A simple glance into a typical Colorado travel guide will overwhelm anyone with the wide range of possibilities and gorgeous landmarks the state has to offer. You can stay at beautiful rentals in Colorado or go the hotel route, but whatever you decide, there is tons to see and do in this wonderful destination.
From the spectacularly wild scenery of the Garden of the Gods or the Black Canyon to the beautiful tranquility of the Vali town and the surrounding areas, Colorado has something anyone can enjoy. This stunning state offers year-round destinations filled with excellent, breathtaking landscapes. You won’t be able to travel and work easily, as a lot of what Colorado can offer involves disconnecting and getting back in tune with nature.
1. Rocky Mountain National Park
One of the most visited national parks in the United States, Rocky Mountain National Park is full of wonderful landscapes: alpine lakes and meadows, over 100 mountain peaks, forests and thriving wildlife. The main driving route that will take travelers through the park is the Trail Ridge Road that extends to over 12,000 feet. The route is a great way to access the astonishing terrain without any difficulty. Although a car ride through the road will offer great landscapes, nothing beats hiking a trail. Some of the popular activities are hiking, camping, fishing, wildlife viewing, climbing, and bouldering.
2. Garden of the Gods
A registered National Natural Landmark and a unique landscape, Garden of the Gods is composed of jagged stone towers and fins at 300 feet from the earth. The landscape is completed by huge boulders and rock piles. There are several easy trails that allow tourists to get very close to the impressive rocks. The park is one of the best spots for rock climbing. Other activities that are popular are mountain biking, horseback riding, biking in the special biking lanes, and even Jeep and Segway tours.
3. Mesa Verde National Park
Any visitor will be instantly amazed by the breathtaking ruins and the access the Mesa Verde National Park allows. Cliff Palace is the park’s most important piece and has a breathtaking setting and well-preserved ruins. Some tours will allow tourists to climb right into the heart of the dwelling. Mesa Verde, formerly home of the Ancestral Pueblo, can be accessed by a long road that takes above the landscape. It takes about 45 minutes to drive from the highway to the site and it is worthwhile.
4. Pikes Peaks
Pikes Peaks is part of the Pike National Forest and it can be easily seen from Colorado Springs. It rises up to 14,115 feet in elevation and is one of the most popular fourteeners in Southwest. Pikes Peaks is not popular only in the United States, but it is one of the most visited mountains in the world, bested only by Mt. Fuji. While many mountain peaks are difficult to climb and thus inaccessible to average persons, Pikes Peak can be seen with the Pikes Peak Cog Railway, a train that takes the tourists through one of the most beautiful trips.
5. Black Canyon
An extraordinary, beautifully rugged canyon, Black Canyon is part of the attractions in Gunnison National Park. It is hugely overwhelming and has some of the oldest rocks and steepest cliffs in North America. The canyon was sculpted by the Gunnison River in over two million years. The popular activities include camping, sightseeing, hiking, rock climbing and wildlife watching. The trails are mostly flat and easy on the rim. The most adventurous of people can hike right into the canyon but the trails aren’t properly marked and the conditions require a degree of resilience.
With new laws having gone into effect early in 2017, California joined Alaska, Colorado, Maine, Massachusetts and Nevada as a “green friendly” state. The new laws have essentially legalized recreational marijuana by allowing individuals to use and carry marijuana without a prescription, but can California become the capital of cannabis?
The Pros: California is one of the largest, and most well-known states. Once an industry takes off in California, it becomes popular quickly and easily. Marijuana delivery is not even a new industry in California. In 1996, California was the first state to legalize the use of medical cannabis. Since then, many dispensaries have offered their business to individuals with an appropriate doctor’s order. There are plenty of dispensaries that offer medical marijuana delivery in Los Angeles that will also bring marijuana right to your door as long as you can provide the appropriate documentation.
The Cons: The change from medical to recreational is taking some time and at least for the moment, there is no way to legally obtain marijuana for recreational purposes. The chance will mean that many dispensaries will have to go through the tedious, and potentially expensive process of re-licensing in order to sell recreationally. Some dispensaries may choose to opt out of the change, which will delay the transition and ultimately hurt California’s cannabis business. Before California can claim the top spot, it will also need to compete with Colorado, which already has an established reputation for cannabis use and has plenty of recreational dispensaries and cannabis delivery options.
It is unclear about whether California can even begin to compete with Colorado when it comes to the cannabis business until 2018, when dispensaries can start becoming licensed to carry marijuana for recreational purposes. As of right now, California may be in the running, but it has a long way to go to becoming the capital of cannabis.
South East Asia is comprised of countries that lie geographically north of Australia, including south of East Asia, west of Oceania and the Pacific Ocean and east of South Asia and the Bay of Bengal. The region boasts all manner of attraction sites that are sure to appeal to the traveler in you. From the centuries-old temples to natural scenic beauty, there is simply no getting enough of the sights here. If you are planning a vacation any time soon, why not consider visiting South East Asia? The following is a list of the top 5 sights of South East Asia to help you plan the perfect vacation.
1. Temples at Bagan, Myanmar
If you have been to the Sunset Boulevard streets in LA and have marveled at the beauty of the setting sun, then you may be forgiven for thinking you have seen enough. The Temples at Bagan in Myanmar take this experience to a whole new level.
The high-rising temples situated on the Bagan plains are a sight to behold. Besides being great architectural marvels, the fact that there are so many of them in one place adds to their overall charm. If you are looking to escape into the spiritual realm, then a trip to South East Asia should certainly include a visit to these temples.
2. Bali, Indonesia
Bali is one island in Indonesia that perfectly fits the description of Heaven on Earth. In administrative terms, it is merely a province in Indonesia, but in the world of travel and tourism, the island boasts natural attractions, a relaxed atmosphere and a perfect climate.
Bali is also home to some of the world’s most enchanting beaches, ranging from black to sandy. There are plenty of water sports to keep you entertained at the beaches, as well as restaurants that serve both local and exotic dishes.
Accommodation is offered at the island’s exquisite villas, most of which offer additional services such as spa treatment and massage therapy.
3. Halong Bay, Vietnam
Halong Bay is the perfect place to experience nature in the raw. Also known as “The Bay of Descending Dragons”, it presents a breathtaking karst topographical view (formed by the dissolution of soluble rocks such as dolomite, gypsum and limestone), that juts out of the sea to form more than 2000 limestone islets.
Cruises among these formations are available, with occasional landings on the islets, giving visitors the opportunity to enjoy activities such as trekking and rock climbing.
Visitors to Halong Bay should observe the seasons, because the Monsoons that occur from June to September and January to March, may impair visibility. Be that as it may, the bay still holds its charm, especially since it is one of the few least-crowded tourist sites in South-East Asia.
4. Luang Prabang, Laos
The entire area of Luang Prabang is a listed UNESCO World Heritage site. Their greatest claims to fame are the numerous Colonial and Lao architectural structures scattered throughout the city. There are temples here that not only serve as spiritual places of worship, but also reveal more of the architectural heritage of the Laos people. Luang Prabang is also known for its alms procession and haute cuisine.
Make sure during your stay, to not miss the daily morning rituals performed by monks clad in saffron-colored robes as they go around accepting food donations. The jungle that surrounds Luang Prabang teems with majestic waterfalls, crystal-clear bathing pools and lonely caves.
5. Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia
Mount Kinabalu is Borneo’s highest mountain and the perfect place for mountain climbers and those who simply enjoy spending time out in the wild. The mountain is not only one of the most accessible in the world, but also offers climbers a smooth and straight ascent. It is predominantly snow-capped however, so climbers do need plenty of resilience to arrive at the top of the 4,095-metre peak, where they will be able to enjoy views stretching as far as the Philippines, provided that the fog is not too dense.
Even on those days when the fog doesn’t allow for these extensive views, the fresh air, green vegetation and the calmness of the surrounding makes the climb up Mount Kinabalu exceptionally worthwhile.
Introduction
Travelling is a passion and every traveller understands the importance of capturing the precious moments and framing them forever. When you are back from a trip, all you have are the images of various places, person, food and every single thing you have experienced.
And then, it is time to showcase them for the rest of the world so that they take on a similar journey through your images.
When it comes to editing photos and making them livelier, here is a list of 5 of the top software for photographers worth considering.
1. Picasa –Picasa, a product from Google, tops the list because as free editing software, it is as much loved by the pros as it is suitable for the amateurs. Apart from being a simple yet amazing photo editor, it helps in sorting, tagging and organizing your photos under categories. The built-in photo features help you fiddle with the alignment, contrast, brightness and red-eye quotient of your photos. You can also add interesting colour and blur effects using a number of filters that are available. What makes Picasa outstanding is its feature that allows creating slideshows, web publishing and sharing photos via email.
2. Lightroom 5 – The Adobe Lightroom 5 is the perfect photography editing software for photographers working with large volumes of images. Creative professionals and travel enthusiasts love this super-efficient product that makes it possible to edits to entire batches of photos at once. You can also geo-tag and group your snaps instantly using this program. The software might not be too easy to adapt for the beginners but once you get a hang of it, you will simply love working with it. The best part is that Lightroom 5 is compatible with all types of files along with multimedia slideshows.
3. PhotoPlus 6.0 – This one is an older version of the PhotoPlus family but it is free and is worth a mention because it is amazingly good and user-friendly. With several similar features as in Adobe Photoshop, it allows you to create, edit, enhance and manipulate your already brilliant travel photos. The user-interface is slightly older but extremely easy to handle even for the amateur photo editors. Downloading it might require you to provide some personal information but overall, it’s a good value for money and a photo editing software you can rely on for quick and effective outcome.
4. Elements 11 – Elements 11 is yet another product from Adobe and it comes with easy-to-navigate tutorials for beginners. It is one of the most intuitive photo editing software allowing you to learn new skills, work on retouching quickly and try hybridizing the photos in an Expert mode. If you are up for some detailed and precise editing, you are going to love the Auto-analyzer feature that automatically picks your best shots among the lot. All you need is to give it a companion program for video editing and a plug-in for RAW files and it will work just fine.
5. Gimp – An open source alternative to Photoshop, Gimp offers you with a whole range of travel photo editing features including excellent filters, cropping, resizing, layer support and so on. If you are used to Photoshop, you will be able to adapt to this software rather quickly. You can follow a few tutorials and realize the amazing ways in which you can turn a rather plain image to a beauty with the Gimp. Installation gets easy when you follow the documentation accompanied by the software itself.
So, get your hands on these advanced software products and let your travel photos shine brighter and more enriching to look at.
Australia is one of those countries that offer an abundance of sights and activities to suit any traveler. If you are considering a trip to this beautiful country, there is no doubt that you’ll be kept busy during your entire stay. Following is list of the top 5 sights in Australia to help you plan your vacation.
1. The Great Barrier Reef
The Great Barrier Reef, located off the coast of Queensland in the North-Eastern part of Australia, is definitely worth a visit. The largest coral reef in the world, the Great Barrier Reef is one of Australia’s most amazing natural wonders. At about 2300 km long, the reef is home to many species of colorful fish, starfish, dolphins, turtles, sharks and of course, corals. Thousands of reefs and islands of both hard and soft corals make up The Great Barrier Reef, one of the Seven Wonders of the World. It is larger than The Great Wall of China and is the only living thing on the planet that is visible from outer space.
2. Sydney Harbour Bridge
Visiting Sydney and not taking the time to enjoy the spectacular sight of the city illuminated at night is simply not an option. Sydney Harbour Bridge, built way back in 1932, is an iconic structure in the city that provides visitors with a magnificent, 360-degree view of what some consider to be the greatest harbor in the world. Night time views of Sydney Harbour with the city lights reflected in the water is absolutely breathtaking and sure to leave magical images imprinted in your mind forever.
3. Fraser Island
Situated off Australia’s eastern Queensland coast and stretching for a distance of more than 120 km, Fraser Island is the largest sand island in the world. Visiting the island gives you the opportunity to see The Cathedrals, the imposing cliffs that stand proudly behind the sandy-colored beach. Fraser Island is also home to Indian Head, a rocky outcrop on the easternmost tip of the island. An eco-tourism destination, Fraser Island, with its beaches, lakes and freshwater pools, is definitely one of the top 5 sights in Australia.
4. The Great Ocean Road
The world-famous Great Ocean Road, one of the many wonders of Australia, is well-worth a visit. Driving along this 150-mile stretch of road is truly a memorable experience. At the end of the drive, you are rewarded with stunning views of the Twelve Apostles, tall pillars of resilient rocks emerging from the sea just off the coastline. Their formation came about from the Southern Ocean constantly gnawing away at the limestone cliffs over the years. It is a strange yet incredibly beautiful sight in Australia that shouldn’t be missed.
5. Uluru
More than likely one of the most famous natural landmarks in Australia, Uluru, more commonly known as Ayers Rock, is an enormous sandstone monolith that stands in the western area of the Simpson Desert, a short distance away from the “Red Center” of the country. According to studies conducted, the rock was created over a period of more than 600 million years. Although named Ayers Rock in 1873 after Sir Henry Ayers, Uluru – its official name, was given to the structure by the Aborigines who have lived in the area for the past 10,000 years.
These are considered by many to be the top 5 sights in Australia. There are, however, countless more to choose from to visit and explore during your stay.
A traveller is most often fond of photography and a professional photographer is almost always fond of travelling and loves to capture photos of his explorations. This beautiful combination has given the world several gems in the form of amazing photographs of beautiful sights, scenes and of course, living beings. If you are a travel photographer, here is a list of some of the best cameras for travel photography for you to consider.
1. The Fujifilm X-T2 – With standout features like full mechanical dial core settings, electronic viewfinder, cinema 4k video, five-axis image stabilization and many more, the Fujifilm X-T2 is undoubtedly a top choice for travellers around the world. A robust body and the well-balanced 24.3 megapixel sensor work impressively at all times and under any circumstances. It promises amazing control and ease of use with a little practice. The Fuji’s proprietary film emulations, like in all Fujifilm models, are loaded in this camera too, allowing smooth shooting with little to almost no post-processing requirements.
2. The Sony A7RII – This model from the Sony A7 series is one of the top mirrorless-cameras so popular among travel photographers. With an exceptionally sharp 42.4 megapixel back-illuminated sensor and a 35mm full frame, this camera will hardly disappoint you irrespective of the adverse shooting environments. It effectively packs numerous pixels into its sensors and is incomparable in this regard. Some of its other features include Wi-Fi, electronic viewfinder, 4K video, USB charging, hybrid autofocus and five-axis image stabilization. Using a Metabones adapter with these lenses is recommended for the users.
3. The Panasonic Lumix DMC-GX8 – This particular Panasonic model is perfect for the travel photography beginners are is often preferred as a backup camera by the pros. The most remarkable feature of this model comes in the form of the moveable electronic viewfinder. It makes shooting videos surprisingly easy and effective whether you want a 90 degree shot, a 45 degree shot, a fully vertical shot or a low angle one. The tilt and swivel OLED monitor and low-light autofocus are among the other notable features. It is also splash and dust proof ensuring longer life.
4. The Olympus TG-4 – This model from Olympus comes under the category of one-pocket size, rugged and point-and-shoot cameras that perform exceedingly well and are very easy to handle. The TG-4 model is the first rugged camera with the potential for RAW shooting. It is a go-anywhere-and-everywhere camera in the true sense as you can use it from 50 feet underwater, drop it or operate it in dusty environments without damaging it or affecting the image it captures. The camera comes with a .3 BSI CMOS sensor and 16 megapixels along with features like interval shooting, super macro modes and advanced GPS.
5. The Nikon Cool Pix P900 – This model from Nikon is one of the most affordable travel-friendly cameras available out there. The Nikon Cool Pix P900 boasts of an excellent focal length coupled with a very helpful stabilization system that makes long distance travel shooting smooth, easy and highly effective. Apart from the .3 sensor and 16 megapixels, the model has several beneficial features like Wi-Fi, electronic viewfinder, USB charging, preset modes, multi-axis horizon viewfinder aide, GPS and a very useful articulating screen. Using a tripod with this camera is recommended.
While all of these are top models with praiseworthy functionality, make sure to choose your camera based on what suits your style of travel photography and what are your expectations from the camera.
When people think about Peru, the first thing that comes to mind is the famous Machu Picchu, which is perfectly understandable, but there is much more to Peru than this world-famous attraction. When visiting the country and after seeing the magnificent Machu Picchu, there are several other fantastic activities that you can engage in here to make your trip an experience to cherish forever. The following are 5 amazing things to do in Peru.
Take a Tour of the Amazon Rainforest
The Peruvian Amazon makes up 60% of the country and when combined with the Pacific Ocean and Andean Mountain range, the result is a diverse and unique ecosystem. Puerto Maldonado and Iquitos are the two main entrances into the Amazon Basin and it is highly advisable that a plane is used to navigate these areas, as the roads are in rather bad condition. Floating down the river on a river boat for a few hours is another fabulous way to take in everything that the Amazon has to offer.
Take a Hike in the Colca Canyon
The beauty that this canyon has to offer should not be missed and even if you are the type of person who does not enjoy hiking – this is one hike that you will not regret doing! The Colca Canyon happens to be twice as deep as the Grand Canyon and offers visitors the most eye-popping scenery. The area is also the home of the Andean Condor, a huge bird only found in this region. Booking an overnight trek can be done in Arequipa, the second largest city in Peru.
Explore the Nazca Lines by Air
When flying over the Nazca Desert, you will see the series of ancient geoglyphs that make up the Nazca Lines. These mysterious lines are made up from geometric designs, wildlife and other elements. The Nazca Lines are one of Peru’s most famous attractions. The best way to take on this adventure is by air and this can be done by means of a small private plane. Tours can be booked in lca, Nazca and Lima.
Discover the Cordillera Blanca by Means of a Serious Hike
This is one of the things to do in Peru that is recommended for the serious adventure seeker! It is not an easy trek, but will be well worth it on completion. This location (Huaraz) is situated about 420km north of Lima and is home to the Cordillera Blanca – the highest mountain range in the Peruvian Andes. It is most well-known for the snow-capped glaciers and peaks. Standing at 6,768 metres high, Huascaran is the third highest of its kind the entire Western Hemisphere.
Try Your Luck with the Waves in Manorca
So where is the best place to go surf in Peru? Well, it depends on who you are asking, but most locals will send you to the beautiful beach town of Manorca. Manorca is famous for its perfect beaches and relaxed atmosphere. What could be better than hanging out on the beach, watching the waves for an entire afternoon? Easy, surfing those fabulous waves! This is something that you have to try at least once in your life.
Conclusion
As you can see, there really is more to Peru than Machu Picchu. Choose one or all of these fun activities and you will surely end up craving for a second trip.
Most people work 9 to 5 jobs and save every month to go on vacation at the end of the year to have a break from the stresses caused by the daily grind of working for months on end. If you are one of these people, then read on, because you are going to find out awesome ways how to travel and work while enjoying yourself every day! There is always blogging and travel photography, but I will cover other ways to travel and work in this article.
Teach English
If English is your mother tongue and you’re planning on traveling to Asian countries, then why not consider teaching English during your stay? This is one of the most common ways to earn money while traveling and a great way to learn different cultures.
These job opportunities can easily be found on the internet and many companies will cover the costs of your flight and an apartment in the country. Japan and South Korea in particular, pay English teachers very well.
Become a scuba diving instructor
If you’re a diving fanatic, then you should consider getting your scuba certification and become a diving instructor. This will give you the opportunity to work in fabulous holiday destinations like Maldives, Mexico, Philippines, Honduras, Egypt and Hawaii, to name but a few.
Imagine earning money doing something you love, by giving tourists diving lessons when you aren’t going diving yourself, soaking up the sun, and just generally enjoying a really laid-back life by the ocean! Could knowing how to travel and work come any better than this?
Get a job on a cruise ship
Cruise ships are like huge floating hotels in the ocean, with many entertainment facilities and offer jobs like chefs, bartenders, receptionists, DJs, hair salon or casino staff, nurses, massage therapists and a whole host more, with salaries varying between $800 and $8000 per month.
The great thing about getting a cruise ship job though, is that your food and lodging is provided while on board and you pay for nothing at all during that time. In other words, you get paid a good salary while you travel to some of the most stunning places on the planet!
Work on a farm
If you enjoy working outdoors, care for the environment and don’t worry about getting your hands dirty, then being on a farm would be the ideal way for you to work when you travel.
You could take a job working with farm animals, doing general agricultural work, picking fruit and vegetables or even picking flowers. It’s a great way to live in the rural areas of a country and you could be picking grapes in Italy, kiwi fruit in New Zealand, or working with sheep in the great outback of Australia!
Become a chef
If you are passionate about food, then why not become a chef when you travel the world? There is a huge demand for season staff in restaurants and holiday resorts all over the world. You can find jobs for chefs on the internet, or simply visit nearby restaurants and holiday resorts during your travels and ask if they have chef jobs available. You will be earning money while you work and keeping customers happy with your creative meals, while at the same time enjoying the country you are visiting.
Conclusion
Knowing how to travel and work means that you can see the world while spending your day earning money doing the things you love.
Whether you are an avid photographer always willing to travel around or a traveller trying to capture everything that you see in breathtaking photographs, you can do way better if you are aware of some techniques.
Photography is an art, a subject and each image that you capture has a science behind it. If you want to make each of your photographs speak a thousand words, here is a list of the top 6 world travel photography tips for you to follow.
1. Understand the Rule of Thirds – The Rule of Thirds in photography requires you to break down a prospective image into 3 parts both horizontally and vertically. When it is split into different sections, you can place the important parts in these sections and frame the overall image. By following this rule, you can enhance the quality of an image to a significant extent like placing a person in the left grid line instead of the centre. Composing using this rule can be easily done by turning on your camera’s grid feature, which displays the grids directly on the LCD screen.
2. Use Tripods – Lightweight tripods makes it possible for you to set up your camera in a particular position and thereby, making way for the perfect composition. With a tripod, you can also adjust the exposure settings, focus points or use techniques like HDR and panoramas. Tripods enable shooting lower shutter speeds without losing focus and hence, promise greater creative control over your images. So, whether you are capturing sharp landscapes, low-light images, sunrise/sunsets or flowing water, a travel tripod essentially makes a significant difference.
3. Experiment with Composition – Often, the more you experiment with a particular shot, the better is the result. After you have taken a shot standing up straight, experiment with the same one by lying on the ground for a low angle or climbing up something for a higher angle. Similarly, try shooting from different distances too. Another compositional tactic that you must use is Focal Compression. It is a technique by which you can use a zoom lens to trick the eye into thinking that the objects are closer than they really are.
4. The Human Element – Incorporating the human element in the images is always a good idea. Technically, the human element gives a better sense of scale as you can sense how huge the landscapes are. With the humans looking tiny in such massive surrounding, the image gets an overwhelming effect. A photograph becomes more powerful and narrates a story whenever the human element is incorporated into it. In fact, a human image can change the storyline of the photo entirely.
5. Learn the Tricks of Photographing Local People – Portraits of local people in a foreign country makes up for fascinating photographs. However, when you go about capturing photos of the people, it is always advisable to approach them politely and seek their permission. Some may say no while others might just show a lot of interest. Now, once they are ready to be photographed, try to make them as comfortable as possible by speaking to them about their lifestyle, habits etc so that open up without hesitation.
6. Be Patient – Last but not the least, travel photography is all about patience. Photography is about capturing what lies in front of you with your camera, eyes along with heart and mind too. Patience is the key here. You might have to wait for hours for a photogenic object to appear. For instance, if you are trying to capture the clouds, think about whether it will be in a more eye pleasing spot in the next hour or so. Basically without the patience to try, you will miss out on what could be a memorable photograph.
Keep these tricks in mind and set about exploring places and keeping them safe in your camera.
