmere or wool. You can double it up to protect your chin, nose and mouth, too.
  4. Beanie: It doesn’t matter if your coat has a hood, you need a good hat. You have to offer some protection for your head for the winter months. It doesn’t always work with just a hood, so you need a heat-retaining beanie to help you to stay as warm as possible.
  5. Gloves: Those hands of yours need to stay toasty, and you can buy waterproof gloves with detachable fingers on them so that you can continue to use cash and a phone while you keep your hands warm.
  6. Boots: We’ve already mentioned boots, but they’re worth another chat! Boots that keep your feet dry and warm are going to help your entire body to keep warm. Wear them with thick socks for maximum toastiness.

Your winter clothes need to keep you as warmed up as possible, so get shopping, you’ve a vacation to consider.

How to Have an Awesome Bachelor Party Road Trip

23 Dec 2018 Leave a comment

by Globe Runner in Australia, Off the topic Tags: ,

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If your best friend is getting married and you are the best man, it’s your job to plan an awesome buck’s party. This is your friend’s last chance to enjoy being single, so you have to make the most of it.

A road trip is a great way to get out of town, have a blast and avoid awkward run-ins with the bride-to-be and any of her friends, so it’s a good idea to plan one for your friend’s upcoming buck’s party. To make the most of the night, consider these tips for planning an awesome buck’s road trip.

Enjoy the Ride There

If you’re taking a road trip, you don’t want the first few hours to be boring! If possible, consider booking a party bus for the trip — then, everyone can mingle and have a ball. If this isn’t an option, take the coolest ride out of yours and the party guests’, and bring along a lot of great music.


Bring Lots of Booze

Let’s face it — buck’s parties are all about the booze, so you have to ensure that there isn’t a shortage of it. If you’re going to be booking a hotel, take the time to stock the room with beer, liquor and plenty of mixers. Consider pooling in with the other guests to pay for the bachelor’s drinks for the night; if you’re going to be heading to a bar, it’s a good idea to do your research to find a place that has plenty of cheap drink specials. This will allow everyone to drink and be merry without ruining the fun by worrying about finances.


Make Sure There are Plenty of Girls

This is your buddy’s last chance to be a bachelor before his wedding day, so you have to make sure that it’s worth it. The most important thing is to plan a night that is filled with sexy girls to really make the most of your buddy’s buck’s party. Plan to head to a strip club, or hire strippers , topless barmaids and topless waitresses to perform at a hotel. To ensure that things are even more special, consider paying ahead of time for a special lap dance for your soon-to-be-married friend.

It is very important that you have a plan; don’t just figure it out when you get there. If you have a hotel reserved for those who are attending the party, consider hiring strippers from an entertainment agency like Cover Girl Strippers. It will make for a more private party, and the dancers might even be willing to do a special performance for the smaller crowd. Otherwise, do your research before choosing a strip club, and look for one that comes highly rated and that has hot girls and lots of alcohol.

As the best man, it’s your job to make sure that your friend’s buck’s party is as successful as possible. Luckily, following these three steps is sure to ensure that everyone has a good time.

 

Joshua Tree National Park

06 Dec 2018 10 Comments

by Globe Runner in North America, Outdoor, United States of America Tags: , , , , , , ,

My kids and I were in Palm Springs, California over the Thanksgiving weekend. And one of the highlights of this trip was visiting the magnificent Joshua Tree National Park. We stayed in the city of Indio in Coachella Valley and It was about little more than half an hour drive to the Southern Entrance/Cottonwood Entrance of JTNP from our hotel.

Beautiful landscape of Joshua Tree National Park, California

Beautiful landscape of Joshua Tree National Park, California

Ticket per vehicle is $30 which can be used for the next 7 days. You can spend from half a day to few days or weeks in this park. We bought few water bottles, some protein bars, luncheables, chips, and candies before entering the park. We arrived the Southern Visitor Center around 10:30am and stayed until about 3:30. If you have time and energy, staying longer is highly recommended to enjoy dramatic sunsets or to camp or if you love star gazing…to experience a stunning desert sky from the park. JTNP is a paradise for the hikers, rock-climbers, photographers, nature-lovers, kids, adults, and many more.

If you follow the JTNP map, it’ll take you to all the spots and parts of the park that you want to visit. We made it to most of the places that we planned to visit. These are some of the really cool and beautiful places of JTNP that we loved and the kids enjoyed:

Ocatillo Patch: Ocatillo is not a true cactus but a beautiful plant indigenous to Sonoran and couple other desert in the USA. JTNP has an area, called Ocatillo Patch, (follow the sign). It’s a nice place to take some pictures, walk around, and explore the nature.

Ocatillo Patch in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Ocatillo Patch in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Cholla Cactus Garden: This was one of our favorites. A whole big area on the both sides of the road is covered with cholla cactus, a beautiful looking but very thorny cactus. Be careful with kids here. We ended up spending more than half an hour strolling thru the cacti, taking pictures, and having fun looking at these plants in the desert. We even saw couple small lizards here.

Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Cholla Cactus Garden in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Jumbo Rock Campground: This was our number one in the park. Jumbo Rock campground and the surroundings are the places with really huge boulders. My kids couldn’t get enough of rock climbing and the stunning view of everything…the trees, big rocks, mountains, blue sky, everything was part of a big piece of this beauty. It’s a big playground for any age. We stopped at different sections of Jumbo rocks and still couldn’t see all of it.

Jumbo Rock Campground in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Jumbo Rock Campground in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Camping in JTNP is a very popular activity and we saw bunch of tents and RVs parked in Jumbo Rock Campground. I can imagine the beautiful night sky from here. Tourists can spend days among these boulders for rock climbing, photography, or just hiking.

Skull Rock: Skull rock is another jumbo rock which has the shape of a human skull. We didn’t spend much time here other than just taking some photos. But there are other big rocks that can be climbed and trails that can be hiked.

Skull Rock in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Skull Rock in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Keys View: Keys View is another must. Even if you don’t visit other spots in JTNP, Keys View deserves some attention. This is a view point from where you can see the mountains and Salton sea. Although we didn’t stay too long since it was getting a bit cold, sunset from this spot is very famous…just bring some extra clothes.

Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Keys View in Joshua Tree National Park, California

Once we were done, we left the park thru “Joshua Tree” visitor center, which is about 20 miles from Keys View. JTNP doesn’t have any running water, restaurants, café or snack bars or vending machines inside the park. It’s better to bring lots of water bottles, sandwiches or bars, extra clothes, or even maybe first aid kits (just in case you are that unfortunate or clumsy tourist who may have a bad luck with the cacti there).

Got One Day in Irvine, CA?

28 Nov 2018 Leave a comment

by Globe Runner in North America, Photography, United States of America Tags: , , , , , , , ,

My girls and I were in Palm Springs, California for the Thanksgiving weekend. It was a sudden trip and urge to visit California. We were in Palm Springs for 4 nights and 31/2 days. We had a rental car, so planned to drive 2 hours to Irvine to visit some friends and spend some time in Irvine.

Laguna Beach in Irvine, CA

Laguna Beach in Irvine, CA

As far as the landscape and heat, Irvine is very different from Palm Springs. We stayed in Coachella Valley in Palm Springs which is a part of the Sonoran Desert. There aren’t any beaches here, only mountains and oases. Irvine, on the other hand, is more crowded, has lots of beaches to hang out, and milder weather.

 

We spent about 7 or 8 hours in Irvine with my high school friend, her sister, and her husband. Since my friend and her husband are local there, they took us to some not-so-touristy places where we did avoid some crowed and had a very relaxed time.

 

Lunch & Dinner – When you are in California, eating burger at In N Out is a must…or at least for me and my kids. Our lunch was animal style burgers and fries from In N Out. For dinner, my friends took us to California Pizza Kitchen. It’s a local Italian place with really good food. Their flatbread with chicken, shrimp and zucchini pasta, mac ‘n cheese fried balls, and cauliflower crusted pizza (no carb at all) are not only healthy, but also very tasty. Even my girls loved the carb free, cauliflower crust pizza.

 

Crystal Cove State Park: This was our first stop. It’s a small free public beach near Irvine. We took some pictures from the cliff side at first, then walked down to the beach. There were bathrooms and showers for the kids to change and take a shower after the beach time. Opposite of the park, there is a big shopping center with some restaurants and etc.

Crystal Cove State Park in Irvine, CA

Crystal Cove State Park in Irvine, CA

Crescent Bay Park/Laguna Beach: Crescent Bay Park was absolutely a charm. It’s a really small park on the cliff of Laguna Beach. Some really beautiful houses stand in this neighborhood. We spent about 10 minutes in the Crescent Bay Park, took some pictures, then walked 10 minutes down the stairs to go to the Laguna Beach.

Laguna Beach itself was a bit crowded. And since we already went in the water in Crystal Cove, we just hung out for only a few minutes and came up to go to the Top of the World before the sunset.

Crescent Bay Park in Irvine, CA

Crescent Bay Park in Irvine, CA

 

Top of the World: This is where the local or tourists come to enjoy beautiful sunset over the city. On one side, you can see the mountains and other the ocean. It does get a bit chilly in the late afternoon. We stayed there until the sun went down and it was a beautiful sunset indeed.

Sunset from Top of the World in Irvine, CA

Sunset from Top of the World in Irvine, CA

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